Supervisors sometimes have to uphold policies or give directions with which they do not entirely agree. In the past couple of weeks, I have had conversations about just this topic with three people who have faced this challenge in three distinct contexts: A commander in a metropolitan law enforcement agency. He supervises sergeants, who supervise […]
It’s a good time of year to reflect on gratitude. The kids are back in school, Thanksgiving is around the corner, and in our part of the Northern Hemisphere, seasonal change can no longer credibly be denied. It was a great summer, and it is a lovely fall. It also feels like time to get […]
I recently traveled to Indianapolis to present to the IERC (Indiana Emergency Response Conference), the annual conference of the Indiana State Fire Chiefs Association. It was an entirely positive experience: great conversations with fire service leaders, interesting presentations on a range of topics, and my own session was well received. The trip also included a […]
This morning I was rushing to meet our accountant – yes, on a Sunday, and yes, perilously close to April 15 – when I walked headlong into a tree branch. My face is nothing to write home about, but it is the only one I have, so my first thought concerned whether it was bleeding. […]
About six weeks ago I began teaching a Metro State University course at Century College. It was my first time on that campus; my introduction was memorable and, well, instructive. A staff member saw me studying the map, offered a warm welcome, and guided me to the classroom. “We’re so happy to have Metro State […]
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” – Proverbs 27:17 One implicit goal of ELA’s leadership programs is to encourage participants to forge relationships that help them grow as leaders. Sometimes those relationships take the form of classic mentorships: a more experienced mentor shares wisdom and offers guidance to a less experienced protégée. These relationships […]
We human beings are fallible. We make mistakes. Screw up. Goof. Err. Given that errors are inevitable, I’m always surprised by how painful it can be when that aspect of our humanity manifests itself. A healthy respect for our fallibility is a very good thing. It causes us to be careful, and to design processes […]
It’s true: “actions speak louder than words.” It is one thing to support an effort with words, and another to contribute our time, our energies, or our resources. A sincere apology can constitute very important words, helping to heal and strengthen relationships after we do harm. But, if that apology isn’t supported by action, then […]
“I pledge Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands…” To take the Pledge of Allegiance is a remarkable act, which is often (nearly universally) overlooked. The first pledge, composed by Franics Bellamy in 1892, was deliberately simple and brief: “I pledge allegiance to my […]
I often close presentations with the following observation. I am grateful to Pastor Dan Carlson of Public Safety Ministries for encouraging me to put it in writing. I believe that the first leadership development seminar on earth was an ancient campfire. Consider the scene: the tribe, clan, village – the community – gathered together after […]
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