In conjunction with the International Academy of Public Safety and the National Sheriff’s Association, we are embarking on a new leadership development program called E⁵ Leadership. This training video was filmed at the George Washington House on the island of Barbados.

Let us raise up a standard to which the wise and honest can repair. The results are in the hands of God. ~ George Washington

When you boil down most of the leadership principles that we teach through Police Dynamics or the Institute for Credible Leadership Development, they center around the Standards of an organization. We often think of a standard as a flag or banner being carried into battle. When the standard-bearer goes down, another soldier will immediately pick up the flag. Why? The flag itself is just a piece of material. It’s not what the flag IS that is so meaningful. But what the flag REPRESENTS that makes it so important. The same is true of our badge, our patch, our uniform and the other symbols attached to the law enforcement profession.

It also applies to the standards of our profession and our agency. A standard is a measure of quality, a model or ideal of what is true, right, and just. So E⁵ Leadership focuses on the standard or identity of your agency from 5 different perspectives:

• E¹ – Establish the Standard

• E² – Embrace the Standard

• E³ – Embody the Standard

• E⁴ – Encourage the Standard

• E⁵ – Enforce the Standard

In coming posts, we will look at each of these elements in more detail…