Has "Big Brass Fever" Infected Your Agency

Recently, I had the privilege of viewing several Air Force presentations that introduced lean six sigma methodologies to senior leaders. The training was developed by the University of Tennessee's, Center for Executive Education. I highly recommend their courses of instruction for any agency moving forward with Lean Six Sigma. I found particularly useful one of the presentations that dealt with the cultural dynamics that can occur between leaders and the layers of personnel ranks beneath them. One topic, "Big Brass Fever," stood out for me the most, as I have seen this in both my military and law enforcement careers.

Here are a few of the symptoms you may have observed in your careers, many times attributable to, "Big Brass Fever."

• Fear of disappointing leader drives to over production
• Simple tasks become gold plated efforts
• Casual question or comment treated as tasking for briefing or action
• Briefings reviewed at multiple levels
• Yes men-ism isolates leader from reality 

 
The course gives a humorous, but true, example of this leadership challenge that you may find all too familiar at your agency.

The Secretary for the Department of Energy was touring a national laboratory’s grounds when a snake crossed her path. She casually asked: “I wonder if there are poisonous snakes here?” Six weeks later she received a report prepared by the lab’s top biologist entitled “Census of Venomous Snake Population”.

One has to wonder how much valuable time and taxpayer dollars were spent on this outbreak of "Big Brass Fever." How much of this goes on at your agency? Better yet, how much of it are you causing?

The above example happens all too often, and usually very innocently, as many leaders never expect people to take the whimsical remarks they say so literally. Sadly enough, there is also the opposite out there among the leadership ranks. Some leaders feel that personnel should jump at every word they say because they have finally earned their stripes, bars, or stars. To me, this is an indication that they have been promoted beyond their ability to lead and are reduced to using positional authority to get things done. A sad, but true condition of, "Big Brass Fever."

The best protocol is to learn to recognize "Big Brass Fever," from both perspectives of the leadership realm; as leader, and subordinate.

As a leader, it is important to remember that everyone is going to do their best to try and please you and to deliver well on what they believe you want. After all, you're the boss. Sometimes even the passing phrase or statement can be misconstrued in a subordinates mind to send them on a mission so full of waste that it halts any real work for days, weeks, or even months. Sometimes the best thing a leader can do is simply listen, and say, "keep up the great work." At least then he or she isn't adding to the workflow with unintended consequences.

As a subordinate, try to remember that your leaders do not want you tied up doing busy work that has no relevancy to the overall mission. This is where employee empowerment and challenging status quo by asking "why" becomes more and more important everyday. Never be intimidated to ask your boss for clarity before going on a wild goose chase. Whether in police work, or the military, lives may count on it one day. Get in the habit of consistently asking your boss, "what actions would you like me to take next?"

The University of Tennessee's presentation gives of few points as well for controlling, "Big Brass Fever" that I also found to be quite helpful.

• Talk about it
• Explicitly state “I don’t want action on this – we’re just considering options”
• Be critical of over production and gold plating
• Imagine the unintended consequences of your requests taken to their ill-logical extremes
• Be clear on your expectations and test for active listening
• Remind your people to stay focused on the top priority and not the side issues
• Make a point of asking for bad news and thanking the individual who delivers it

I will close with one final phrase from the presentation:

"Remember, the stronger you are as a leader, the greater the threat of Big Brass Fever becomes."

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About the Author: William "Billy" Wilkerson is a Police Sergeant with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and 21 Year veteran with the Florida Air National Guard. He is currently assigned to Sheriff's Office Continuous Improvement Division and also supervises the Staff Inspections Unit. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office has been using Lean Six Sigma to streamline many of its processes for the past several years to much success. Billy has also been assisting with the Florida Air National Guard's rollout of their CPI Program (Continuous Process Improvement). Billy can be found on LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/in/billywilkerson or by email at Billy@Leanleaders.org

It's always about the people

Recently, someone asked me what I thought to be the biggest mistake of a manager. I believe that managers can get so caught up with processes that they forget about the people. People are what drives an organization. People are not machines, they are emotional. A manager needs to be able to sense the emotional response of the people around him, then respond in a positive way that helps the person stay on track while working within their process. Behaviour of the workforce changes whenever there is a significant emotional event...good or bad. You'll see it at work a lot. Someone is going through a divorce, their work product is impacted. Someone gets engaged, also impacts their work product. As a manager myself, I have found my job to be less about the processes I am responsible for, and more about the people reponsible for carrying out the work. When I think of servant leadership, this quote comes to mind..."I work for my people, but I report to my boss."


