How Do Senior Police Leaders’ Best Learn the Art of Leadership?

• In Event: Police Leadership and Organizational Commitment

Abstract

Accompanying the intense scholarly focus on leadership has been a substantial increase in the theoretical and empirical research on leadership development. However, the important role of leadership development in police organisations has received limited scholarly attention. In general, the literature on police leadership and ways to ‘grow’ leaders is restricted in scope and fails to adequately address many theoretical and empirical questions concerning police leadership development. Theoretically-based research within the unique context of policing is required to more deeply understand police leadership development, and what developmental experiences enhance police leadership.

This research aims to address this gap in the literature by conducting qualitative semi-structured interviews with 20 senior sworn police leaders within an Australian police jurisdiction. This paper presents key research findings drawn from perceptions of senior police involving significant personal learning experiences which have promoted their development as leaders.

Shane Doyle is a PhD candidate and lecturer at Central Queensland University (CQU) (Australia). Shane was previously a police inspector in the Queensland Police Service with over three decades of sworn service. He holds a Bachelor of Business Degree (QUT), a Graduate Certificate of Applied Management (AIPM) and a Master of Business Degree (QUT).

Author

• Shane Terence Doyle, Central Queensland University