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Sam McGhee
I've been a Police Command Officer since 1995 and a cop since 1980. I've had great experiences in a number of assignments
over the years such as Patrol,
SWAT, Training, Drug Enforcement, Internal Affairs and Media Relations.
As
I progressed through my career, and became a supervisor and later a manager, I discovered I
wasn't instantly brilliant. I could take a test and be impressive in an assessment center but as I later learned it didn't
automatically translate into the ability to communicate effectively to other human beings. You cops out there know
exactly what I'm talking about. How do effective leaders became effective? What do people who inspire other people do
when they inspire them? I searched for years to find and study leadership and self mastery books, tapes and seminars. I committed
to becoming a positive influence in peoples' lives, and forever after, became a student of effective leadership. Since
my job was to carry out organizational objectives, (even objectives that weren't popular), I became particularly interested
in the resiliency to change that some organizations are able to create.
I discovered most of the leadership training and instruction out there focused on how the leader evaluated, supervises and disciplines others but not much out there focused on how the leader gets his/her self wired tight first! This is where I focused as a student and now, as a teacher.
The acceleration of change is an opportunity for exponential growth for individuals, teams, and organizations. Practicing the
tools and principles I discovered, made me realize creating an atmosphere, which capitalizes on the organization’s greatest
asset – the energy, expertise and talents of the staff – will develop the natural leadership abilities we all
possess. This, in turn, builds trust and reduces or eliminates fear. The result is buy-in for achieving the organization’s
goals and a focus on results...imagine an environment like that!!!
Like a scientist in a laboratory, I practice newly learned concepts; apply them
in the work place, then test for results and decide to retain it or discard them. Application transforms theory
into a valuable practical result. I've gained unique insights into human behavior through my work as a cop
on the street, but it wasn't until I became a boss in the organization that I realized how crucial it is to be an
effective leader. I have continued to focus on learning these amazingly simple yet powerful tenets that play critical
roles in determining one’s ability to create desired outcomes. What is more, the tools can be applied universally,
meaning anywhere in our lives whether at home or in the workplace.
Effective leadership can be threatening to the status-quo mind set. This means when living as a leader
it can be a lonely place. It means that sometimes those who represent the status-quo may take pot-shots at the new thinking. In the
police culture sometimes it sounds like "That's touchy-feely B.S.." I love sharing transformational
lessons I've learned.
I never really planned
to be a trainer, speaker or personal coach but that is what has happened over the past 10 years or so. I absolutely thrive
on sharing these tools and principles not by giving more information (we have enough information!), but through experiential
learning that brings people to the fundamental truth about themselves, transforming limiting behaviors into powerful,
supporting convictions that produce results.
I also enjoy
writing about my experiences and learning points I derive from them. Sometimes clients will ask me to write about a given
subject, feel free to do the same, go to my blog and check out some of my articles. I hope you receive
some value or benefit by reading my pieces. Comment if it moves you to do so.
Sam McGhee
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