Search Amazon.com for servant leadership greenleaf

About the Author: William "Billy" Wilkerson is a Police Sergeant with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and 21 Year veteran with the Florida Air National Guard. He is currently assigned to Sheriff's Office Continuous Improvement Division and also supervises the Staff Inspections Unit. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office has been using Lean Six Sigma to streamline many of its processes for the past several years to much success. Billy has also been assisting with the Florida Air National Guard's rollout of their CPI Program (Continuous Process Improvement). Billy can be found on LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/in/billywilkerson or by email at 7388wtw@gmail.com .

Emotional Intelligence...The Hidden Component of Great Organizations

Daniel Goleman, Author of Emotional Intelligence wrote, "The range of what we think and do is limited by what we fail to notice. And because we fail to notice that we fail to notice there is little we can do to change until we notice how failing to notice shapes our thoughts and deeds."

After my brain quit hurting from reading this, I started to understand what he meant. So, I decided to take the quote and break it down into a leadership perspective. Here goes:

1) "The range of what we think and do is limited by what we fail to notice" - I was in a meeting not long ago with some very high ranking individuals. In the blink of an eye, a well thought out decision made by a process improvement team was overturned. The high ranking individuals gave little reason. Basicially, they limited their thinking to what they "failed to notice." That a team of highly skilled people already came up with a good solution, which addressed the same concerns that they were citing. I have to wonder, how engaged will this team be once they go back to their normal work environments? How much extended damage did these, "leaders" just do by "failing to notice" someone else's hard work? Certainly, decisions need careful review by leadership. But, careful review and servant leadership models show that dialogue between leadership and the people who do the job should take place before overturning and disempowering a team. Only then will they believe that you care, and trust you as a leader.

2) "And because we fail to notice that we fail to notice there is little we can do to change until we notice how failing to notice shapes our thoughts and deeds." - The "leaders" in part one are not bad people. Nor do I consider them to be poor leaders necessarily. Having worked with them, I have come to understand the constraints on their time. I also understand that law enforcement, by its very nature, is a system known for quick decision making. In several instances, this can be a very good thing, as hesitation can get someone killed.

As the second sentence reads, they simply failed to notice what they failed to notice. Leaders sometimes do not recognize the impact of their decisions on the people that do the work, until long after they have made their decision, if ever. This equates to the beginning of, 'What were they thinking," by line personnel. After that, the shut down starts. Line personnel and middle managers quit offering ideas because they believe, "leadership" doesn't care about what I say anyway. Leadership then starts to believe people need constant guidance since they never offer solutions. Line personnel then start feeling micromanaged and disengage...it goes on and on and on, until you have a culture of followers. This happens until one day, a leader realizes that he "failed to notice" an important factor in his decision...input from the people that do the job. From then on, he becomes the people's advocate.

How much do your leaders,"fail to notice?" What is your organization doing to realign and prevent this from happening in the future? Do you have the courage to tell leaders that they are "failing to notice?" Someone's I can only ...Ponder.

Search Amazon.com for emotional intelligence


About the Author: William "Billy" Wilkerson is a Police Sergeant with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and 21 Year veteran with the Florida Air National Guard. He is currently assigned to Sheriff's Office Continuous Improvement Division and also supervises the Staff Inspections Unit. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office has been using Lean Six Sigma to streamline many of its processes for the past several years to much success. Billy has also been assisting with the Florida Air National Guard's rollout of their CPI Program (Continuous Process Improvement). Billy can be found on LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/in/billywilkerson or by email at 7388wtw@gmail.com .

MBWA = Management by Walking Around

Whether you wear stripes, bars, or stars on your shirt, the environment needed for open communication begins with you. Unfortunately, it is easy to become over-directive in our management styles when burdened with deadlines and our other "important" issues. With so much going on, who has time for idle chat, right? Well, it should be you. After all, if the manager/leader is too busy to take time to listen, then how can subordinates ever value listening as a leadership trait.

I have a coffee pot that sits in my office. I seldom ever use it. Instead, I get coffee from a pot that is shared with several others in the work area. "Why," you ask. Because it gives me a reason to get away from my desk, go to an area where I will see people I work with, and start smalltalk...yes, smalltalk.

