Gordon Graham
Category: Public Safety
Gordon Graham here with Today’s Tip from Lexipol. Today, I want to talk to all my friends in public safety about developing future leaders.
You know, I still remember what it felt like to be a rookie. I also remember the important responsibilities that kept stacking up as I progressed through the ranks. Leadership is a fundamental part of any organization. In our line of work, effective leadership can be the difference between life and death.
You can’t expect subordinates to grow into leadership roles without significant effort.
In the old days, leadership was largely top-down. The leader said jump and the subordinate asked how high. Today, the servant leadership model is best practice. That means you focus on what your subordinates need to succeed. What unique attributes and skills does each subordinate possess? Where do they need to improve? And how can you help them do that?
Cultivating future leaders is an important part of maintaining a successful organization. It starts with appropriate training and mentorship, then continues through observation and practice. Future leaders observe what current leaders say and do. They learn what works and what doesn’t. They also evaluate their own skillsets, while comparing the efforts of others.
Now listen, folks: Developing effective leadership requires teamwork. Current leaders must work together to set firm expectations grounded in effective and clearly defined policies and procedures. This requires communication and collaboration at all levels of the organization. It also requires current leaders to make a concerted effort to impart knowledge, skills, and abilities to subordinates.
Additionally, your organization owes you time and resources to develop future leaders. A heavy workload and staffing constraints can make this difficult, but it’s important to carve out time for mentorship, training, and performance reviews.
You can’t expect subordinates to grow into leadership roles without significant effort. And don’t forget: As a leader, your number one responsibility is training your replacement. Do your part to invest in the future of your organization.
And that’s Today’s Tip from Lexipol. Until next time, Gordon Graham signing off.
