Excellence in Training

Below 100 Training - Sign Up and Save a Life

Travis Yates, Dale Stockton and I are doing a four city Below 100 Train the Trainer tour the week of November 7 to 10. This program will save officers lives. Any help you can provide in getting the word out would be greatly appreciated. 

 

Below are the links where people can register for each of the events:

 

Little Rock November 7:  http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=brbpumcab&oeidk=a07e4qa5ahkdd9595a0

 

Oklahoma City November 8:  http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=brbpumcab&oeidk=a07e51haqe61d273c49

 

Dallas November 9: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=brbpumcab&oeidk=a07e4rs9hz5fbc33ea4

 

Houston November 10:  http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=brbpumcab&oeidk=a07e52e8zvm9440e059

Take care.

Brian Willis

If you are interested in booking Brian Willis for a presentation, keynote or course contact him at winningmind@mac.com. You can visit our website at www.winningmindtraining.com for a list of presentations and courses Brian can offer your organization, staff training function or conference.

W.I.N. 1: Critical Issues in Training and Leading Warriors, W.I.N. 2: Insights Into Training and leading Warriors, If I Knew Then: Life Lessons From Cops on the Street and W.I.N. 2: Warrior Reflections are now all available in e-book format for your iPad or your favorite e-book reader. For print versions go to www.warriorspiritbooks.com. 

What Kind of Coach / Trainer are you?

In early August I read the book InsideOut Coaching By Joe Ehrmann. Joe Ehrmann is a former NFL player and has served for many years as a high school football coach. I have long admired his work and his coaching philosophies. In fact, I speak about Joe Ehrmann in my presentations on The Pursuit of Personal Excellence and Your Life IS Your Legacy. There are many takeaways from this book but I believe one of the most important for trainers is Ehrmann’s breakdown of two styles of coaches: Transactional and Transformational.

Transactional Coaches:

• Use players as tools to meet their personal needs for validation, status and identity.
• Hold power over their athletes to elicit the response they want.
• Players obey them out of necessity but never accept their belief systems or buy into their programs.
• Put themselves first and the team second and the player’s growth and needs last, if at all.

Transformational coaches:

• Use their coaching platform to impart life-changing messages.
• Other-centered and use their power and platform to nurture and transform players.
• Put the players first, team second and the coach’s needs are met by meeting the needs of the players.
• Dedicated to self-understanding and empathy.
• View sports as a virtuous and virtue-giving discipline.

In the book Ehrmann encourages InsideOut Coaches to spend time in self-reflection and interior work. As a part of this he encourages all coaches to ask four critical questions:

1. Why do I coach?
2. Why do I coach the way I do?
3. What does it feel like to be coached by me?
4. How do I define and measure success?

Here is my challenge to you:

• Reflect on the influential coaches and trainers from your past. Were they Transactional or Transformational?
• Reflect on your style as a trainer.
• Take the time to ask and honestly answer each of the above questions. The answers will help you to determine if you are a Transactional or Transformational trainer.
• If, in honest reflection, you determine you lean more towards the Transactional style then determine what you need to change to become a Transformational trainer. 
• Read the book.

Take care.

Brian Willis

If you are interested in booking Brian Willis for a presentation, keynote or course contact him at winningmind@mac.com. You can visit our website at www.winningmindtraining.com for a list of presentations and courses Brian can offer your organization, staff training function or conference.

W.I.N. 1: Critical Issues in Training and Leading Warriors, W.I.N. 2: Insights Into Training and leading Warriors, If I Knew Then: Life Lessons From Cops on the Street and W.I.N. 2: Warrior Reflections are now all available in e-book format for your iPad or your favorite e-book reader. For print versions go to www.warriorspiritbooks.com. 

