tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588995136414705349.post7694719594344543074..comments2024-03-15T08:05:28.706+00:00Comments on The Sleeping Policeman: A Former Police Officer's Blog: The LeaderLex Ferendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11111622017331655936noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588995136414705349.post-46117611597719873752009-07-25T23:10:08.950+01:002009-07-25T23:10:08.950+01:00Bertie, thank you for your generous words of prais...Bertie, thank you for your generous words of praise. I will personally sign the copy of my blogs that I have published (hand-written with a crayon) on a piece of brightly coloured paper I stole from my daughter. It currently retails at £49.99. Orders via PayPal are acceptable.Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04427468876045104252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588995136414705349.post-69392582769581655912009-07-25T12:54:21.066+01:002009-07-25T12:54:21.066+01:00Thank you for the honourable mention LTH. I’ve me...Thank you for the honourable mention LTH. I’ve mentioned this elsewhere but the final confirmation of my suspicions about the interpretation of `leadership` from the upper echelons of the police in the 90’s came when I was at Bramshill on a command course. No mention of `leadership` anywhere (and believe me I searched for it) until I raised the subject, almost in exasperation, only to be made to feel like I’d uttered a word that had been banished to another world, without me being told about it. I was told, in answer to my question, that good leadership would emerge through the correct application of strategic management. This statement came midway through a very tedious 7 weeks and it was something of a `Road to Damascus` moment for me, as I then realised I was at the source of all the anecdotal evidence that I had accrued over the previous 15 or so years; that being the steady disappearance of `walk-about managers` and those who could lead from the front when needed. The final nail was when my supt gave me a bollocking for driving a much-needed van to an urgent assistance call. <br /><br />I’d made it my business to strive to do all of the things you quoted, because it seemed so obvious that all the things that inspired you and me as a Pc or Sgt came back to that simple doctrine so clearly stated by `Uncle` Bill Slim. Once promoted, I took the view that it was I who worked for the people I supervised, not them working for me. I had to help them become as good as they could be and be ready to lead by example when necessary – too little and you are a waste of space, too much and you can be a pain in the arse, or worse, a liability. The higher in rank then the more people I had to work for and my job became one of clearing obstructions from the path of those who were at the sharp end so they could do their job more easily and, in so doing, make us all look good. I realised, eventually, that above me there was no one clearing my bloody obstructions and they were actually just piling more of them onto the growing heap that now blights the path of the 21st Century police officer.Hogdayafternoonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06188146617570775741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588995136414705349.post-75413335059522716382009-07-25T03:26:10.008+01:002009-07-25T03:26:10.008+01:00Guv'nor, if i may bastardise your previous com...Guv'nor, if i may bastardise your previous comment to me..... I would like to join your team, i like the cut of your jib. <br />Not speaking as one of your flock, i don't know what the view from within is like, but, i respect and follow any leader WHO ACTUALLY LEADS. One willing to crack on and deal with stuff instead of sitting behind a desk and leading via the radio gets my vote.MP9000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588995136414705349.post-15036181393019102612009-07-25T01:33:36.220+01:002009-07-25T01:33:36.220+01:00The top drawer standard of posting continues!
Cl...The top drawer standard of posting continues! <br /><br />Clearly an excellent leader as well as an excellent writer Insp. Hobbes!Bertie Humbug's Ranto-O-Matichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15922605573640100485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588995136414705349.post-31832459576369445522009-07-24T10:54:04.155+01:002009-07-24T10:54:04.155+01:00"No bad soldiers...." should be the mott..."No bad soldiers...." should be the motto of every manager. The motto dinned into British army oficers, since time immemorial, was what Slim's officers forgot: "First, look after the horses. Then, look after the men. Then, look after yourselves."Red Admiralnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588995136414705349.post-91381300402100989542009-07-23T23:26:16.570+01:002009-07-23T23:26:16.570+01:00I agree with Blue Eyes, no matter what you do to m...I agree with Blue Eyes, no matter what you do to make your daily bread, if it involves more than 2 people there is leading to be done.<br />I worked with a guy for years who, like your self, sir was also of hansom and wind swept visage, had a keen wit and was occasionaly propositioned with romantic meals(LMAO), he however was entirely bereft of leadership skills.<br />He led from the heated or air-conditioned cab of the truck while his men labored on slippery, steep and sometimes treacherous slopes and cliffs.<br />He refused to advise and he refused to pull his weight.<br />He was also lightening quick to hang his men out to dry with management whenever his appalling lack of leadership resulted in piss poor production, or worse, incidents of injury to persons or property damage.<br />When his crew members were shifted to me, I heard a veritable litany of complaints and grievances, none of which I could address to any degree as said loser was the closest freind and companion of the company owner.<br /><br />I hear him spoken of with nothing but contempt.<br />And he is deserving of all of it.<br />Sad.anonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03703233313854600531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588995136414705349.post-79718846734236869922009-07-23T21:19:31.742+01:002009-07-23T21:19:31.742+01:00Sounds like I'm lucky to have the boss that I ...Sounds like I'm lucky to have the boss that I do. He's usually out in a marked car with a PC for most of the shift - especially on those busy weekend Night shifts.<br />He's apparently popular with SNT because he works us hard; but he's popular with us because he backs us up when we need it, and is out there catching scumbags and attending weary jobs too.<br /><br />Much to my shame, I think he has more bodies than I do this month too!MPS (not!) Probbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06903643172842005934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588995136414705349.post-2030338923453207662009-07-23T14:15:27.047+01:002009-07-23T14:15:27.047+01:00Mr Hobbes I think you have understood and explaine...Mr Hobbes I think you have understood and explained beautifully the fine balancing act that a manager/leader has to play. If you get too "matey" with your team then they aren't going to respect you when you have a tough decision to make that they don't like. Play it too "distant" and they will just think you are lazy and uninterested.<br /><br />This isn't just disciplined services, any organisation larger than two people will have this problem. Here in my office motivation is rock bottom because people just are not interested in going that extra mile when the bosses seem to be coasting along. Why bother with time-keeping if the head honcho slopes in late and leaves early?<br /><br />The boss should be the first to arrive and the last to leave. He/she should be on top of the situation and able to take a view from one step back but also willing and able to get involved when able to support the team with his bare hands.<br /><br />I think you are probably an excellent person to work with!Old BEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06974090439936326476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588995136414705349.post-63054514263386751782009-07-23T12:48:55.699+01:002009-07-23T12:48:55.699+01:00Sir,
Let me stand up on my little soap box and ap...Sir,<br /><br />Let me stand up on my little soap box and applaud you as loudly and proudly as I can..<br />Can I transfer to your shift?<br /><br />Let me think of the last time I saw my Inspector out of the station........................................................................<br /><br />OH YEAH.. NEVER!!!<br /><br />My Inspector has NEVER turned up at a job, never been seen out on patrol, never responded to anything, and just sits in the Inspectors office and grumbles at you when you've not got something right with your uniform (because I'm in the station and I'm trying to relax for 5 minutes!)<br /><br />I agree 100% with Gen. Slim. Now if only we can get anything of this in the Police we'll be a lot better off. I have no interest in working for an Inspector who doesn't give a toss about the troops, and who never leaves the office for any reason other than to go home early (Yes, I saw that too!)PC Blogs A Lottehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08043615893535383072noreply@blogger.com