Leadership Worldview Paper- Final Assignment

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LEADERSHIP WORLDVIEW 1 Leadership Worldview Paper: Final Michael Via Helms School of Government, Liberty University Author Note Michael Via I have no known conflict of interest to disclose. Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Michael Via Email: mwvia@liberty.edu

LEADERSHIP WORLDVIEW 2 Abstract Leadership in law enforcement is an intricate and demanding role to play. Leaders in this field are required to navigate managing and leading a group of people amidst one of the most difficult professions in terms of stress, public scrutiny, low pay, short staffing, and bureaucracy. The leader must achieve high levels of motivation, morale, job satisfaction, and performance despite these challenges. The methods by which a law enforcement leader must employ do achieve their goal vary from use of different leadership styles and motivational techniques. A leader’s worldview and their projection of that worldview on their followers has a profound effect on their influence on their people, the mission, and the organization. This research paper will review the leadership styles and motivational techniques within the context of a Biblical worldview that have been found to best be suited to leadership in law enforcement. Keywords : leadership, law enforcement, motivation, worldview

LEADERSHIP WORLDVIEW 3 Leadership Worldview Paper: Final Effective leaders in law enforcement have to engage, motivate, and guide their subordinates with the goal of achieving organizational and unit missions while protecting the welfare, well-being, and interests of their employees (Schafer, 2008). The means by which leader’s achieve this mission involves the employment of specific leadership styles and motivational techniques. Leadership styles that promote open lines of communication, employee satisfaction, and use a shared vision are highly effective for employee welfare and satisfaction, but aren’t always effective in the course of a high stress incident (Sarver & Miller, 2013). Therefore a leader needs to be verse in differing styles to employ them as needed based on the dynamic situations encountered in law enforcement. Using these different styles of leadership, the leader can affect the employee’s motivation as well. Motivation is a key component to a successful law enforcement leader. A leader with open communication with their subordinates is likely to understand their officer’s needs, and then able to act on those needs through use of intrinsic or extrinsic motivation techniques (Giblin, 2017). A team of motivated and productive officers with high morale are the prerequisites to building an effective team. In law enforcement, the sense of team is critical to the officer’s safety, productivity, and morale. A leader achieves this by building up their team and creating a community through empowering leadership and exhibiting a servant leadership philosophy (Spears, 1998). Leadership Style In terms of employee satisfaction, morale, shared leadership, and communication a transformational style of leadership has been shown to be the most effective. A transformational leader uses intellectual stimulation, inspirational motivation, individual consideration, and acting as a role model to positively influence follower’s behaviors. All of these individual factors

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LEADERSHIP WORLDVIEW 4 results in the highest level of job satisfaction which has been identified to be of paramount importance for police due to the level of stress the job brings. This is of such importance because the opposite has detrimental effects on the officer’s likelihood to deliver important services to the community (Masal, 2015). Although transformational leadership style is best suited for police in reference to factors such as job satisfaction and morale, it is not best suited for the leadership of critical incidents. Critical incidents require an authoritative approach where a command is given and followers need to follow that command immediately. In law enforcement, critical incidents such as active shooters, riots, and other critical incidents do not allow the time for a transformational style of leadership where open lines of communication lead to shared leadership. In these incidents time is critical and decision-making often has to be done quickly (Alison & Crego, 2012). That being said, a transformational police leader has fostered that relationship with their followers and developed morale, motivation, and followership with their people so that when the time comes and that leader must be authoritative, the followers will be more willing to act upon their leader’s orders with enthusiasm. A Biblical perspective on leadership style supports the transformative leader. A Christian leader who uses the transformative style has the opportunity to convey their Biblical worldview to their followers. 1 Thessalonians 1:6-7 says, “He left his mark on those he led, and they in turn imitated him” ( English Standard Version Bible , 2001, 1 Thessalonians 1:6-7). A Christian leader should follow this example of influencing not only the follower’s direction in an organization, but also their worldview. A transformative leader possesses the means to do this and affect real change on their followers. Motivation

