apbweb.com Open in urlscan Pro
209.188.87.6  Public Scan

Form analysis
2 forms found in the DOM

GET /

<form id="primary-nav-search-form" action="/" method="get"><input type="text" name="s"><button type="submit" value="Search"><i class="fa fa-search"><span>Search</span></i></button></form>

POST /2021/03/demand-the-why/#gf_6

<form method="post" enctype="multipart/form-data" target="gform_ajax_frame_6" id="gform_6" action="/2021/03/demand-the-why/#gf_6">
  <div class="gform_body gform-body">
    <ul id="gform_fields_6" class="gform_fields top_label form_sublabel_below description_below">
      <li id="field_6_1" class="gfield gfield_contains_required field_sublabel_below field_description_below hidden_label gfield_visibility_visible" data-js-reload="field_6_1"><label class="gfield_label" for="input_6_1">First Name<span
            class="gfield_required"><span class="gfield_required gfield_required_asterisk">*</span></span></label>
        <div class="ginput_container ginput_container_text"><input name="input_1" id="input_6_1" type="text" value="" class="large" placeholder="First Name *" aria-required="true" aria-invalid="false"> </div>
      </li>
      <li id="field_6_2" class="gfield gfield_contains_required field_sublabel_below field_description_below hidden_label gfield_visibility_visible" data-js-reload="field_6_2"><label class="gfield_label" for="input_6_2">Last Name<span
            class="gfield_required"><span class="gfield_required gfield_required_asterisk">*</span></span></label>
        <div class="ginput_container ginput_container_text"><input name="input_2" id="input_6_2" type="text" value="" class="large" placeholder="Last Name *" aria-required="true" aria-invalid="false"> </div>
      </li>
      <li id="field_6_3" class="gfield gfield_contains_required field_sublabel_below field_description_below hidden_label gfield_visibility_visible" data-js-reload="field_6_3"><label class="gfield_label" for="input_6_3">Email<span
            class="gfield_required"><span class="gfield_required gfield_required_asterisk">*</span></span></label>
        <div class="ginput_container ginput_container_email">
          <input name="input_3" id="input_6_3" type="text" value="" class="large" placeholder="Email *" aria-required="true" aria-invalid="false">
        </div>
      </li>
      <li id="field_6_4" class="gfield gfield_contains_required field_sublabel_below field_description_below hidden_label gfield_visibility_visible" data-js-reload="field_6_4"><label class="gfield_label gfield_label_before_complex">Privacy
          Policy<span class="gfield_required"><span class="gfield_required gfield_required_asterisk">*</span></span></label>
        <div class="ginput_container ginput_container_checkbox">
          <ul class="gfield_checkbox" id="input_6_4">
            <li class="gchoice gchoice_6_4_1">
              <input class="gfield-choice-input" name="input_4.1" type="checkbox" value="I have read and agree to the <a href=&quot;/privacy-policy/&quot;>Privacy Policy</a>" id="choice_6_4_1">
              <label for="choice_6_4_1" id="label_6_4_1">I have read and agree to the <a href="/privacy-policy/">Privacy Policy</a></label>
            </li>
          </ul>
        </div>
      </li>
      <li id="field_6_5" class="gfield gform_validation_container field_sublabel_below field_description_below gfield_visibility_visible" data-js-reload="field_6_5"><label class="gfield_label" for="input_6_5">Phone</label>
        <div class="ginput_container"><input name="input_5" id="input_6_5" type="text" value=""></div>
        <div class="gfield_description" id="gfield_description_6_5">This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.</div>
      </li>
    </ul>
  </div>
  <div class="gform_footer top_label"> <input type="submit" id="gform_submit_button_6" class="gform_button button" value="Signup" onclick="if(window[&quot;gf_submitting_6&quot;]){return false;}  window[&quot;gf_submitting_6&quot;]=true;  "
      onkeypress="if( event.keyCode == 13 ){ if(window[&quot;gf_submitting_6&quot;]){return false;} window[&quot;gf_submitting_6&quot;]=true;  jQuery(&quot;#gform_6&quot;).trigger(&quot;submit&quot;,[true]); }"> <input type="hidden" name="gform_ajax"
      value="form_id=6&amp;title=&amp;description=1&amp;tabindex=0">
    <input type="hidden" class="gform_hidden" name="is_submit_6" value="1">
    <input type="hidden" class="gform_hidden" name="gform_submit" value="6">
    <input type="hidden" class="gform_hidden" name="gform_unique_id" value="">
    <input type="hidden" class="gform_hidden" name="state_6" value="WyJbXSIsIjkyMTkwMmQzNWRkODRiYjAxNmVjNjg2OGE3NDgwYzJmIl0=">
    <input type="hidden" class="gform_hidden" name="gform_target_page_number_6" id="gform_target_page_number_6" value="0">
    <input type="hidden" class="gform_hidden" name="gform_source_page_number_6" id="gform_source_page_number_6" value="1">
    <input type="hidden" name="gform_field_values" value="">
  </div>
  <p style="display: none !important;"><label>Δ<textarea name="ak_hp_textarea" cols="45" rows="8" maxlength="100"></textarea></label><input type="hidden" id="ak_js_1" name="ak_js" value="1663363569045">
    <script>
      document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value", (new Date()).getTime());
    </script>
  </p>
</form>

