NCJ Number
200086
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 70 Issue: 4 Dated: April 2003 Pages: 128-133
Date Published
April 2003
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the importance and means of developing leadership among police officers at all levels and ranks of the agency, with attention to the seven habits of highly effective people.
Abstract
Building leaders starts with the development of character, which is about a person's vision, discipline, and passion, all of which are governed by conscience. Police managers can help their officers develop character by not only teaching leadership but also by creating opportunities for them to grow as human beings. This growth can only come from learning about oneself, which involves identifying and defining one's core values and developing a sense of purpose that becomes one's compass in life. It also comes by having a clear understanding and commitment to what the policing profession represents in a democratic way of life. Building the character and competence of leaders at all levels of the organization is about developing the habits of all highly effective people. These consist of being proactive in managing one's life to comply with consistent values; beginning with the end in mind; putting first things first to achieve the most beneficial use of time and activity; thinking win-win in achieving mutual benefit and mutual respect in all interactions; seeking first to understand, then to be understood; synergizing, which is the pooling of contributions to create a strategy that is better than any one of the inputs; and "sharpening the saw," which is about constantly renewing oneself in the four basic areas of life: physical, social-emotional, mental, and spiritual.