Protector Code™

As a community of protectors, we strive to help organizations and society

Produce Value | Preserve Value | Achieve Objectives | Address Uncertainty | Act With Integrity


We serve our organizations and society in various roles. We have in common a desire to be good protectors; to produce and preserve value; and to reliably achieve objectives, address uncertainty, and act with integrity.

Produce
Value

Good protectors know that it is important to generate value for stakeholders.

Preserve
Value

Good protectors know that it is important to ensure value does not erode or atrophy. 

Principled
Performance

Good protectors reliably achieve objectives, address uncertainty, and act with integrity.

The Protector Code™

Protectors serve a critical role in organizations and society. We help to simultaneously produce and preserve value to that important gains don't unnecessarily erode or atrophy. We help to reliably achieve objectives, address uncertainty, and act with integrity.

The Protector Skillset™

An important part of the Protector Code is a dedication to an interdisciplinary skillset.
By integrating these disciplines (sometimes called GRC) we are able to solve complex, even wicked problems.

Governance & Oversight

Governance and oversight skills include the way we constrain and conscribe activities of the organization or some subunit:
Set direction
Identify and set boundaries
Allocate authority
Authorize performance, risk, and compliance systems
Shape a culture of integrity

Strategy & Performance

Strategy and performance skills include the way we set objectives and key results; and how we map strategies and tactics to address opportunities, obstacles, and obligations:
Set objectives and key results
Identify opportunities, obstacles, and obligations
Align strategies and tactics
Manage performance, risk, and compliance systems

Risk & Decision-Making

Risk and decision support skills include the way we address uncertainty and make sound decisions:
Identifying risks
Assessing risks
Addressing risks
Measuring and monitoring risks
Using decision science and support techniques

Compliance & Ethics

Compliance and ethics skills include the way we address obligations and the risks associated with both mandatory and voluntary boundaries:
Identify mandatory obligations
Identify and formalize voluntary obligations
Assess compliance and ethics risk
Set policy and procedures
Educate and communicate with the workforce
Inspire and shape an ethical culture

Security & Continuity

Security and continuity skills include the way we address significant risks and crises, especially those areas of the organization prone to attack or existential consequences:
Identifying critical physical and digital assets
Assessing related risks
Addressing related risks
Measuring and monitoring related risks
Using scenario planning and simulation to practice response
Performing crisis response when appropriate

Audit & Assurance

Audit and assurance skills include the way we enhance the confidence of internal and external stakeholders that the organization is designed and operating effectively to reliably achieve objectives, address uncertainty, and act with integrity:
Prioritize assurance activities
Plan, perform, report, and monitor assessments
Use design and substantive testing techniques
Communicate with stakeholders and management to enhance confidence

The Protector Mindset™

An important part of the Protector Code is a dedication to a mindset that we carry into every job and even into our personal lives. This mindset is perhaps the #1 thing that others notice about how we approach our work and life.

The Protector Mindset is a collection of attributes that we bring to our job and daily activities. We strive for the "Golden Mean" and avoid both the overuse and underuse of these attributes.

Accountable

Too many people blame others and pass the buck because “it’s not my job,” and a protector mindset brings accountability. We know that we can always be more accountable and take ownership of more.
We avoid the underuse of accountability where we blame others, wait for others and say, "it's not my job!". We avoid the overuse of accountability, where we step on toes, micromanage and potentially move beyond the scope.

Stable

VUCA and Disconnection are fundamentally “destabilizing” forces, and a protector mindset brings stability to the organization. We strive to bring stability against the volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) realities. We strive to be conscientious and careful. We strive to be calm and detached from turmoil.
We avoid the underuse of stability where we might be neurotic, caught up, and chaotic. We avoid the overuse of stability, where we appear to have no emotion, don't care, and are obsessive.

Collaborative

Producing and preserving value requires relationships and teamwork with other people, and a protector mindset is collaborative. We know that relationships are everything and that through teamwork, we can do more than by ourselves.
We avoid the underuse of collaboration where we are isolated, antagonistic, and hoarding information. We avoid the overuse of collaboration, where work becomes a social club and where nobody owns outcomes.

Proactive

The modern economy moves fast, and the protector mindset knows that being proactive helps win the day. We know that being proactive reduces the risk of being caught off guard, helps us correct errors, and be more courageous.
We avoid the underuse of proactivity where we are clueless, paralyzed, and cowardly. We avoid the overuse of proactivity, where we leap without looking or too frequently change without ever reaching a steady state.

Visionary

Dealing with obstacles and obligations can make us forget the big picture, and so a protector mindset brings vision to the organization. We know that being purposeful, optimistic, and focusing on the long game is critical.
We avoid the underuse where we are myopic, pessimistic (even cynical!) and focus on the short game. We avoid the overuse where we get too abstract, too naive, and without an end in sight.

Versatile

Wicked problems require an interdisciplinary approach, and a protector mindset brings a versatile skillset to the solution. We strive to integrate critical disciplines to approach our work from multiple dimensions using the Protector Skillset.
We avoid the underuse of versatility where we myopically have a "hammer, and everything looks like a nail." We avoid the overuse of versatility, where we create overly complicated solutions that never get implemented.




As strong protectors, we make a commitment to being professional in everything we do. We commit to ourselves, our organizations, society, and each other.

Commitment to Ourselves

We owe it to ourselves to produce value, preserve value and achieve Principled Performance. By using the Protector Mindset and the Protector Skillset, we excel at work and in our daily activities.

Commitment to Our Organizations

We owe it to our employing organizations to have the highest level of integrity, exercise objective and competent judgment on its behalf and promote Principled Performance in everything we do.

Commitment to Society

We owe it to society to contribute to the public good by helping every organization and individual achieve Principled Performance and with our willingness and courage to address misconduct, mistakes, and miscalculations whenever we see them.

Commitment to Each Other

We owe it to each other to be accountable to the Protector Code, hold each other to the Protector Code, and cheerfully help each other succeed.
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