Text Content

 * Skip to primary navigation
 * Skip to main content
 * Skip to primary sidebar
 * Skip to footer

 * Home
 * About
 * The Magazine
 * Events
 * Partners
 * Products
 * Advertise
 * Contact
 * Jobs and Careers

 * Facebook
 * Twitter
 * Instagram
 * Subscribe to the Magazine

American Police Beat Magazine

Law Enforcement Publication


Menu
 * Home
 * Editor’s PicksSubmenu
   * The power of teamwork
     Stay awake and alert on the job
     The worst rank in law enforcement
     Firearms maintenance
     Why fries need salt
     
 * Topics Submenu
   * On the JobSubmenu
     * A healing paw: K-9 helps North Carolina deputy recover from gunshot...
       Oregon police officer pulls man from car engulfed in flames
       Pennsylvania police provide wedding escort for bride and groom after...
       “The end of an era”: Florida police department to auction off...
       Willard police officer saves newborn baby struggling to breathe after...
       
   * LaborSubmenu
     * Boise Police Department lowers hiring standards to expand applicant...
       San Jose police union cites low morale and heavy workload as factors...
       Pilot program to put former corrections officers behind the wheel of...
       Leadership in law enforcement — not “Let’s make a deal”
       New Mexico creates fund to help small law enforcement agencies cover...
       
   * TechSubmenu
     * Law enforcement agencies across the country tap into Fog Reveal to...
       Use of drone technology on the rise in law enforcement
       Your guide to the alternate “dark nets”
       NYPD deploys K-9s with innovative electronic harness to prevent...
       Understanding end-to-end encryption apps
       
   * TrainingSubmenu
     * Bring the shotgun back to life!
       Integrating the emotional perspective into a use-of-force program
       Formula 1 racing: “Push, push” to perform under pressure
       Training for a ground fight
       Tactical awareness
       
   * PolicySubmenu
     * Colorado introduces “hidden disability” marker on driver’s...
       “We have a mail theft epidemic”: U.S. Postal Service police force...
       Alabama sheriffs losing money after drop in gun permit applications
       Prince George’s County will enforce state curfew for teens after...
       New Jersey issues guidelines to protect pregnant police officers on...
       
   * Health/WellnessSubmenu
     * Suicide warning signs: What cops need to know
       Integrative treatment for PTSD
       9/11 first responders continue to fight for health benefits over two...
       From a cop to a cop counselor
       What is depression?
       
