Insider Intelligence: Put the Right People in the Right Roles

How to align the strengths of your employees to the best jobs within your security business.

Oct. 20, 2025

3 min read

Key Highlights

Misalignment costs you twice: When employees' strengths don't match their roles—like putting a detail-oriented installer in client relations—you simultaneously frustrate talent AND create operational gaps that compromise system effectiveness and project profitability.
The hidden ROI of role optimization: Companies that align technical skills with personal traits (empathy for client-facing roles, analytical thinking for system design) see systems installed correctly the first time, faster incident response, and dramatically higher employee retention rates.
Actionable framework included: The article provides a specific role-by-role breakdown (installers, engineers, project managers, monitoring staff, sales) with the exact personality traits and skills to look for—plus a practical audit process to realign your current team before your next hire.

This article appeared in the October 2025 issue of Security Business magazine. Don’t forget to mention Security Business magazine on LinkedIn and @SecBusinessMag on Twitter if you share it.

Mark Ard is Director of Installation, Southwest, for Allied Universal Technology Services, a PSA Security Network member.

In the physical security field, success depends on coordinated effort across multiple disciplines. If a technician who thrives on precise installation is asked to manage client communications, projects can stall. If a project manager skilled in scheduling and stakeholder alignment is tasked with detailed wiring work, errors increase. Misalignment not only frustrates employees, it also creates operational gaps that reduce the effectiveness of security systems.

Consider video surveillance: a camera may capture everything clearly, but without a trained operator who can monitor, interpret, and escalate incidents, the investment offers little protection. Similarly, an access control deployment can fail if the person managing it lacks the organizational skills to coordinate with IT, facilities, and end-users.

In security technology, the “right people” are those whose skills match the demands of the client or vertical market they are serving. These qualities, paired with technical knowledge, ensure systems are deployed and maintained with both accuracy and trust.

In security technology, the “right people” are those whose skills match the demands of the client or vertical market they are serving. These qualities, paired with technical knowledge, ensure systems are deployed and maintained with both accuracy and trust. For example, precision is critical for installers configuring locks, door strikes, and camera placement; and problem-solving is essential for integrators working across IT and physical infrastructure.

As far as personal traits, empathy is an invaluable trait for technicians and support staff who engage directly with clients, and of course, integrity is a non-negotiable when it comes to handling sensitive sites such as hospitals, airports, or government facilities.

Organizations that prioritize alignment of roles with the desired traits for the job see clear benefits. Systems tend to be installed and configured correctly the first time; monitoring teams act quickly and effectively; projects are delivered on time and systems work as promised; and most importantly for integrators, employees stay engaged when their skills and passions match their responsibilities, leading to higher retention rates.

Look for certain traits to fill these common integration company roles:

Installers and field technicians: Detail-oriented professionals who take pride in craftsmanship and system testing.
System designers/engineers: Analytical thinkers who translate client needs into integrated solutions that balance compliance, IT requirements, and facility layout.
Project managers: Organized communicators who coordinate vendors, trades, and client stakeholders to keep projects on track.
Monitoring and operations: Observant, calm individuals who thrive in control rooms, analyzing video feeds and access logs in real time.
Sales and customer support: Relationship-focused professionals who connect technical capabilities with client expectations.

Practical Steps for Leaders

Ensuring the right people are in the right roles is one of the most powerful ways to maximize impact, improve reliability, and deliver on the promise of security technology.

Armed with an understanding of the importance of aligning employee skills with roles and responsibilites, executives should take the first step of auditing current roles and tasks, with the goal of matching responsibilities with employee strengths, not just titles. Allow your staff to try different functions to uncover natural fits.

Lastly, it is important to build skills for emerging technologies like cloud-based access and AI-enabled video analytics. As technology evolves, so should your team’s structure and roles.