For the last 20 years, I have been an avid student of leadership and with 20 years of middle to upper management law enforcement experience, I have had the honor to put much of it in practice. As a student, my journey took me to countless trainings over the years including the FBI National Academy, IACP, and PEDAL to name a few. I was so avid in my thirst for knowledge, I even obtained a doctorate degree that included a ridiculous dissertation in the area of leadership and its impact within the law enforcement profession.
A decade ago, I turned from student to teacher and I have led leadership sessions around the globe but all along, I felt something was missing. While the profession is full of head knowledge in leadership, you would have to be on a remote island to not see the constant damage being done by the lack of leadership in the profession.
Problem Identified
It always bothered me to spend a day with leaders across the country and give them the tools to succeed, only to get on a plane and never see most of them again. Sure, I gave them my website, my phone number and access to these articles, but I never felt it was enough. I knew it wasn’t true accountability and true mentorship but at the time, it was all the capacity I had. After retiring a year ago, I knew I needed to do more and I set out to find a solution.
National Command and Staff College
I thought I had seen all there was to see in law enforcement leadership until one day I ran across The National Command and Staff College. Existing since 2010, I was embarrassed that I didn’t know about it until a few weeks after I retired from the profession. That embarrassment quickly turned to awe as I browsed the website. Not only did they have leadership courses built for every rank in a classroom but they also offered them online or in a blended setting. While I spent 11 weeks away from my family in Quantico (VA) attending what is billed as the “premier” leadership academy, it was hard to not notice the 240 hour online “Command and Staff Leadership” program that also combined 80 hours of in class training.
As it turned out, that signature training was just the beginning. From West Point Leadership to Ethics to Wellness, there were opportunities in front of me than I could ever imagine. All of it was supported by books, podcasts, articles and even science and I was like a kid in Disneyland.
My excitement quickly turned into how did this even happen?
Dr. Mitch Javidi
Dr. Mitch Javidi has more accolades than I could mention in the next 5000 words but even more stunning is that he is a complete outsider. Dr. Javidi isn’t from law enforcement and his background isn’t even in leadership studies. He comes from academia as a peak performance and human behaviorist.
While I was very much confused at the time, that confusion turned into amazement when we met earlier this year. I can’t exactly put into words what it was like to be around Mitch and those of you that have met him know what I’m talking about but let’s just say it was life changing and it became crystal clear how all of this happened.
MAGNUS OVEA
Dr. Javidi’s recent book, “THE THEORY of MAGNUS OVEA” tells part of how he has changed countless lives over the years and is one way he has solved my problem over the years…true accountability and mentorship. Co-authored by Brian Ellis, MAGNUS OVEA is a general theory on human performance and wellness and utilizes 11 Rings of Performance to take the individual leader from GREAT to MAGNUS and realizing the full potential of the individual. I’l let the book explain the details, but nothing can replace the experience of the MAGNUS OVEA Leadership workshop.
Life Changing Event
A few weeks ago I travelled to Pinal County, Arizona and spent two days with Dr. Javidi and his team for the training, Justin King and Gary Lawrence. It was a “drinking from a firehose experience” but I don’t think anyone could attend and not be affected at a personal and professional level.
The general premise is that a leader must lead themself before having success at leading others and the 11 Rings are the tool to build that capacity for performance. While Dr. Javidi is no doubt a magnetic personalty, the class is not about him but about each student. I’m not sure I’ve ever felt cared for in a professional setting like I did in those 48 hours and that was a feeling that every attendee had.
But There’s More…
If you thought, this was just another course or leadership program, Mitch and his team, that includes my podcast co-host, Brian Ellis, has taken it to the next level. What better way to ensure greatness and beyond as a leader than world class training plus a phone application that stays with the student.
That is where MAGNUSWorx comes in. MAGNUSWorx draws from the 11 Rings and is a daily tool that can be used by the individual leader and the organization to keep pushing for greatness. If you are a chief and you want to understand where the holes are in your organization, they can ask their agency through the app and the officers (who are anonymous) can tell them. From surveys to training to articles to daily tips, MAGNUS WORX is the next level leadership component that has always been missing in training. Frankly, I do not believe any chief or sheriff can truly succeed without it. MAGNUSWorx is a level of achievement that has never been possible until now and it should be mandatory in every law enforcement organization.
If that wasn’t enough, they recently launched the first ever ICF accredited coaching course for public safety and in the months to come, more is coming.
Closing
Pinal County Chief Deputy Matt Thomas may have said it best when giving the motivation to host Dr. Javidi and his team…”The best thing you can do is create a legacy.”
I couldn’t agree more and if you want that, contact Dr. Javidi and his team today.
Dr. Travis Yates retired as a commander with a large municipal police department after 30 years of service. He is the author of “The Courageous Police Leader: A Survival Guide for Combating Cowards, Chaos & Lies.” His risk management and leadership seminars have been taught to thousands of professionals across the world. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy with a Doctorate Degree in Strategic Leadership and the CEO of the Courageous Police Leadership Alliance.