   * CommunitySubmenu
     * Baltimore Police Department interns propose expansive policing...
       Minnesota Black police officers donate free backpacks and haircuts to...
       Dallas police donate shoes to more than 500 kids in “Share the...
       Alabama SRO receives moving thank-you letter for rescuing children...
       Country singer Garth Brooks partners with Nashville city to open...
       
   * OffbeatSubmenu
     * 78-year-old Texan man handcrafts driving simulators for police...
       “Never a dull moment!”: Texas police detain an angry alligator...
       Berea police rescue of woman stuck upside down in gym goes viral on...
       Port Chester police take custody of several lizards after receiving...
       Alabama deputy’s patrol car gets broken into by pair of goats
       
   * We RememberSubmenu
     * MLB pitcher-turned police officer dies in car accident en route to...
       “We can never forget what happened”
       My 9/11 — well, what I remember of it
       Rookie officer in Indiana shot and killed during traffic stop
       CrossFit competition “Monster Games” honors fallen officers
       
 * On the JobSubmenu
   * A healing paw: K-9 helps North Carolina deputy recover from gunshot...
     Oregon police officer pulls man from car engulfed in flames
     Pennsylvania police provide wedding escort for bride and groom after...
     “The end of an era”: Florida police department to auction off...
     Willard police officer saves newborn baby struggling to breathe after...
     
 * LaborSubmenu
   * Boise Police Department lowers hiring standards to expand applicant...
     San Jose police union cites low morale and heavy workload as factors...
     Pilot program to put former corrections officers behind the wheel of...
     Leadership in law enforcement — not “Let’s make a deal”
     New Mexico creates fund to help small law enforcement agencies cover...
     
 * TechSubmenu
   * Law enforcement agencies across the country tap into Fog Reveal to...
     Use of drone technology on the rise in law enforcement
     Your guide to the alternate “dark nets”
     NYPD deploys K-9s with innovative electronic harness to prevent...
     Understanding end-to-end encryption apps
     
 * TrainingSubmenu
   * Bring the shotgun back to life!
     Integrating the emotional perspective into a use-of-force program
     Formula 1 racing: “Push, push” to perform under pressure
     Training for a ground fight
     Tactical awareness
     
 * PolicySubmenu
   * Colorado introduces “hidden disability” marker on driver’s...
     “We have a mail theft epidemic”: U.S. Postal Service police force...
     Alabama sheriffs losing money after drop in gun permit applications
     Prince George’s County will enforce state curfew for teens after...
     New Jersey issues guidelines to protect pregnant police officers on...
     
 * Health/WellnessSubmenu
   * Suicide warning signs: What cops need to know
     Integrative treatment for PTSD
     9/11 first responders continue to fight for health benefits over two...
     From a cop to a cop counselor
     What is depression?
     
 * CommunitySubmenu
   * Baltimore Police Department interns propose expansive policing...
     Minnesota Black police officers donate free backpacks and haircuts to...
     Dallas police donate shoes to more than 500 kids in “Share the...
     Alabama SRO receives moving thank-you letter for rescuing children...
     Country singer Garth Brooks partners with Nashville city to open...
     
 * OffbeatSubmenu
   * 78-year-old Texan man handcrafts driving simulators for police...
     “Never a dull moment!”: Texas police detain an angry alligator...
     Berea police rescue of woman stuck upside down in gym goes viral on...
     Port Chester police take custody of several lizards after receiving...
     Alabama deputy’s patrol car gets broken into by pair of goats
     
 * We RememberSubmenu
   * MLB pitcher-turned police officer dies in car accident en route to...
     “We can never forget what happened”
     My 9/11 — well, what I remember of it
     Rookie officer in Indiana shot and killed during traffic stop
     CrossFit competition “Monster Games” honors fallen officers
     
 * Between the LinesSubmenu
   * Persecution of the LEO is Classic Schadenfreude
     The Rule of Law is Worthless Without Order
     School policing: a paradox of the defund movement
     Defending the honor of the LE profession – finally!
     The dichotomy of the defund movement: reality setting in
     
 * About
 * The Magazine
 * Events
 * Partners
 * Products
 * Advertise
 * Contact

Search
Search


ON THE JOB


DEMAND “THE WHY”

Scott Sterland Published March 5, 2021 @ 5:00 pm PST


iStock.com/Lalocracio

We’ve all done it, telling people what to do instead of explaining why they need
to do it. It’s in our nature as cops. It’s efficient, direct and achieves the
required (if not simply the desired) result.

