Security Breach!
5 Strategies to Protect Your Building
Hack Your Productivity Cut Out Needless Notifications
According to the FBI, a burglary occurs every 20 seconds.We tend to focus on protecting our homes from invasion, but in 2016, over 460,000 nonresidential buildings were burglarized. And after one successful break-in, your building is more likely to be targeted again. Here are a few crucial strategies to improve the security of your building.
Smile for the camera.
Let’s start with the basics: If you don’t already have CCTV surveillance, install a system right away. Position these cameras in common areas with good lighting, and make sure they’re visible. The sight of security cameras may deter criminals from making your building a target. Some property managers try to cut corners by using fake cameras to scare off criminals, but this can backfire in the event of a break-in. Use real cameras and service them regularly so you can review the tapes whenever you need to.
The buzz of a text message, the ding of a Facebook notification, the pop-ups letting us know we have mail — these push notifications have become part of office life. Whether you’re a CEO trying to remain plugged in to every aspect of your business, or an employee trying to tackle three different projects at once, these bells and whistles may seem like useful tools. But the facts are clear: Notifications are costing you time and money. The reason many of us tolerate these digital interruptions is because of the myth of multitasking. “Why not jump over and answer a few emails while finishing this project?” we ask ourselves. “It will save time.” But the truth is our brains simply aren’t wired to shift tasks so rapidly. Daniel J. Levitin, professor of behavioral neuroscience at McGill University, has found that attempting to multitask causes stress, mental fog, and difficulty focusing. Researchers at UC Irvine found that there is a tangible cost to this mental drain, and he estimates that it takes us 23 minutes to get back to the task at hand. Think about how many notifications you receive in a day. All that stress and lost time can add up. In fact, Psychology Today reports multitaskers can lose up to 40% of their productivity, meaning you’re working harder and accomplishing less. So, what can you do to stay on task? Turn off notifications. As hard as it sounds, this is the best possible method to protect your productivity. Trying to simply ignore the tantalizing ding of a social media update or a rapidly filling inbox is a recipe for failure. Using settings like Airplane Mode, or notification-filtering apps like Freedom, you remove the temptation to stray off task. You don’t have to keep yourself entirely in the dark — scheduling regular breaks to check notifications and respond to emails will keep you connected while preserving a healthy work rhythm. Managers can play a big part in helping their team fight task-switching as well. Setting expectations for how long responding to emails and other communications should take, as well as providing windows of uninterrupted work time will boost productivity across the board. You’ll find that team members get more done with less stress, and that’s something everyone can be happy about.
Don’t neglect your landscaping.
Never let overgrowth overtake your property. Criminals view unkempt trees, bushes, and grass as a sign that you’ve been neglecting your property. This implies you may be neglecting other areas, too — your security system, for example.
Let there be light.
Unless you have Batman patrolling your city streets at night, nighttime is when criminals are most likely to strike. Install motion detector floodlights in prime areas around your building, including entrances, exits, gates, garages, in your landscaping, and near ground-level windows. A sudden burst of light can scare off would-be intruders and potentially alert anyone nearby of trouble.
Invest in parking security.
The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that 11% of property crimes and more than 7% of violent attacks occur in parking facilities. If your building has a parking facility, make sure this area has ample security.
Determine who’s in charge.
When reviewing building security, it’s important to determine who is responsible for keeping security up to date. Should the building owner or property manager maintain security, or does it fall to the tenants? Answer this question and make sure the person responsible is following all agreed-upon security protocols. There’s no one-size-fits-all strategy for security. Depending on the nature of a business or building, you will have specific security needs. You should periodically assess potential risks, make sure your building’s needs are met, and make repairs as needed.
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