In order to initiate and sustain positive change, managers/leaders have to be able to get buy-in from those that do the job every day. To get buy-in, a manager/leader must first build trust. Trust starts by letting people know that you truly care about them. A good manager/leader should always be interested in how someone's day is going, and if there is anything they can do to assist.

People are naturally emotional. If someone's day started out bad before they came to work, then it will most likely continue to be bad at work. This may lead to loss of productivity, or poor work quality throughout the rest of the day. How many rudeness complaints could agencies avoid with this simple philosophy? But what about lost productivity by walking so far for coffee you ask. Think of it this way. We like to say that our people are our biggest asset. Then think of them as you would any other asset...such as your 401k. By managing your 401k properly, and by making deposits at regular intervals, you ensure the best return possible. People are no different. A good manager/leader invests his time and energy in his people, and the rewards of trust and loyalty are overwhelming. Your taking time to allow someone to vent may set them on a course for a better day. Cheerfulness is contagious.

I often hear the term, "it's not what you know, but who you know." I twist it around a little..."it's not who you know, but who you know that likes you." You can know lots of people, but if they all think you are difficult to be around, they are less likely to offer help when you need it. They will eventually disengage and only perform at minimum levels. Law enforcement needs and deserves people who strive to go above and beyond...the community deserves it too.

So, get up and go get a cup of coffee already!

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About the Author: William "Billy" Wilkerson is a Police Sergeant with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and 21 Year veteran with the Florida Air National Guard. He is currently assigned to Sheriff's Office Continuous Improvement Division and also supervises the Staff Inspections Unit. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office has been using Lean Six Sigma to streamline many of its processes for the past several years to much success. Billy has also been assisting with the Florida Air National Guard's rollout of their CPI Program (Continuous Process Improvement). Billy can be found on LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/in/billywilkerson or by email at 7388wtw@gmail.com .

Starting Your Lean Six Sigma Program? - Try Email

Not long ago, I was emailed and asked a few questions by an agency Captain about Lean Six Sigma. Here is a brief article that highlights a few of his questions.

-------------------------------------

Hello Billy,

This is a very interesting concept you have implemented at your department. I had just placed the question to may group when I found you on Linkedin. How similar is this mythology to problem-oriented policing? What was the learning curve for the officers when you first established this program? How does a agency get started in a program of this nature? Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Best Regards,
Captain

---------------------------

Hi Captain,
It is truly a pleasure when we hear of other agencies looking to start down the LEAN road. I will do my best to answer your questions, but I believe it is fair to say that every agency, or company, is unique. That being said, police tend to be police minded wherever they go. My experience is that everything revolves back around to the belief system of the troops. If they trust the administration, they will believe in LEAN. If they believe it is in their best interest, they will believe in LEAN, etc., etc. It is also fair to say that it may come with a fair amount of resistance due to the poor execution of Total Quality Management (TQM), that was pushed in the nineties.

1) How similar is this mythology to problem-oriented policing?
Although Lean Six Sigma uses a problem solving model (DMAIC - define, measure, analyze, improve, control), similar to that used in problem oriented policing or community policing (SARA - scan, analyze, response, assess), the approach is somewhat different. Overall, our agency is tasked with building relationships with the community to determine root causes of crimes and the fear of, through the use of community partnerships and policing strategies. Lean Six SIgma is more of an internal process review geared towards making the way we do business better. I.e., process for filing cases, process for reducing overtime costs, saving fuel, transportation of prisoners, etc. It is geared arounf the 8 types of waste used for LEAN thinking, and the quality statndards contained within six sigma. So, they are similar in many ways, but different as well.

2) What was the learning curve for the officers when you first established this program?
The learning curve is relatively small. We have a 4 hour orientation that all employees reveive upon being hired. We have also made it a part of our leaderhsip development academy. The issue is not so much the learning curve of the material, but the sustainment of the mindset that goes back to the belief system that is in place...the culture. Will your officers believe this to be a fad? is it something they are being forced to do? Will leadership champion the movement? All are questions that will arise once you start down the path. We (JSO) are nowhere near where we want to be with LEAN. Basically, if we had a continuous improvement culture, we would not need a continuous improvement unit. This will most likely take several years.

3) How does a agency get started in a program of this nature?
I highly recommend searching for a consortioum similar the the Jacksonville Lean Consortium. If one is not available in your area, try searching for the local MEP (manufacturers entension partnership). Also, many times other portion of loval government have already started a similar program. For instance, our local Air National Guard base, and local electric and water utility have well designed programs in place with experts in the field of LEAN Six Sigma, just a field trip or phone call away. The EPA has also created an excellent guide for governement agecies. Here is their link.

http://www.epa.gov/lean/starterkit/index.htm

In the end, all of this comes down to having a committed leader that is willing to champion the culture change. Without buy - in from the top, a successful program is highly unlikely.

