5 Leadership Rules from the SWAT Team
If sixteen years (and counting) on the police SWAT team has taught me one thing, it's leadership development . Above providing all the tactical, team, and individual technical skills training, my team knows how to grow crops of leaders. It's a cultural thing - where the first man on scene or the last woman standing is ready, willing, and prepared to make critical decisions...quite literally ones that may be ones of life-or-death. Whether the person is the top Commander, a mid-level supervisor, or the newest, least experienced person on the team, we preach leadership. Here are five steadfast rules that guide our leader development: 1. Determine the goal and strategy. Big picture thinking is vital. With teams, it's easy for a member to zone-in on one's specific task or responsibility. Our people must always understand the overall objective and the broad, concept-based, strategic plan. Obedience to lower priority tactical or task plans that violate more