As cops, we fall into the trap of ordering people around. And, to be sure, there
is a time and place for that. You may be at a scene and yell at someone to,
“Move and sit over there next to that wall!” This is the what. The why might be
because Timmy’s off his meds again and has been taking pot shots at people all
over the neighborhood and you want the person you just yelled at to get out of
the line of fire. But you might not have the luxury of taking the time to
explain all of this to your unwitting citizen.

The problem is we either get too used to this or so comfortable with demanding
compliance that we tend to fall into that groove with all our interpersonal
interactions – whether it be peer-to-peer, supervisor-to-subordinate, or even
with our family and friends.


YOU, THE EMPLOYEE

Our supervisors, peers and the public expect and deserve to be told the why of
things. But I’ll take this theory one step further. You should be demanding the
why from your supervisors also. If you are given an assignment, task or order to
do something and you don’t understand what’s being asked, you should always be
told why you’re doing it. You won’t always agree with it, but at least you’ll
understand what your supposed to do.

If a leader is not willing to tell you why you need to do something, then their
motives become suspect. I’ve had leaders who have told me that the reason
they’re ordering me to do something is simply because they can. This instills
little confidence in their decision-making and makes me wonder if they are doing
this more for their own selfish reasoning or to perhaps gain some sort of clout
with their supervisors at my expense. Let’s face it, cops are a suspicious group
of people. But you don’t have to be in police work to know when you’re being
manipulated.

The why is a gut feeling as to our motivation for why we show up to work
everyday and why we care about what we do. Deep down, we want to make a
difference. Or maybe we want to make sure the victim we’re dealing with doesn’t
have the same crappy interaction with emergency services that you’ve seen or
experienced yourself in the past. Maybe you want to come to work because it
stimulates your mind, it’s interesting or the work fascinates you in some way.
These are all legitimate reasons for your why.


YOU, THE LEADER

As a leader “you must talk about why you believe,” according to Simon Sinek
(2010). This is true if you want others in your organization to follow you, or
if you want community members to follow your organization and comply with laws
and other societal expectations. Simply stating that people need to obey the
laws will work for most people because of their internal moral beliefs and
feelings of community. But for others, they need to feel the reason why it needs
to be followed.

This goes to the heart of police legitimacy around the world. If people don’t
believe in the why of an organization, they won’t follow or comply when
requested to do so. And, as an emergency services organization, if you can’t
explain the why, the community will be suspect and sometimes assume that the
actions are self-serving and not in their best interest.

Sinek also says, “We follow those who lead, not because we have to, but because
we want to” (2014). Isn’t that the truth in any free society? We have the choice
to follow or not follow. But, here’s the problem in police work. So many get
into this line of work, gain a great deal of skill and talent, then loose their
love of the job. When you have this scenario, you have either an unwilling
employee or a toxic employee (Gallagher-Westfall, 2020).

If you’re not leading people, I would submit that you’re simply manipulating
people to achieve a goal. Unwilling or toxic employees will not be pulled or
pushed into compliance in cases like this and your organization will fall into
disarray.

So, in any interaction where you’re trying to gain compliance from another, you
need to be honest in the why. Only then, will you be followed and gain that
compliance.

If people are not willing to follow you or your organization, you need to ask
yourself: “Are we explaining the why?” If they are not following you as a
leader, you need to ask the same question: “Am I explaining the why?” And, if
the why is because it benefits you at the expense of others, you will not be
followed.