Hope that is helpful,

Billy


About the Author: William "Billy" Wilkerson is a Police Sergeant with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and 21 Year veteran with the Florida Air National Guard. He is currently assigned to Sheriff's Office Continuous Improvement Division and also supervises the Staff Inspections Unit. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office has been using Lean Six Sigma to streamline many of its processes for the past several years to much success. Billy has also been assisting with the Florida Air National Guard's rollout of their CPI Program (Continuous Process Improvement). Billy can be found on LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/in/billywilkerson or by email at 7388wtw@gmail.com .

Know the Goal...Are you being productive, or are you just busy?

"In the absence of clearly-defined goals, we become strangely loyal to performing daily trivia until ultimately we become enslaved by it." Quote by Robert Heinlein, US science fiction author (1907 - 1988)

Many times I will read a quote and reflect on how much it lends towards a LEAN, process improvement philosophy of leadership and everyday good business. This quote by Robert Heinlein is one of those with which I can definitely identify.

I challenge you to ask yourself, "how many meetings do I go to where I leave still wondering why we had the meeting?" This happens more often than you may think. I will receive several meetings requests a month from several different people, on an array of topics. Something I have noticed is that few meeting requests ever have any notes included about the topic, goals of the meeting, expected outcome or benefits, etc. Or, more importantly to me, why was I invited and what is the expectation from my input?

After reading the quote it is apparent that this is a large phenomena that reaches well beyond my agency. It is most likely in all forms of business around the globe. And yes, it goes well beyond the unclear meeting requests. Lack of clearly defined goals seem to be a constant driver for "busy work." The important piece to this is teaching managers and leadership the difference between being busy and being productive. Trust me, they are not always synonymous.


About the Author: William "Billy" Wilkerson is a Police Sergeant with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and 20 Year veteran with the Florida Air National Guard. He is currently assigned to Sheriff's Office Continuous Improvement Division and also supervises the Staff Inspections Unit. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office has been using Lean Six Sigma to streamline many of its processes for the past several years to much success. Billy has also been assisting with the Florida Air National Guard's rollout of their CPI Program (Continuous Process Improvement). Billy can be found on LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/in/billywilkerson or by email at 7388wtw@gmail.com .

Search Amazon.com for Robert Heinlein

Difference of making decisions versus coming to conclusions

Difference of making decisions versus coming to conclusions – real leaders have to make decisions, not just conclusions. Decisions involve a higher degree of calculated risk…anyone can wait long enough and gather enough details to come to a reasonable conclusion. Leaders blend limited subject data, agency core values, voice of internal and external customers, and an overall sense of doing the right thing to form their decisions…even then, they are flexible enough to reshape their decisions when new information comes in…Remember, LEAN has a bias for action. People need to know you are decisive. Make your decision, give purpose and meaning to the troops for how you made the decision, and move on. If they give you additional input...listen to them, and be willing to change the decision...this is the essence of continuous improvement...quick, decisive, incremental improvements.

Chain of Command and its Effect on Empowering Employees

Lean Six Sigma has special challenges in organizations that have a military styled rank structures. I have personally experienced this as a representive of a law enforcement agency and as a military guardsman. Recently, I have had the good fortune of making the acquaintance or Retired Colonel Billy Asbell, former Director for the Air National Guard's Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century program (AFSO21). AFSO21 is the Air Force program geared towards Lean Six Sigma, and other continuous improvement methodologies used for years in the public sector. For a more detailed breakdown of the AFSO21 program, this link may prove helpful:

https://acc.dau.mil/CommunityBrowser.aspx?id=140227&lang=en-US

Since getting to get to know Colonel Asbell, I was inclined to draw from his years of experience in the military, coupled with his expertise as Director of the AFSO21 program. He was kind enough to give a response to an email that I sent him regarding rank structure and its effect on empowering employees towards continuous improvement. He graciously allowed me to post that email to this blog. For that I am forever grateful. Leadership such as his is what has made, and continues to make, the United States of America the greatest country in the world. Below are the details of the email, titled:

Chain of Command and its Effect on Empowering Employees

Colonel, as you may know, law enforcement is considered to be "para-military" in that it has a rank structure, consisting of line personnel, Sergeants, Lieutenants, Assistant Chiefs, Chiefs, Directors, etc. I am curious of what someone with your extensive background in CPI could offer as insight as to how the rank structure effects empowerment of the line officers and middle ranks, and how it it relates to CPI. This seems to be a major issue and something that is holding several agencies back from making major leaps forward with its culture change.

