I first met Dr. Kimberly Alyn, a best-selling author and international professional speaker, at a SC Sheriff’s Association Conference where she was our guest speaker. I was totally impressed with her ethical vision for leadership and its consistency with the character-based message of Police Dynamics. Since that day, we have remained strong colleagues and email “pen pals.”

I came across this video of her speaking at a leadership conference and asked for her permission to post it here. I thought it would make a great finale to our series on Dynamic Leadership.

She emphasizes the importance of building strong relationships to influence others — a key component of our Coactivity Maxim and the Team Building Roles of a SuperVisor. You will particularly like the example of a Renegade Cop who “overdosed” on some confiscated marijuana. See the video through to the end because the best part is her rendition of “Up Time“…

Thanks, Kim. And keep up the good character…!

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During my trip to Goa, India, I stumbled across this abandoned, partially completed hotel in the middle of the jungle. It was infested with bats, but gave me a great opportunity to talk about the Twin Towers of Integrity and the Building Blocks of Success.

The Bat "Cave"

The Bat "Cave" in the dark

To understand the important role that ethics plays in accomplishing the police mission, or achieving success in any organization for that matter, let’s look at a model I call the Twin Towers of Integrity. (more…)

An effective leader is one that can inspire others. But the word “inspire” has a dual meaning…

Check out the International Academy of Public Safety website, and their affiliate site  www.icommandacademy.com, which features “yours truly” on the Instructors page. The Police Dynamics Institute is partnering with IAPS to produce a series of leadership videos, so stay tuned for more information… 

When I inspire, I inhale. When I expire, I exhale. When I exhale for the last time, I have expired…! But think about the process of inspiration. When I expand my rib cage and my diaphragm, I create a low pressure system, a vacuum, within my chest cavity and air rushes in. (more…)

I found this remote beach called Butterfly Beach in Goa, India to film the next installment in the Dynamic Leadership Series. The Dynamic Leadership Equation looks at the integration of qualities necessary to be an effective leader.

Dynamic Leadership Equation 
OR x TBR = DL

This equation makes no sense until you recognize that it stands for Organizational Roles multiplied by Team Building Roles equals Dynamic Leadership.

When I first put together the Dynamic Leadership training curriculum, I originally used an addition sign instead of a multiplication symbol in this equation. I was trying to make the point that (more…)

Theodore Roosevelt

I just finished reading a most excellent book, the River of Doubt which chronicles Teddy Roosevelt‘s last adventure, a trip down an uncharted river in South America. It was an incredible account of survival and adventure and will forever be one of my all time favorite books. I gained a healthy new respect for Roosevelt and his character (although not always his policies).

I found this quote from him on the I Command Academy website, an organization that the Police Dynamics Institute is partnering with to bring interactive leadership training to law enforcement agencies throughout the world…

The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it. — Theodore Roosevelt

Early in my first term as Sheriff, my command staff and I were confronted with a management situation that put the Dynamic of Discipline to the test.

There were two employees who were engaged in an improper action that clearly demanded some type of discipline. They were both essentially guilty of the same offense, but we noted that the character of the two individuals was clearly different. By applying the Rule of Discipline, we were able to come up with two entirely distinct disciplinary actions which ultimately resulted in the full restoration of both employees.

Rule of Discipline 

Let the nature of the offense determine the range of options
Let the character of the offender determine which option you choose

First, we determined what range of disciplinary options were available to us based on the nature of the offense. In this case, we had the full range of options available from counselling to termination. Secondly, we looked at the character of the individuals. I actually passed out a printed copy of the Path of Destruction dynagram from the Dynamic of Restoration which depicts the steps in the downward progression of a Renegade. I asked the staff to tell me where each employee fit on the dynagram.

Path of Destruction

With very little debate, they were in agreement that the first employee was typically very faithful, (more…)

I am currently on leave, staying in a beach hut at Simrose in Agonda Beach, Goa, India. So I was unable to post any training videos this past week. However, I plan to record some more videos while I am here that I will post to the site in the near future. So stay tuned…!

Thought you might enjoy some photos…

“Men of genius are admired, men of wealth are envied, men of power
are feared; but only men of character are trusted.”
– Author Unknown

“There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations … who will raise up friends to fight our battle for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. … Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death.” — Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775

Abner Nash

Interestingly (to me at least), I was reading Patriot Sons, Patriot Brothers, a book about two of my ancestors Abner and Francis Nash, and found that their elder brother, John Nash, Jr. was present at Saint John’s Church in Richmond, Virginia on March 23, 1775 when Patrick Henry made his famous speech to the Virginia House of Burgesses. Gen. Francis Nash was killed by a British cannonball at the Battle of Germantown. The same cannonball killed the son of John Witherspoon, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and one of my favorite Founding Fathers. Thomas Paine passed Gen. Nash as his wounded body was being carried to receive medical attention. He died a few days later and his funeral was attended by none other than Gen. George Washington. Just thought you should know…

The Dynamic Leadership Rule of Discipline fits very well within a progressive discipline model. Discerning where the offender is on the downward Path of Destruction described in the Dynamic of Restoration is the key factor in determining their character. There are five steps in the Path of Destruction: Independent Spirit, Wounded Spirit, Bitter Spirit, Rebellious Spirit, and Unrestorable Spirit. Interestingly, these five steps fit very nicely into a progressive discipline model that includes Counselling, Reprimand, Suspension, Demotion, and Termination.

There are specific steps in the downward Path of Destruction that a person will typically experience once he steps out from under authority. To gain a full understanding of the Rule of Discipline and the reasons behind ethical failures, it is essential to understand this process.

Path of Destruction

We start with the Faithful Spirit – protected from harmful and evil influences and acting in harmony with the principles of his authority. He takes the first steps out from under this protection by displaying an Independent Spirit. (more…)