Finally, if your supervisor asks something of you or gives you direction to do
something, you should always know why. You may already know the answer without
having to ask, but if the direction or answer is ambiguous, demand the why —
respectfully.


REFERENCES:

Gallagher-Westfall Group, Inc. (2020). Gallagher-Westfall Group. Q6 Performance
Leadership. Retrieved from http://www.gallagher-westfall.com/q6.html.

Sinek, Simon, (2010). TED talk, Pacific Northwest. How Great Leaders Inspire
Action. Retrieved from Youtube Video https://youtu.be/qp0HIF3SfI4.

Sinek, Simon, (2014). TED talk, Pacific Northwest. Why Good Leaders Make You
Feel Safe. Retrieved from Youtube Video https://youtu.be/lmyZMtPVodo.

SCOTT STERLAND

Scott Sterland is a sworn law enforcement officer with 30 years’ experience in
the criminal justice system. Scott began his career with the King County
Sheriff’s Office in Seattle. He served as a deputy, sergeant and eventually the
head of the training unit for 730 sworn deputies and administrative staff and a
contract police chief. Scott then took a position as the chief of police in
Mount Horeb, Wisconsin. He was subsequently asked to run the police academy at
Madison Area Technical College. After successfully completing that contract, he
spent 15 months in Afghanistan as a contracted police advisor, ultimately
writing curriculum for the Afghanistan National Police Academy. He then returned
to the State of Washington and served as a police chief for the city of Kettle
Falls. Scott is now an agent and instructor for the Montana Law Enforcement
Academy in Helena. He has two master’s degrees — one in organizational
management and the other in criminal justice.

View articles by Scott Sterland
AddThis Sharing Buttons
Share to FacebookFacebookFacebookShare to TwitterTwitterTwitterShare to
LinkedInLinkedInLinkedInShare to EmailEmailEmailShare to MoreAddThisMore

Categories: On the Job




PRIMARY SIDEBAR


RECENT ARTICLES

 * Suicide warning signs: What cops need to know
 * Colorado introduces “hidden disability” marker on driver’s licenses to give
   officers a heads-up
 * MLB pitcher-turned police officer dies in car accident en route to 9/11
   ceremony
 * Integrative treatment for PTSD
 * “We have a mail theft epidemic”: U.S. Postal Service police force shrinking
   as postal crime increases
 * 78-year-old Texan man handcrafts driving simulators for police training
 * “Never a dull moment!”: Texas police detain an angry alligator near an ATM
 * A healing paw: K-9 helps North Carolina deputy recover from gunshot wounds
 * Oregon police officer pulls man from car engulfed in flames
 * Pennsylvania police provide wedding escort for bride and groom after their
   limo breaks down





FOOTER

Our Mission
To serve as a trusted voice of the nation’s law enforcement community, providing
informative, entertaining and inspiring content on interesting and engaging
topics affecting peace officers today.

Contact us: info@apbweb.com

 * Facebook
 * Twitter
 * Instagram


CATEGORIES

 * Editor’s Picks
 * On the Job
 * Labor
 * Tech
 * Training
 * Policy
 * Health/Wellness
 * Community
 * Offbeat
 * We Remember
 * Jobs and Careers
 * Events


EDITOR’S PICKS


THE POWER OF TEAMWORK

July 23, 2021


STAY AWAKE AND ALERT ON THE JOB

July 20, 2021


THE WORST RANK IN LAW ENFORCEMENT

July 19, 2021


FIREARMS MAINTENANCE

July 04, 2021

Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2022 APB Media, LLC | Website design, development
and maintenance by

Open


SUBSCRIBE

Close
Receive the latest news and updates from American Police Beat directly to your
inbox!
 * First Name*
   
 * Last Name*
   
 * Email*
   
 * Privacy Policy*
    * I have read and agree to the Privacy Policy

 * Phone
   
   This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.



Δ



Notifications