Imagine you're in a group that's confronting a very challenging mission. What kind of leader would you prefer to follow? I'm sure one of the traits you would look for is confidence. It's my belief that confidence can be cultivated.
For example, imagine the year is 1849. You're in a group of pioneers moving west to take part in the historic gold rush. The wagon master timed your departure to get over the Rocky Mountains during the summer to avoid snow. You're now crossing a large desert, and the water barrels are dry. The normal water sources are either dry or just mud pits. The temperature is over 115 degrees F during the day. People are close to dying of thirst. And the wagon master admits he's lost.
Then the wagon train approaches a unique rock formation. Excitement spreads throughout the wagon train because this rock formation is a landmark on the map. The map indicates there are dependable water wells just three miles west of the rocks but there's a problem. Traveling by night and making several necessary turns has made the compass headings confused at best.
At this point, two leaders emerge.Leader 1 says, "I know it's been some time since the sun has gone down, and we've made several turns to negotiate canyons. We can't be sure which way is west. I kind of think west may be over there (he points out into the dark). I'm not sure, but I think we should start out in that direction. Why don't we give it a try? If I'm wrong, we can always come back and start over."
Leader 2 says, "Don't listen to him. He's wrong. If you look up at the stars, you'll notice a constellation right there. That group of stars is called the Big Dipper. I've studied celestial navigation and acted as a navigator for a shipping company. I know that if you draw a line through the two stars forming the lip of the dipper opposite the handle, that line will point to Polaris."
Leader 2 then points at a star and says, "That's Polaris. Polaris is the North Star. That way is north. There's absolutely no doubt about it. If that way is north, then this way (he points 90 degrees to the left) is west. There's no doubt about it. I'm going to get some water. Do any of you want to go with me?"
I don't think there would be much doubt about who to follow.
In the above hypothetical, the confident leader illustrates an important principle in developing confidence: He had explainable reasons for his position, and his confidence wasn't based on emotion or personal feelings. This principle can be applied to all leadership situations.
One of the most powerful ways to develop knowledge on a given subject is through experience. When my agency developed an advance course on combat shooting, we chose two of our SWAT officers who had been involved in several combat shootings that demonstrated their judgment and skills. When they delivered the training, they spoke with conviction and certainty. They had been there and done that.
But you may be in a leadership position where you haven't had the benefit of extensive experience in each of your assigned responsibilities. How can you develop confidence and certainty in such a case?
Practical Steps
1. Identify the significant issues facing you. One method to do this in our profession would be to go through the last year or so of law enforcement magazines. Check out the table of contents in each. Look for reoccurring themes, such as high-speed pursuits. These are the current hot buttons (probably five or six). If you're in a specialized assignment, include that specialty in your search.
2. Study the indentified subjects. Prepare to write an essay on each of the issues. Have a stack of 3"x5" cards at your side. Research the literature on the subjects. Don't overlook a simple Google search on the Internet. When you read something that seems significant, prepare a card that summarizes your thoughts.
3. Talk with others in law enforcement. Ask others in the profession who have had relevant experience questions. Don't restrict your inquiry to your own agency. Document the insights you obtain through this process also on cards.
4. Prepare an essay on each of the subjects. You should have a small stack of cards on each subject. Organize the cards in a sequence that makes sense to you. Once you have the cards in logical order, writing the essay will be fairly simple.
This process can prove time consuming, but it will equip you to lead with confidence on point.
