Reflections on Leadership

There are several fallacies that swirl about the outcome from law enforcement promotions. One of these is that some further confuse a promotion into leadership with the individual’s leadership talents. First and foremost, if you have a “lucky day” taking the promotional exam and get promoted, do not confuse your promotion with instant intelligence. If you believe this, please turn in your shield and seek another occupation. Law enforcement does not need you or any other phony leaders, for hapless leaders such as these will get somebody hurt (or worse) before it’s all over. Even more realistic will be how many good officers that you will run off the job due to your ineptitude. For law enforcement to meet the demands of today and the future, it requires real leaders and no more pretenders.

Some pursue a promotion for financial motives only. They are only wanting to pad their wallet and retirement account. Seeking a promotion should be one of personal fulfillment within your chosen profession. If your motives are strictly monetary, you will not be successful. If you are lucky, you will only be despised rather than hated.

Promotions and their outcomes are for life. Be sure when you write the script of your leadership biographical movie , it is a quality movie and not a horror story. Your impacts as a leader do not end when you retire or leave the job. You will be remembered as the boss that invested time with the team. The boss that they enjoyed learning from and working for. You must understand that mentoring is for life, there is no expiration date. When it comes to mentoring a staff member, it is much like parenting. You never quit offering council and advice after their first formulative years. I still recall my mentors. Some have passed and I wish I could pick up the phone for one more call. On the flip side, if you become “that one” that is recalled with loathing in their memory, you will be used as the bad example or the way not to do things.

Some view a promotion as the easy way out for a career pathway. It will be inside work and no heavy lifting as many view it from the outside looking in. They are so wrong. Each level of promotion within your career brings new required levels of job competence and leadership skills. Your time investment and workload will increase! You should be the first one in to prepare for the day’s shift and probably the last one out, wrapping up the shift.

So, what advice can I offer those seeking a promotion?

Read and fully understand the job description. Most never know what the other rank does until they arrive in that position. Do not forget to read the “and other tasks not designated….”

Grasp the projected impacts it will make on your life before you start. Does your organization move newly promoted staff to another precinct or division? If you are state trooper or federal agent- will you have to move? What are the impacts on personal finances (buying/selling a home or moving expenses come to mind). What will a move do to your spouse’s job and kids in school? Uprooting the family may or may not be worth it. Have a family meeting first.

Weigh out personal impacts as well. What does this do for your seniority at a new rank? Will your days off change? What about your shifts changing? Your life might be happy now, but it can get turned upside down with a new assignment with no time in rank.

Depending on departmental policy, some who rode the overtime train in the past may now become salary and “comp time” may sound fun at first but you cannot cash it in at the grocery store. If your current personal financial security depends on overtime or extra duty jobs, can you still survive on just new salary alone? I have known several who have turned down promotions over loss of seniority and its impacts and inability to make some side money. Weigh out your decisions from the personal and family side first. Sometimes a promotion at this time is not all it is cracked up to be.

Plan on becoming a learner. There are some who only attend training when it is mandatory to keep your certification card. As a new leader you will be enrolled in supervisory training for you to attend now. There will also be additional courses to learn—budgeting and scheduling come to mind. Most newly promoted sergeants will double their training time commitments within the first year.

If you are seeking a promotion for fame, stop and rethink this. Try comparing the title of a “coach” for a moment. Ever wonder why when a team has a bad season the coach gets fired? Coach Paul William “Bear” Bryant (1913-1983) once said, “If anything goes bad, I did it. If anything goes semi-good, then we did it. If anything goes real good, then you did it.” Here, Coach Bryant is saying teamwork, preparation and winning attitudes will get the team there. But note the part “if anything goes bad, I did it” places the weight of the team on the leader. Can you shoulder this and lead your team? This is also a great statement on humility. Always praise your staff in public, chastise in private. It is always the precinct’s, the squad’s or whatever the unit’s title is that was successful, it is not yours. Be uplifting and their cheerleader!

A few years ago a fellow chief was removed from office over the repeated departmental failures. Most did not understand this. My response was that being a chief of police is like that of a National Football League coach. I also reminded them all that the NFL can stand for “Not For Long” if you are not winning. Chiefs, like coaches, are hired to be fired. We all need to understand this reality of life. Rarely does a supervisor get fired, maybe disciplined or rank reduction. But recall, it’s all on you now and the team’s success depends upon your performance.