Frank Borelli
Editor-in-Chief
Officer.com
Recently I found myself in a conversation with a police officer discussing the difference between leadership and management. There is a
HUGE difference and the success of a police department (or any business for that matter) can be predicted based on the strength of their leadership.
So, what are some of the differences?
As a young corporal put into a first line supervisor's position I thought leadership simply meant motivating everyone to get the job done - whatever the job may be. It took me a few months before I realized that while people may pay minimal respect to the stripes they pay ultimate respect to the person who leads them.
When I was a military policeman I had a sergeant who told me I
had to respect him. I (very politely) told him that, "No. I don't HAVE to respect you. I HAVE to respect your stripes. YOU earn respect." It was a lesson I had to learn when it was my turn even though I should have known it going in.
Managers are very good at telling those who work under them why someone else is to blame for whatever is going on. The managing sergeant is good at saying, "The Lieutenant says we have to do this even though it sucks." The leading Sergeant will say, "Okay, guys. This is the assignment I need your help to accomplish." The leader takes ownership and ultimate responsibility.
Managers will remind all those who work for them how lucky they are to have (fill in the blank: a paycheck, a job, a take home car, a new weapon, new body armor, etc). Leaders will remind officers to be thankful for what they have but then will
inquire as to what else is needed to accomplish the job for efficiently or more safely.
The manager is ultimately working for a paycheck and a raise, while the leader is working for the respect of those (s)he leads and the proud accomplishment of the mission - whatever it may be.
The manager will ultimately end up with little to no respect from those (s)he manages while the leader will find those (s)he works with standing shoulder to shoulder waiting to find out what challenge they are going to overcome next.
Here's the biggest problem: In any police department you can have a leader for a Chief of Police (or a Sheriff). The chain of command though doesn't go from Chief to Officer. In between there are usually some plethora of Lt. Colonels, Majors, Captains, Lieutenants, Sergeants, Cpls and PFCs. If your entire chain of command isn't made up of leaders then you are working under a manager in some way. The only thing you can do is the best you can with what you're given.
It makes me think of this short poem and I wish I knew who originally wrote it so I could give them credit:
We have done so much
with so little
for so long
We are now qualified
to do anything
with nothing.
What do you think?
