Leadership Options in Law Enforcement

Leadership Styles

Introduction

Leadership is a crucial aspect of both policing and law enforcement administration. Current research in leadership styles includes, but is not limited to, situational, transformational and autocratic (traditional) styles. Differences in the contexts of action can affect which style works best at any given time. Ultimately, it is important to identify the needs of any given situation, the skills and qualities of the individual leader, and decide on the most appropriate leadership style accordingly. Combining the various possible approaches could create an ideal blend of capability and foresight that might be continuously evaluated for greater outcomes. However, not every leader will have the required traits for achieving success with every style of leadership. This paper will discuss the different styles of leadership and how they might apply in a law enforcement context.

Traditional Leadership

Traditional leadership style is a type of leadership style that is based on the idea of a hierarchical structure, with a clear leader at the top. It emphasizes the importance of rules, procedures, and processes and is based on the idea of having one leader who makes all the decisions. This style of leadership typically relies heavily on the use of authority, power, and control, and often involves a top-down approach to decision-making. It is most consistent with the idea of autocratic leadership, in which one leader gives an order and anticipates that it will be followed with utmost alacrity (De Cremer, 2006). There is no sense of give-and-take, no reliance on feedback from subordinates to facilitate the decision-making process, no democratic approach to problem-solving, and no questioning of the superior permitted. It is most commonly found today in military or law enforcement fields, wherein a clear hiearchy of command is both warranted (due to the nature of the field) and practical. At least such has been the case traditionally speaking (Charles et al., 2016). However, the traditional style of leadership is now being questioned more overtly in both military and law enforcement, particularly as reformers attempt to restructure traditional hierarchical models to make them more inclusive and less autocratic.

Situational Leadership

Situational Leadership style is a type of leadership approach that focuses on matching the leader’s style to the developmental level of the team members. It involves adjusting the level of direction and support based on the situation, the follower’s ability and willingness to take on tasks, and the environment in which the team is operating. For that reason it is based on the idea that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to leading people, and that the leader must be flexible and adaptable in order to be effective. The leader must be able to assess the situation and the individual, and then adjust their approach accordingly. This style of leadership is often used in team settings, as it allows the leader to tailor their approach to the specific needs of the team and its members. It also encourages collaboration and communication, as the leader must be able to listen to and understand the needs of the team in order to be successful. Ultimately, this approach focuses on creating an environment that fosters both personal and professional growth for team members and encourages them to take responsibility for their actions and successes (Northouse, 2021).

As this type of leadership focuses on understanding the situation at hand—i.e., what are the objectives, who are the employees, and how do they work together?—law enforcement agencies and administrators can use this style of leadership by identifying the needs of the department and the community, working with stakeholders to address problem areas, and employing a flexible approach to decision-making.

Transformational Leadership

Transformational leadership is a style of management that facilitates positive changes in individuals and communities by shifting the focus to strong values and goals. A transformational leader is someone who is inspirational, encourages creativity, provides guidance, and strives for continuous improvement. These qualities help uplift team members and foster an environment where they can grow professionally while simultaneously contributing to the collective success of the company. Such leaders serve as mentors who are respected and revered by their coworkers, allowing coworkers to build genuine trust in the leader. By inspiring enthusiasm among team members and encouraging growth, these leaders make organizations more engaged and productive than before.

Transformational leadership can be an invaluable tool for police officers, encouraging and motivating them to better understand their role in the community and develop strong relationships with the people they serve (Charles et al., 2016). With this type of leadership, police officers can build a greater sense of understanding within the community and foster positive employee morale. A great way to apply transformational leadership concepts in policing is through behaviors such as inspiring responsibility and empowering employees by providing developmentally meaningful opportunities. Transformational leadership styles tap into the personal needs of police officers, helping them focus on their own professional growth while at the same time developing public trust in law enforcement agencies. By showing a commitment to long-term goals, understanding the need for change, incorporating these principles into everyday practices, and displaying caring behavior towards those served by law enforcement, police departments can ensure that transformative practices are effectively applied in policing (Charles et al., 2016; Northouse, 2021).

Transactional Leadership

Transactional leadership is a type of leadership style in which leaders motivate their followers through rewards and punishments. Leaders using this style of leadership set clear expectations and enforce these expectations through rewards and punishments (Northouse, 2021). Leaders with this style tend to be task-focused and emphasize setting goals, providing feedback, and monitoring progress. They focus on the aims and objectives and outcomes of the team or organization, rather than on the development of relationships. They provide incentives for meeting goals and usually have a clear hierarchy in which followers are expected to obey their leader. Transactional leadership is best suited to situations where there is a need for structure, predictability, and clear expectations while at the same time a need for workers to feel motivated to perform at their best.

