Agreeing to Disagree
The country is starting to really count down the final moments of another election year, people rushing off to the polls and putting in their final say on a topic that has long been banned from the dinner table.
Some people will eagerly tell you exactly how they feel – proclaiming what they feel is the best and most beneficial way to run a country, and who is currently best fit to assume the responsibility. While others are more reserved and keep their thoughts and opinions to themselves.
Neither are wrong, and in a lot of cases, being boldly outspoken, or private and reserved does not make one more passionate than the other.
Some people are more active in their opinions. Poking and prodding others to engage in healthy debate. Others are more inclined to avoid the topic, knowing that often political debates can get quite heated. Comments can be taken personally and conversations can get quite lengthy. Staying quiet avoids the risk of hurt feelings and never ending political banter.
We all have our personal opinions. We all have our priorities, beliefs, and positions. We are all right in our own way. Yet in politics, having your own opinion can often be taken as wrong in other peoples eyes.
The strength lays in agreeing to disagree. And really taking that to heart.
The younger generation will have a different set of priorities than the older generation. Neither are wrong. They are in completely different stages of lives.
Responsibilities vary. The younger generation has their whole life in front of them. To conquer, to change, to grow. The older generation has been through all of the battles. Wins. Loses. They’ve seen things. They’re looking for the means to live out the rest of their lives as comfortable as possible, without having to go out and conquer and change.
Different places have different issues and this also plays a role.
We all come from different walks and each has their own set of goals.
The beauty of living in a democracy is everyone having their right to put their say into a box and hope that the vast majority believes in something strong enough to see it through.
And while a win to some is certainly going to feel like a huge loss to others, its hopeful that the real winners still take to heart the issues of everyone and do their best to keep as many people happy as possible.
However you’ll never keep everyone happy. And realizing that is half the battle. But to really try your best to understand all of the issues and prioritize – this is what builds a truly great leader.
In security, you often deal with confrontations.
While our job is to keep the safety of others, properties and assets, there is always a risk of a large scale event happening and having to prioritize what you secure first.
In an ideal world, everyone is safe at all times and there is no worry.
But the reality is, fights break out, confrontations happen, attacks happen. Whether there was intent or not – things happen.
The role of a security agent can vary depending on their task. The person that has assigned them this task may indirectly give them a set of priorities.
If security’s responsibility is to ensure guest safety – then first and foremost, that is priority.
If someone comes in and threatens a guests safety, regardless of the reason – security is going to jump in to deflect the situation and attempt to calm all relevant parties and avoid a serious confrontation.
Now if said confrontation has an emotional backstory – a motive where there are two clear sides and both will vehemently proclaim that they are right in their motives – Security has to release all emotional attachment.
Their job isn’t to agree or disagree with one side over another.
Security’s job is to help enforce people that its ok to agree to disagree.
Doing so doesn’t make either side less than the other. In fact it often takes strong individuals that believe in their own convictions enough to know that there may be other opinions and they may hold their own ground elsewhere, but for them, agreeing to disagree is the best way to conclude an otherwise never-ending debate.
Life is no different outside of the security world. While we all may not walk around with our own protection team, we are actually assuming the role for ourselves.
Avoiding confrontation entirely is the best way to ensure safety. And in order to do so, we must learn the value of agreeing to disagree.
Once we truly learn this and apply this rationale to our everyday lives, confrontations will ideally lessen.
Places will remain safe, and we will live in a society where although we don’t always agree with others, we respect them and ourselves enough to know that there are bigger things in life. We can respect others opinions, and carry on with our own.
Opinions have their time and place. Not everyone is always up for a debate.
Canada may be in for a change – or maybe not. Time will tell.
There are going to be some very happy people, and some very upset people. Agreeing to disagree is not going to come easy.
Guest Blogger Rayna Davies
Rayna Davies is a graduate and practitioner of Business Management. She has developed an expertise in blogging, covering subjects like travel, world events and security. Having grown up with a father who has developed an expertise in Physical Security and Executive Protection in the RCMP and two major corporations, she has personally observed and 
experienced many security details. These experiences have included personally meeting HM Queen Elizabeth, Prime Minister Jean Chretien and many celebrities. She presently assists Sentinel Security in Executive Protection workshops and guest blogging and also assists Gloprosec Preventative Services in Intelligence gathering and Business Administration. Her passions include World travel, having visited every continent.
