Category Archives: Leadership

Posted on

“Why Are You Here?” Jumpstarting Meetings and More

by

I’ve got this stack of Fast Company hard copies that I’m slowly working through. Very slowly. I was in a 2014 issue, and a blurb by Stephanie Vozza caught my eye. She shared ways to make meetings better, faster, and more fun. Under “Faster,” she shared author Dick Axelrod’s idea of “asking participants to share what they need to do or say to be fully attentive.” Good stuff. Jamey Magazines

I used to work at a company with a similar practice. Before meetings and workshops, we’d ask what the “needs and expectations” were. This did two things. It allowed the group leader to understand where participants were mentally, and thereby engage with them more effectively. It also jumpstarted the engagement process by inviting participants to share something personal up front.

Posted on

Who Do You Influence?

by

On Wednesday November 16,2016, I was fortunate to be working WINx 2016.  A premier event featuring speakers from around the United States to provide thoughtful insight to influence the now and next generation of law enforcement leaders.  At the event, I saw many influential leaders, the Director of Illinois State Police, local Chiefs, Deputy Chiefs and Commanders and others in supervisory positions in law enforcement.  Many are acquaintances and a few are friends.  All have some degree of influence in law enforcement at the local, state or national level.

Posted on

What Will Your Legacy Be?

by

In reflecting on my 28 years as a law enforcement officer it’s easy to focus on the ugly, messy, dangerous things that happened during my career—especially when so much is being debated about our profession on social media and in the main stream media. But for me and the legacy I want to leave behind, I need to focus on the positives and so do you.

Legacy is often thought of as what you leave behind when you die. But legacy is something you build every day of your career and your life.

Posted on

Are you a Warrior or a Guardian?

by

Maybe that vein in your neck bulges just to hear the question.

You’re not alone. Gauntlets are being thrown against both words. Seth Stoughton calls the warrior mentality a “Problem.” Dave Smith calls a guardian mindset the position of “uninformed activists.”

The topic cuts to the core of identity as law enforcement officers. Who are you in uniform? Who are you when you take the uniform off? Who are you at the core?

Posted on

The Challenge of Leading Yourself

by

It happens to the best of us.  One day, we wake up (proverbially) and we realize our actions and our words are not necessarily in line.  I am not talking about extreme hypocrisy or huge indiscretions here.  I am talking about the subtle ways we might not be walking our talk.  The big question is; if this happens to you, will you have the courage to take the necessary action to right the wrongs?

Posted on

Failing Forward: What We Miss in Search for Perfection

by

Perfection is a lofty standard. Many have tried and failed. They have failed for a number of reasons but most of all — for being human.

Humans are fallible. What differentiates humans from all other mammals is the ability to THINK.  With thinking comes error. Expecting a person to absolutely correct 100% of the time is unreasonable.

Posted on

Simple Leadership Ideas

by

Leadership is an interesting topic.  One that I’ve been studying for the better part of eight years.  I’ve read dozens of books, lots of research articles, hundreds of blog posts and watched hundreds of videos related to it.  The sheer volume of theories and ideas around this topic is numbing.

Sand Foot Prints JourneyDuring that same time frame, I’ve also been on an interesting personal journey.  One filled with failure and success, disappointment and joy, sadness and happiness.  While some parts of the journey were very personal and private, others were very public.  My beliefs and views on many topics have been challenged and things that I once thought certain became obviously wrong.