Basically, what does an empowered employee look like in a large rank structured organization, how should leaders learn to recognize these traits, and how do we foster that culture to get us out of the "yes man" mentality that the rank structure claims it needs to keep order?

Here is Colonel Asbell's Response:



Billy - you are right - this is a challenge and it takes leadership committment from the top to make it work.

First you have to get leadership - at all levels - to buy off on the idea that "if they had the answer they would just put it in place - if it is a problem obviously then they don't have the answer so they have to support what ever the subject matter experts come up with..." This is hard but it works. I have seen process owners say this but not do it when the decisions are hard - nothing changes. I have seen ones that mean what they say and hold the team resposible if their solutions don't work to fix them so they will and success goes thru the roof. Here is the approach i take.

1 - when the problem is identified sit down the the process owner and write out a charter for process improvement. You can usually tell in the meeting if they really think it is a problem or if someone told them it was a problem. I normally tell them right then - you have to let the subject matter experts fix this because you don't have the answer - you, as the process owner have to tell them that you don't have the answer and that you will try/accept any solution they provide as long as it does not violate safety and/or cost over x amount of dollars. I state - if you can't do this without reservation then we don't need to address the issue now.

2 - when you have that committment then I do some awareness training with the supervisors - since I will use the front line workers to change the process - I want the supervisors to understand what is going to happen and how they need to support it. I like to do the airplane exercise with them (sure Linda taught you that) so they can see how things can be broken. It is fun to add some goofy rules to the exercise so they can see the impact of policy.

3 - on the first day of the project - the process owner and any supervisors should all meet with the team members and empower them - I usually draft out key points for them to say. The main ones are 1) you are the experts 2) you know what works 3) this is broken I can't fix it 4) I need solutions from you 5) I will support your solutions as long as they do not violate safety or cost over x dollars. The last statement should be "I expect you to fix this problem."

4 - if you do an RIE the mid week vector check with the process owner should be positive - you need to brief the process owner on the key changes being discussed PRIOR to the meeting and tell them they CANNOT MAKE ANY NEGATIVE COMMENTS - "we can't do that, that is stupid, what are you smoking, etc." All comments should be directed at them being on track or not based on the charter - and discussion of the discussion looks very good.

5 - outbrief - the process owner has to go in with acceptance in mind - they have to say - this looks good - I am behind you getting this done - they should know who the team leader is and turn to them and say - I am holding you accountable for success of this change. It works great when they set a review schedule in the meeting. The process owner needs to say to the team - if your solutions don't work - I want you to continue to work until you fix this - turning back is not an option.

6 - Then there is the follow up - you or whomever is the CPI lead needs to make sure a tracking mechinism is in place so that you leadership champion can hold the process owners accountable for their projects.

Finally, you have to look at the CPI or LSS projects as outside the chain activities - the only command structure is focused on the process owner and up to the champion. Consider it a detail in LEAN terms - these folks have this side detail that reports thru a different chain. It does work.

Hope that helps.

Billy (aka George "Billy" Asbell, Colonel, USAF, Retired)

Colonel Asbell's profile can be found on LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/in/billyasbell

A Tale of Two "Lean" Cities

In August 2009, I had the distinct honor of facilitating a Rapid Improvement Event with the Alaska Air National Guard, 176 WG. Being a guardsman for the past 20 years, I have come to look forward to these short, but very beneficial trips to new places. The Air Force started its Continuous Process Improvement initiative a fews ago, marketed under the acronym "AFSO21" (Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century). This trip provided an opportunity for me to use my facilitation skills for the betterment of my country. But, this trip was ever more special to me.

Deputy Chief Steve Smith, Anchorage Alaska Police Department, had previously reached out to my full time employer, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, to inquire about implementing "Lean." Recognizing the once in a lifetime opportunity to introduce another law enforcement agency to "Lean" while serving my country at the same time, I quickly invited Deputy Chief Smith to observe our event at the Alaska Air National Guard. I am happy to say that he accepted the invitation.

