2013 Thought Challenge

So you think you’re really doing a great job.....huh?

By Fred Baish
Vice President North American Loss Prevention
Dollar Financial Group, Inc.


Those of us in Loss Prevention have always felt pride in reference to our titled position within a company. “I am LOSS PREVENTION.” However, how many of us could really define, within the scope of our jobs, that we were truly qualified to live up to that title? Not many, I would guess...

I was one of these folks – one who believed early-on that loss-prevention started and stopped with my primary duty (could be – walking the floor-preventing external theft, could be manning CCTV monitors and calling-out items of concern, could be performing analysis of data, in order to identify theft or fraud trends, could be a host of other things, as well). These are all beneficial and necessary skill-sets, but they aren’t all inclusive.

Competency in loss prevention relies on significant knowledge and understanding of many LP related skills, department and company procedural knowledge and investigative prowess, but most importantly – competency in LP evolves from our understanding and deep-down desire to SUPPORT THE BUSINESS GROWTH and those who manage that business. All too often, we are concerned with the job we do-individually, when we should really be focusing on the job we do to support the money-makers (the sales staff and others in Operations trying to DRIVE THE BUSINESS).

How many of you have looked at and understand your businesses P&L (Profit and Loss) Report (s)? If you haven’t – shame on you. It the best report card and learning tool you have available to you. Partner-up with Operations and Sales Management and identify those areas of the business that YOU could help support.

Think about it... don’t you think you would be received the way you really want to be within your organization, if you committed yourself to supporting them, instead of yourself?

Try it – you’ll like it