In policing and law enforcement administration, for example, an officer may receive overtime opportunities if they complete their assignments in line with the legal requirements or have their schedule modified if there are patterned breaches of conduct. Or, a police chief may reward officers for meeting certain performance standards, such as responding quickly to emergency calls and apprehending criminals. A chief could also punish officers who do not meet departmental and professional standards of conduct. Ultimately, the application of transactional leadership within policing and law enforcement administration encourages accountability at all levels while also promoting constant innovation within procedures and processes (Charles et al., 2016).

Charismatic Leadership

Charismatic leadership is a form of leadership that focuses on a sense of charm, inspiration, and enthusiasm on the part of the leader. Charismatic leaders tend to be strong but not autocratic in their decision-making style, while also being passionate and energetic when caring for followers (Northouse, 2021). They cultivate trust with members of the organization and often inspire active engagement and commitment from within. Thus, they win over followers by way of personal appeal and a sense of loyalty and devotion. While traditional methods are effective at getting tasks done quickly and efficiently, charismatic leadership seeks to achieve success through emotional connections. It is very much a relationship-oriented leadership style. It can be applied in just about any organizational setting, but not all leaders necessarily have the skills and personal charm to execute this style effectively. That is because this type of leadership relies on personal magnetism in order to build loyalty, creating an atmosphere conducive to collaboration and collective problem solving. Charismatic leadership has certainly been accepted as an effective approach for motivating followers towards achieving their goals, but it is difficult to measure and validate from a scientific point of view (Northouse, 2021).

New Leadership

As reforms in both law enforcement and leadership studies take place, there is increasing focus on new leadership theories. New leadership tends to explore the moral aspects of leadership that make it right, good, and just. Various types of new leadership include servant, spiritual, authentic, and ethical (Charles et al., 2016). What they all have in common is the fact that each emphasizes the importance of a moral standard.

Servant

Servant leadership is a leadership philosophy where the leader focuses on serving the needs of their followers, putting their followers' needs and interests first. The leader's primary goal is to help their followers achieve success by providing guidance and resources, while focusing on the collective good. The core principles of servant leadership revolve around the notion that the leader must act as a servant first, in order to lead effectively. This means that, rather than dominating and controlling other group members, the leader must foster collaboration and consultation through trust-building. By recognizing that all team members have their own strengths and weaknesses, servant leaders try to provide individualized attention to help each worker reach his or her potential. Ultimately, this approach has its own practical challenges, as not every organizational setting permits the kind of time attention that servant leadership typically requires (Northouse, 2021). However, as a theoretical framework it offers leaders a way to realize that sometimes leading is not so much about getting out in front of problems as it is guiding others and supporting them from behind so that they can become good and accountable leaders of themselves.

Spiritual

Spiritual leadership involves recognizing that there is a spirit within every workplace or organizational setting, within every community, and within everyone. That spirit has to be directed, supported, and shaped to ensure satisfying outcomes for all stakeholders. It is not necessarily a style of leadership that promotes religion or religious practices; rather, it is about embodying higher values, either by reflecting divine virtues or by embracing humanistic principles (Northouse, 2021). Like with servant leadership, this form of leadership encourages personal growth and development in followers, as well as collective wisdom from which the group can benefit. The ideals of spiritual leadership, however, are found in many cultures across the world, whether it's through the teachings of religions or from renowned spiritual figures, whereas servant leadership ultimately has its root in Christian ideals. Regardless, by harnessing their intrinsic power and attuning to their inner intuition, spiritual leaders can be a beacon for healing and positive change for those around them.

Authentic

This style of leadership is useful particularly when an organization is trying to change itself and overcome some previous scandal (Northouse, 2021). It emphasizes transparency and personal accountability, as the leader is seen as someone who embodies virtues that trustworthy and noble-minded leaders possess. In this style of leading, the leader is open and honest with their employees, expressing vulnerability and personal values when necessary. This form of vulnerability allows for improved communication between members of staff, creating a sense of trust within teams. Furthermore, since leaders demonstrate that values such as integrity, courage and transparency are important to them, it sets an effective example for followers demonstrating respect for the same principles and beliefs. It can be especially useful in law enforcement administration when a community issue has erupted calling into question the leadership and fitness of a local department.