LEADERSHIP WORLDVIEW 5 Motivation is a key component to a law enforcement leader’s success. The first step of the leader’s responsibility to motivate is for the leader to know and understand their followers on a personal level. A transformative leader is one who will already have established these relationships with their followers. A leader who truly knows his people will understand their needs. Knowing a person’s needs, weather that be physiological, compensation, recognition, or the need for support, is the first step in motivating them (Giblin, 2017). Ones needs are identified, the leader is able to use intrinsic or extrinsic motivation that will in turn fulfill those needs. A leader who motivates is one that works hard to empower and support their people. Empowering leadership is a characteristic of the transformative style and is demonstrated by the leader sharing the power they possess by position with their subordinates. This may happen in the form of shared vision, but also in the leader giving their subordinates opportunities to gain skills, knowledge, and responsibility in the organization (Park & Hassan, 2018). Empowering to motivate is especially effective in law enforcement where delegation is possible for first line supervisors for training, administrative tasks, and job related tasks. In law enforcement there is also a high level of skill building and specialization that officer’s seek out. A leader who promotes this type of career development is empowering them to perform at a higher level. A Biblical perspective on motivation shows how important it is for Christian leader’s to know and support their followers in the ways discussed that lead to motivation. Knowing follower’s needs on a personal level is affirmed by Isaiah 4:10, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” ( English Standard Version Bible, 2001, Isaiah, 4:10). In the way that God knows, supports, and upholds His followers, leaders in law enforcement should do

LEADERSHIP WORLDVIEW 6 the same. The Bible also supports the empowerment of a leader’s followers. Psalm 78:72 says, “With upright heart he shepherded them and guided them with his skillful hand” ( English Standard Version Bible, 2001, Psalm 78:72). This verse can be interpreted as God’s intention for Christian leader’s to convey a good heart and skills upon their followers. Knowing and empowering followers is the Biblical precursors to motivation. Conclusion The role of effective leaders in law enforcement is multifaceted and demanding. These leaders are tasked with engaging, motivating, and guiding their subordinates to fulfill organizational and unit missions while safeguarding the welfare, well-being, and interests of their employees. Achieving this mission requires a flexible approach that involves the application of various leadership styles and motivational techniques. While leadership styles emphasizing open communication, employee satisfaction, and shared vision have proven highly effective in promoting employee welfare and satisfaction, it is crucial to acknowledge that they may not always be the most suitable during high-stress incidents. The significance of motivation cannot be overstated in law enforcement leadership. A leader who fosters open communication with their subordinates is not only better equipped to understand their officers' needs but also capable of addressing those needs through motivation techniques. Ultimately, a motivated and productive team of officers with high morale serves as the foundational element in building an effective law enforcement team.

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LEADERSHIP WORLDVIEW 7 References Alison, L., & Crego, J. (Eds.). (2012). Policing critical incidents: Leadership and critical incident management . Routledge. English Standard Version Bible. (2001). ESV Online. https://esv.literalword.com/ (Original work published 2001) Giblin, M.J. (2017). Leadership and management in police organizations (1st ed.). Sage Publications. Masal, D. (2015). Shared and transformational leadership in the police. Policing: An International Journal, 38 (1), 40-55. https://doi.org/10.1108/PIJPSM-07-2014-0081 Park, J. & Hassan, S. (2018). Does the influence of empowering leadership trickle down? Evidence from law enforcement organizations. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 28 (2), 212-225. https://doi.org/10.1093/jopart/mux047 Sarver, M.B. & Miller, H. (2013). Police chief leadership: Styles and effectiveness. Policing: A Journal of Police Strategies and Management, 37 (1) pp 126-143. http://www.emeraldinsight.com/1363-951X.htm Schafer, J. A. (2008). Effective police leadership: experiences and perspectives of law enforcement leaders. FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, 77 (7), 13-19. https://heinonline.org/HOL/Page? handle=hein.journals/fbileb77&id=224&collection=journals&index = Spears, L.C. (1998). Insights on leadership: Service, stewardship, sprit, and servant-leadership. Wiley

Leadership Worldview Paper- Final Assignment

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