Since that time great things have happened. Deputy Chief Smith reached out to the Alaska Manufacturing Extension Partnership, Inc (AMEP), and has started a local Lean Consortium, very similar to the Jacksonville Lean Consortium, which the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is a member.

To read the story in the Jacksonville Lean Consortium's newletter, click here.

Roll Call of Fallen Officers...FOP 5-30 Donates New Memorial Wall

In May 2009, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, Continuous Improvement Unit conducted a 7S event focused on the Police Memorial Building (PMB) entrances. During the event, Team Leader, Sgt. Johnny Mike, asked the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) to update the Wall of Honor at the Bay Street entrance. The 7S event created an excellent opportunity to bring attention to our fallen brothers. All costs for the new wall were paid for by the FOP, Lodge 5-30.

Manchester Police..."Leans" to Jacksonville Sheriff's Office for best practices

Emma Jeffcock, a researcher with the Greater Manchester Police Department, Manchester, England, is conducting research in the United States related to "Lean" in law enforcement. Emma will be in the U.S. for six months visiting various agencies that are incorporating "Lean" methodology as a part of their business practices. According to Emma, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is a role model for other agencies trying to implement "Lean."  Shown in the picture above is Emma Jeffcock, left, and Jacksonville, Florida Sheriff John Rutherford, right. Sheriff Rutherford presented Emma with his signature, "Riding for the Brand" coin. The coin is given to those who give to the community by upholding the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office core values of Worthy of Trust, Respect for Others, Community Focused, and Always Improving. Sheriff Rutherford is the first known head of a law enforcement agency to implement 'Lean"

Go for the "better" solutions, not just the "best" solutions

How do we get to be the “best?” How do we get to be “THE” premier law enforcement agency in the nation? We get there through continuous, gradual improvements you can make after reviewing and updating processes. This can range from things as simple as organizing the trunk of your patrol car, or learning ways to organize your emails, to large department wide initiatives such as Intelligence Led Policing, such as the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) projects. When making things “better”, it’s natural to try and make the process the absolute “best,” all at one time. But sometimes the “best” solution may rely on long term, strategic solutions or involve resources outside of our immediate control. These solutions can sometimes take months or years to put into action. This is the point where enthusiasm and reality collide. Don’t get discouraged. Don’t keep from trying to make a process “better” just because the “best” solution is not immediately attainable. Remember, a little better is still better. Put the easy fixes in place today, all the while keeping your sights on the long term goals that coincide with being the “best.” Continuous improvement is after all ... continuous.

"Lean Six Sigma" as a Law Enforcement Tool

Like many of the tools available for law enforcement officers today, Lean Six Sigma (LSS) process improvement methodologies are only as good as the officer's skill level, trained in its use. Firearms, TASERs, pepper spray, batons, are all examples of what law enforcement officers, the world over, are required to achieve proficiency with before hitting the streets on their own. Beyond achieving this proficiency, they must aslo maintain certification with these tools of the trade on a recurring basis. Now, insert LSS as the new tool of this fast paced profession and great things can happen. Keep in mind though that this is simply another tool. Being such, some officers may reach the proficiency level, while some will achieve expert.
Think of your agency's special assignment teams such as Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), Community Oriented Policing (COPS), Bicycle Unit, Apartment Tasks Force, School Resource Officers (SRO), etc. Each of these teams require a special type of individual to help the team be most successful. Not all officers can meet the rigorous demands of SWAT, nor does every officer want to ride a bicycle all day or work at a school. The point being, each of these specialized teams tend to draw officers that have a "knack" for what the team exemplifies. These groups of officers will then receive specialized training that goes well beyond the average officers level of proficiency for that particular skillset. The same should be true for LSS.
LSS thinking is somewhat of a new mindset for law enforcement, in general. Sure, we may have all used problem solving policing in the past, but this is different. LSS teaches us to look at all processes within our agency, not just the crime trends and patterns. While It is always a great idea to train as many people as possible to look at the processes that they work in and challenge them, keep in mind, some officers will simply have the "knack" for it. This doesn't make them better police officers than the others, or vice versa. What it could mean is that they should be the ones to receive the advanced LSS training. I highly encourage you to give all officers within your agency the basic skillset and understanding of LSS. Then, sit back and watch as those with a passion for improving the core processes begin to emerge. As they emerge, begin building your specialized LSS teams to attack beauracracy and waste within processes. These special advocates for process improvement will not only deliver the greatest return on investment, but they will also set the best example for the changing mindset that is necessary to sustain a LSS culture.