Introduction
Leadership is highly important in any sphere, as leaders can both inspire and discourage their followers. Choosing the most appropriate leadership strategy is crucial, as it will further guide one’s work and the team’s effectiveness. It is a common belief that law enforcement leaders are demanding and strict.
However, the interview with Timothy Basset, a former FBI agent and currently an adjunct instructor at the university, indicates the opposite. It turns out the leader need not be authoritative to make people follow them. In fact, servant and situational leadership can be highly effective under certain circumstances, generating beneficial outcomes for police officers and communities alike.
Understanding the Leader’s Approaches
Based on the interview, it appears that Timothy Bassett’s key leadership approaches are grounded in servant leadership and in situational and motivational theories. As Timothy shares his experiences working with the team, it becomes evident that the principles of servant leadership guide him. The latter presupposes that the leader shares power rather than uses it against the subordinates. Also, a servant leader puts the needs of team members first and helps employees develop to the highest level of performance possible. Rather than having people serve the leader, the latter is always there to serve the people.
Another positive aspect of Timothy’s work is his encouragement of his employees, which aligns with the tenets of motivation theory. This approach entails directing and maintaining positive behaviors toward attaining the set goals (Peak et al., 2019). The primary point of this method is to make the subordinates interested in the actions that should be performed. Another, no less important, step is to help the employees meet their goals. If one is not able to reach the set objective, they may feel frustrated or disappointed (Peak et al., 2019).
Therefore, Timothy does a great job of always being on his team’s side and inspiring them. His human skills are evident in his leadership approach, as he works to understand what motivates employees and how to organize group work effectively (Peak et al., 2019). It is also necessary to highlight Timothy’s communication skills, as his ability to use both formal and informal channels of interaction supports his team’s work.
Finally, it is necessary to discuss Timothy’s situational leadership skills, as he seems able to adapt to any circumstances and organize the team’s work. That is, he can evaluate the case promptly and choose the most effective strategy to address it. He gives concrete tasks to his subordinates, and the clarity of his communication makes people eager to fulfill their duties as quickly and effectively as possible. This cannot but represent a good leader whose followers are happy to be under his command. His professionalism enables him to find solutions in any event and lead his team effectively through hardships.
Timothy’s effectiveness as a leader is associated with several qualities. He seems to be a rather value-driven individual, which is an important prerequisite for police officers’ professional portfolio (Peak et al., 2019). Possessing this quality enables Timothy to arrange his team’s work in an environment of excellence, ethics, and respect for the community to which they serve.
Next, Timothy has excellent interpersonal skills, which means he can analyze what motivates his subordinates and utilize group processes with the highest efficiency (Peak et al., 2019). No less important is the informational role carried out by the interviewee, which is manifested in his close inspection of information and serving as a spokesperson for his team members. Overall, Timothy’s major focus is on servant and motivational leadership. Still, because he has a good grasp of situational theory, he can select the most relevant ways to lead his subordinates.
Assessment of the Leader’s Strategies
At first glance, Timothy’s leadership choices seem suitable and beneficial. He prefers to be with his people rather than above them, which demonstrates loyalty and professionalism. At the same time, it is evident that Timothy is good at strategic planning, as he consistently thinks ahead and carefully considers potential alternatives (Peak et al., 2019). Apart from that, Timothy pays much attention to the provision of services and views the quality of the latter as his most essential duty. A variety of tasks undertaken by his team demonstrate how well-prepared and professional they are, with the ability to respond quickly and handle complications swiftly.
The use of reward power is yet another advantage of the leadership style preferred by the interviewee. Timothy ensures that all professionals involved in the successful resolution of a criminal case are rewarded equally. He describes a situation where the Louisiana Police Department and the FBI were equally deserving of praise.
The way he handled the publicity for both units’ contributions is truly remarkable. Indeed, people feel empowered to do their best when they are properly rewarded. Even if one is exhausted and burned out, sincere recognition of their efforts and praise from their boss gives people the ‘wings’ to aspire to new heights.
Regarding Timothy’s leadership strategies, it is worth noting Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, which posits that monetary incentives are not the most significant motivators for employees. Esteem and self-actualization needs are at the top of this hierarchy (Peak et al., 2019). Therefore, when Timothy engages his subordinates in the decision-making process, he promotes their esteem. At the same time, by giving them opportunities for growth and involving them in planning their work, the leader fosters their self-actualization needs. All in all, Timothy’s strategies and decision-making processes are quite effective, resulting in high team performance and strong cooperation with other units.
Recommendations for Potential Improvements
Several suggestions can be given to Timothy to make his leadership strategies even more effective. Firstly, he could engage in transformational leadership to broaden his team members’ horizons and direct them toward new achievements (Peak et al., 2019). It is evident from the interview that his friendly approach is sometimes too meek for his subordinates. Some people may enjoy servant leadership, but others need a stricter approach to feel alert and responsible.
Thus, Timothy should employ integrity and empowerment whenever possible to increase his subordinates’ responsiveness. At the same time, it is necessary to acknowledge that he already possesses qualities of a transformational leader, such as charisma, vision, and symbolism (Peak et al., 2019). Having a clear vision of when the team needs to change will improve Timothy’s success and his relationships with the unit.
Another recommendation for the interviewed leader is to change the span of control. Currently, Timothy is doing everything by himself because he finds it difficult to let go of even the slightest control. While it is a good idea to stay abreast of the news and challenges, it may also be overwhelming to cope with everything on your own. Sometimes, delegating authority is a useful way to relieve tension for oneself and simultaneously engage team members in more active work.
The final recommendation concerns the negative aspects Timothy outlined in his work. He would benefit from arranging an educational course for his team members on stereotyping, as this negative phenomenon undermines employees’ spirits. Moreover, he could arrange some anti-stereotyping information to be spread among the community members to alleviate the civilians’ treatment of police officers. Following these recommendations may further enhance the great achievements of Timothy’s team.
Conclusion
The interview conducted for the assignment provided rare insights into the professions of a law enforcement officer and a professor. The choice of a leadership approach is always individual and may be guided by professional demands and personal preferences. However, it is always up to the leader to do their best to inspire the subordinates to succeed.
Whereas servant leadership might sound strange within the law enforcement system, the interviewee made it clear that this approach can be quite rewarding. By involving every team member in the decision-making process and properly rewarding their achievements, the leader can gain stable, positive results. Careful strategic planning and a focus on self-actualization for every team member help maintain a loyal team.
Reference
Peak, K. J., Gaines, L. K., & Glensor, R. W. (2019). Managing and leading today’s police: Challenges, best practices, case studies (4th ed.). Pearson.