No one will understand leadership challenges better than us. We take a very systemic view and approach to leadership. Leadership does not exist in a vacuum – it sits within a strategy, a team, an organizational history, a political landscape, a media backdrop, an external cultural environment, and more. 

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Policing is a dangerous context that requires organizations to have a strong and articulated culture. In essence, culture defines the identity organization members need for the context and also serves to unite and synchronize members’ efforts around core values, mission, vision, and purpose. In such a dangerous context, leaders will constantly be scrutinized. Therefore, cultivate a character ethic to withstand the scrutiny: and be more effective with most of your people most of the time. The first critical element for leaders’ development to accomplish this is the resilience of vulnerable self-reflection, and the second equally critical element is solid, safe relationships. Thick, heavy relationships. People who can handle your stuff. In a dangerous context, vulnerable self-reflection will come during a leadership challenge and feel like fire. In that case, relationships are like an anvil that can hold us in our most vulnerable, malleable, and oozy moments in life and leadership and keep us and those around us psychologically safe.

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The organization’s core values define the characteristics members need to possess to clear the pathway for all to feel secure in their homes, work, and community. We MUST cultivate integrity of character based on authenticity to withstand opposition attacks. Remember: If your opponent has the law, he argues the law. If he has facts, he argues facts or emotional appeal; he argues that. He attacks your character if he hasn’t the law, facts, or emotional appeal. Both your private and public life are targets for character assassination. If we are overly sensitive when criticized and rush to defend ourselves, that must go. If we make excuses for failure and try to blame others or circumstances, that must go. If we are intolerant or inflexible so that creative people around us feel hemmed in, that must go.

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If we can become self-aware, have group awareness, and lead beyond awareness, we can create a healthy culture for ALL people to thrive.

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Our core values here at LION Organizational Development Institute are Loyalty – Integrity – Optimism – Nobility.