 

 

 

 

Stress Academy Response

Two weeks ago I wrote about the dangers of the 'stress academy mentality'. The following is a response from a trainer I have a great deal of respect for which I am posting with his permission. At the end is my response to him:

Good Morning Brian,

I am a frequent reader of your Excellence in Training blog and I have gained much valuable information from your insights.  I must admit, your recent entry; Beware the Stress Academy Mentality at first struck a nerve with me, but as I read it again, I understand your opposition to high stress academy training. 

In the next few moments I will attempt to convince you there is some merit to this approach if (and only if) it is done correctly and for the right reasons.  To know a little about my background will provide a better understanding of why I am not ready to pull the plug on highly structured police recruit training.  I am a retired Arkansas State Police Sergeant (25 years LE experience) and retired USMC (reserve) Sergeant Major.  I was not a Marine Drill Instructor, but I did serve as a Drill Instructor at 7 ASP academies over a 15 year period, 3 of those were as the lead drill instructor.  I have seen the good, bad and ugly of these types of academies.  I believe I have also witnessed the value of this training model both on the battlefields of the Middle East and on the highways of Arkansas. While I have seen recruits graduate with the negative attributes you described, it has been my experience that those individuals were the exception rather than the rule and it in many cases arrived Day 1 with those undesirable traits.   

This style of recruit training is high risk/high reward, much like reality based training. Its value is totally dependent on the quality of those conducting it.  Much like a role players who can not stay in his lane and takes scenario training in a nonproductive direction, a drill instructor whose only objective is to harass and humiliate students is counter-productive and harmful.  If that is the reality of an agency’s program, then you are correct and the program should be ended.

However I am convinced that done properly, this type of training has great value and produces a well-rounded, confident, professional officer who will perform his or her duties with integrity and courage.  I don’t base that assertion on my bull-headed belief that is the way we have always done it, but from my observations of the professionalism 200 plus troopers who I have had the privilege to help train and develop over a 15 year period. 

Based on my experience, in order for this type of training to be successful it must be founded in 4 Principles:

1. Leadership by Example- Drill Instructors must be demanding and rigid.  The standards they hold recruits to must be high, but even more so of themselves.  They must demonstrate through their actions the qualities of a professional law enforcement officer.
2. Servant Leadership- The end result of police training should be to produce Public Servants.  This can only be accomplished if they have had that behavior modeled to them throughout the training process by Drill Instructors who understand their needs are second to the recruits. (the students may not appreciate this at first, but over time will see it very clearly)
3. Paradox Principle- Die to live.  Recruits must understand that everything of value comes through sacrifice.  Character is tested in the fires of adversity.  Drill instructors must be not only willing to stoke those flames but also walk with the recruits through the fire.    
4. Drill Instructor’s Role Clearly Defined- Drill instructors must realize where the recruits are in the process and what level of direction they require.  As recruits progress in their skills and ability, the level of direction has to decrease, to the point that the DI’s have slowly transitioned to the role of coach/mentor. (I have successfully used the model below to help my DI’s understand the progression of their roles) 

I don’t assert that this is the sliver bullet that will fix law enforcement training for any agency.  Training that enables officers to make critical decisions and perform correctly in life and death encounters has to be cornerstone of any training program.  However this training model can be a valuable piece of the puzzle as we strive to produce well adjusted, capable public servants.  I don’t have any hard science to base my beliefs on, just an overwhelming amount of Troopers who over the last 15 years who not only selflessly serve everyday, but have also expressed their gratitude to me for the manner in which we conducted their training and the high standards that we held ourselves and them to throughout the process.  I have a shelf at home that has many pictures, cards, and gifts from former students.  Hardly a week goes by that one of them doesn’t call or email me; even in my retirement.  I say that with all humility and credit it to my belief that done properly, there is value in conducting training in a difficult and regimented way.

I appreciate the opportunity to have this dialogue and look forward to hearing form you. 

Jeff 

My response:

Jeff 

Thank you for your well written response. I believe you and I are in agreement. I have seen the bad and the ugly which caused me to write the blog post and an article which is wordier. What you are describing to me is not what I would call a stress academy. It sounds like a professionally run academy with high standards, quality people graduating professional officers. What I have seen in the title of stress academies are ones where those four key elements you mentioned are all missing. The trainers seem to feel it is their right to treat recruits like crap for the entire academy in the name of good training. I think you and I are in sync and I may have not expressed myself well enough.  

