The NJ Police Chief Magazine Volume 23, Number 8 | Page 24

The NJSACOP Normandy Leadership Experience brings participants to the site of one of the world's great strategic
and tactical operations—the 1944 Allied liberation of France—to learn timeless lessons on leadership.
Beyond its place in history, Normandy was a profound test of leadership, yielding
insights that remain highly relevant today. The challenges these historic leaders
faced remain familiar to contemporary law enforcement leaders — how to do more
with less, how to inspire people working under tough conditions, how to empower
others to adapt to a world of constant change. Their solutions can inspire us in
ways that conceptual, lecture-based training never will.
The underlying purpose of this course is to teach today's law enforcement leaders
about democratic leadership and decision making by immersing them in a “living
classroom” – a case study come to life. Modeled on a technique used to train and prepare U. S. Army officers in leadership
and decision-making, the experience lets participants see and feel, as no mere classroom lecture can, the challenges that
faced commanders in World War II's pivotal battle in the West. The course provides the historical and strategic context and
facilitates in-depth discussion to reach a deep understanding of "leadership in action." Executives will leave prepared to be
better leaders and armed with battle-tested tools they can use immediately.
Through this unique course, participants gain new insights on how to:
 build flexible organizations that execute in the midst of fast moving events and rapid change
 develop leaders who think strategically to prepare for complex and dynamic environments
 explore how leaders earn the trust of subordinates
 build strong coalitions, across cultures and generations, for competition in contemporary conditions prepare the next
generation of leaders
The Normandy Invasion, and D-Day specifically, is a rich and stimulating source of leadership insight relevant to the
challenges (and opportunities) of the current law enforcement environment. Planning, organization, communication,
teamwork and initiative amidst profound and increasingly rapid changes in circumstance are as critical now to effective
execution as they were in 1944.
Throughout the Normandy Leadership Experience we examine key strategic objectives and the tactical events that
accompanied them, and focus on the role that leadership played in effective implementation, or the lack thereof. We also
reflect upon the relevance of these timeless lessons and how each relates to contemporary leadership initiatives in
participants’ current roles. Participants will prepare for the session by reading selected books and excerpts, and
participating in an orientation program. A delegate book containing case studies, relevant information for the program, and
journal pages will be provided for each participant.
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