A critical leadership principle is the ability to articulate vision and standards. Part 3 of the Polish the Tarnished Badge series deals with communicating the standard of good character. A failure to clearly articulate a standard is a leadership failure. So law enforcement leaders must be particularly careful to communicate standards and expectations clearly and unambiguously.

Franklin Smith, President of Character Focus and former Director of Administration for the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office, explores the concepts of using a Police Standards Manual and Character First Bulletins to help communicate the character standards of a police organization in this video from the National Sheriff’s Association Annual Conference.

Most professional standards in law enforcement agencies are achievement, performance, or behavior based standards. Yet most of our failures are related to character. There are two critical components to establishing our integrity: character and competence. Most of our training is related to competence while, again, most of our problems are in the character arena when it comes to ethical failures.

In Part 2 of Polish the Tarnished Badge from the National Sheriff’s Association Annual Conference, Sheriff Ray Nash presents the Dynamic of Character and explores the need for incorporating character into our professional standards of behavior.

This is my favorite Easter Song and it’s been running through my head all day. So I thought I would share it with you on this blessed day…

The Easter Song by Keith Green

The Empty Tomb

But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.

– 1 Corinthians 15:12-19

May the Lord bless you as we celebrate His resurrection and His victory over sin and death…

Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius – Roman emperor, best known for his Meditations on Stoic philosophy, AD 121-180

Know the condition of your flock

I just finished reading Larry Kreider’s most excellent book, 21 Tests of Effective Leadership. It really helped me re-focus on what makes a great leader and recommit myself to becoming the kind of leader I am called to be.

Larry had a bunch of great quotes on leadership, but one that stuck out with me was a quote from former Secretary of State Colin Powell in the chapter called “The Vision Test.” He said:

“… find ways to reach down and touch everyone in a unit. Make individuals feel important and part of something larger than themselves.”

This is a variation of the principle: Know the condition of your flock. An effective leader knows the importance of trust-based relationships within the organization. If you are a supervisor, you should make it a point to touch base with everyone that is directly under your command or a part of your team at least once a day if at all possible. In this way, you will build the relationship and know their condition. This is an essential ingredient for servant-leadership.

Remember: the greatest Leader who ever lived said, “I came not to be served, but TO serve” and “He who would be greatest among you must become the servant of all…”