Take care.

Brian Willis

If you are interested in booking Brian Willis for a presentation, keynote or course contact him at winningmind@mac.com. You can visit our website at www.winningmindtraining.com for a list of presentations and courses Brian can offer your organization, staff training function or conference.

W.I.N. 1: Critical Issues in Training and Leading Warriors, W.I.N. 2: Insights Into Training and leading Warriors, If I Knew Then: Life Lessons From Cops on the Street and W.I.N. 2: Warrior Reflections are now all available in e-book format for your iPad or your favorite e-book reader. For print versions go to www.warriorspiritbooks.com. 

 

  

 

Underestimating the Opponent

Dirt bag, scum bag, asshole, three time loser, piece of crap, mutt.  

Reflect for a moment on these terms. Do any of them bring to mind an image of a person who trains hard for the fight? Do any of the bring to mind the image of a person who trains multiple times a week at the range so they can win a gunfight? Do any of these images bring to mind the image of a person who is committed to developing a high level of functional strength and fitness? Do any of these images bring to mind the image of a worthy opponent in a life and death fight? (I do not mean worthy in relation to honor and integrity, I mean worthy in relation to fighting skills.) Do any of these terms bring to mind the image of a 13 year old? Do any of these terms bring to mind the image of a 70 year old man or woman? Do any of these terms bring to mind the image of a female? How about a pregnant female?

I would suggest the answer to all of the above questions is no. These are just a few of the names however, I have heard used in training classes to refer to the subjects law enforcement professionals find themselves in violent confrontations with.

I believe these labels are getting cops hurt and killed. These derogatory terms lend themselves to officers underestimating their opponent. After all, why would you have to train hard to fight some low life piece of crap? The answer is because that individual may be training hard every day or every week to beat you. How often have you seen the consequences of an athlete or a sports team underestimating their opponent. Usually that mentality results in a severe butt kicking. For an athlete or a sports team it is an embarrassing loss. For a law enforcement professional the consequences may be more severe.  

Watch the documentaries that go inside the most violent prisons in North America and pay attention to how many of the inmates are working out every day. Some all day every day. If they cannot get to the weight room they work out in their cells doing push ups, burpees and body weight squats. Most are not worried about adult onset diabetes, or heart disease. They are training for the fight. 

Read the 1997 FBI report In The Line of Fire: Violence Against Law Enforcement and the 2006 Violent Encounters report and pay attention to how often these violent criminals are training. Attend an FBI LEOKA training seminar and listen to the interviews with violent criminals who have murdered and have attempted to murder law enforcement officers. These people are contiually training for the fight. 

These terms also tend to bring to mind the image of a typical gang member who is male and between the ages of 18 and 24. While these demographics are some of the people who attack officers the reality is there is no stereotypical image of someone who is going to kill, or attempt to kill a cop. Officers have been attacked by males and females, young and old. 

Are you setting your officers up to hurt or killed by using these terms? Are you setting them up to underestimate their opponents? are you potentially setting them up to be embarrassed on the stand when they use of of these terms under stress during their testimony.

If you think it is just semantics, you are wrong? If you agree it is a potential trap for your officers what are you going to do to change your language? 

Take care.

Brian Willis

If you are interested in booking Brian Willis for a presentation, keynote or course contact him at winningmind@mac.com. You can visit our website at www.winningmindtraining.com for a list of presentations and courses Brian can offer your organization, staff training function or conference.

W.I.N. 1: Critical Issues in Training and Leading Warriors, W.I.N. 2: Insights Into Training and leading Warriors, If I Knew Then: Life Lessons From Cops on the Street and W.I.N. 2: Warrior Reflections are now all available in e-book format for your iPad or your favorite e-book reader. For print versions go to www.warriorspiritbooks.com. 

 

Beware the Stress Academy Mentality

I have talked to Commanders and trainers who are proud of the fact they run a 'stress academy'. They are proud of the fact they are hard on recruits so they can 'weed out' the ones who do not belong in the profession, the ones who do not have 'it'. Interestingly enough most cannot describe 'it' in measurable objectives. They are proud of their high attrition rates. 

The Stress Academy mentality is this:

If you put people under constant stress by screaming at them, yelling at them, and punishing them with physical activity you will turn them into outstanding police officers. As a result they are in recruits faces all day every day with the mistake belief this will somehow miraculously turn these people into warriors.

The reality is you are likely to have three types of people graduate from these academies. 

1. Those who realize it is a game and will play the game for the length of the academy then move on when they graduate. These people will likely be good officers.
2. The bullies. These people believe the message is that once you are in a position of power, like the academy staff, you can scream, yell, swear, belittle, embarrass and generally treat people like shit. While some of these people may be some hard charging, high stat cops they are also going to generate more than their share of citizens complaints over attitude and language. This will frustrate the bosses and the trainers will claim they are not responsible and adamantly claim 'we do not train them to do that'. Yes you do. If you treat them that way I do not care how many hours of Verbal Judo or tactical communications training you give them the behavior you model is making the greatest impression. Years later when these officers become trainers they will seek to carry on the tradition. After all, look how good they turned out. 
3. Non aggressive, subservient cops. These are the officers that allow subjects to treat them like shit. Trainers go crazy when they watch the videos of these officers interacting with aggressive subjects and again claim "that is not how we trained them". Yes it is. For the entire academy they had to stand there while you screamed at them, embarrassed them, belittled them and punished them. On the street they are simply doing what you trained them to do. 

I believe there are a number of reasons people buy into the stress academy mentality:

• Unintended consequences of selective memory from military basic training. I have talked to a number of military veterans who remember two things about boot camp. 1- being treated like shit. 2- coming out of the experience a stud. As a result they think 1 always leads to 2. Unfortunately they we not aware of the art and the science the drill instructors in boot camp employed to get the desired results. The other critical lesson from this is law enforcement is not the military and visa versa. We have different missions and different demographics in our training so we require different training philosophies. 
• Trainers who justify this training methodology by saying "That is the way it was when I went through training and look how good I turned out." First of all, get over yourself. Secondly it likely was not as bad as you remember it. We tend to exaggerate these things in our minds. 
• People watch too many 'boot camp' movies and idolize the hard ass drill instuctor who is always yelling and screaming at the new recruits and by the end of the movie turns them into one of the greatest fighting forces on the face of the earth. 
• People have heard repeatedly about the importance of stress inoculation and have locked onto the word stress. They mistakenly believe stress is the key to high performance training.  Stress is not the key, but that is a whole other article.

I am not suggesting these are evil people. I believe it is simply unintended consequences of well intentioned training. 

I am an advocate of high standards. I am an advocate of challenging people and making them work hard. I am also an advocate of treating people like professionals. I am an advocate of rewarding people when they success. 

If you had the choice between working in the most stressful area of your agency where you knew you were going to continually get screamed at and could never do anything right, and working in an areas where the commander and supervisors had high standards, would demand your best effort but treated you like a professional and rewarded you when you were successful which area woukld you choose to work in?

Take care.

Brian Willis

If you are interested in booking Brian Willis for a presentation, keynote or course contact him at winningmind@mac.com. You can visit our website at www.winningmindtraining.com for a list of presentations and courses Brian can offer your organization, staff training function or conference.

W.I.N. 1: Critical Issues in Training and Leading Warriors, W.I.N. 2: Insights Into Training and leading Warriors, If I Knew Then: Life Lessons From Cops on the Street and W.I.N. 2: Warrior Reflections are now all available in e-book format for your iPad and your favorite e-book reader. For print versions go towww.warriorspiritbooks.com.