National Command and Staff College
Institute for Credible Leadership Development (ICLD) Course Descriptions and Hours
ICLD Phase I: Foundations & Principles of Leadership – 37 hours
Leadership Principles & Concepts – ONE HOUR
This module discusses leadership, what it means, what is expected of a leader, types of leaders and how a leader influences others. It includes segments from leaders discussing their approaches to leadership. The module also provides definitions for reactive, proactive and coactive policing.
*Lincoln on Leadership – EIGHT HOURS includes READING BOOK
This module is a comprehensive summary of the book “Lincoln on Leadership, Executive Strategies for Tough Times”, by Donald T. Phillips. The book gives a leadership perspective from President Abraham Lincoln, who arguably led the United States through one of the most trying times in American history.
First & Mid-Level Supervisions – ONE HOUR
This module looks at the transitional challenges often faced by First-Line & Mid-Level Supervisors as they take on their new roles and responsibilities. It focuses on the development of new skill sets and interaction with those that they supervise.
Leadership & Ethics – FIVE HOURS
This course provides a comprehensive and contemporary examination of leadership ethics in modern policing, integrating the behavioral sciences, national trends, neuroscience, and real-world case studies from across the United States. Grounded in Dr. Neal Trautman’s ethics research, and enriched with insights from procedural justice, neuroleadership, and organizational culture theory, the course prepares law enforcement leaders to navigate complex ethical pressures, promote integrity, and build community trust. Learners will analyze the major causes of unethical behavior, evaluate organizational risk factors, and practice ethical decision-making through interactive scenarios that reflect current nationwide challenges. Updated December 2025.
Leadership & Change – ONE HOUR
This module provides students with an in-depth look at why change can be so difficult, particularly in law enforcement organizations. It gives perspective on how change can benefit organizations and cautions against making changes just for the sake of change. The module also gives strategies to utilize when implementing necessary changes.
Personal Leadership – TWO HOURS
This module looks at personal leadership and what makes some leaders great and others not so great. It gives students a perspective of what kind of leader they should strive to be and provides examples of strong leadership traits.
*It’s Your Ship – TEN HOURS includes READING BOOK
This module is a comprehensive summary of the bestselling book “It’s Your Ship, Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy”, by Captain D. Michael Abrashoff. The book describes how Captain Abrashoff turned a ship with very low morale and performance into the best performing ship in the fleet.
Leadership & Power – TWO HOURS
The purpose of this module is to discuss the relationship between leadership and power. It is important to understand that authority gives leaders power to supervise and change behavior; however, it is extremely important that abuse of this authority or power will surely result in fear, disrespect and low morale. This module will provide strategies for the proper use of power in a leadership role.
Leadership Theories – ONE HOUR
This module introduces students to the many leadership theories studied over many years in order to give a better understanding of the evolutionary process of leadership theories and a deeper understanding of concepts and practices. This module also gives a clear distinction between leading and managing, as well as introducing students to the DISC Profile Behavior Pattern Assessment.
*Law Enforcement Moral Compass – FOUR HOURS includes READING BOOK
This module is a comprehensive summary of the book “Moral Compass for Law Enforcement Professionals v.2” and guides law enforcement professionals through the timeless principles and modern applications of the Moral Compass framework — an ethical foundation for credible, resilient, and compassionate policing in the 21st century. Participants will explore the Four Cornerstones of Peace, Justice, Equity, and Service, and the Ten Values that operationalize ethical behavior, leadership, and trust. Drawing from neuroscience, wellness research, and practical field examples, the course reinforces how character, courage, and service define professional excellence. Updated December 2025.
Active Listening – ONE HOUR
As professionals, particularly in the law enforcement profession, we use communication as a primary tool to perform our duties. One of the most important aspects of communication is listening to what is being communicated, but we don’t receive a great deal of training regarding effectively receiving the message. This module is designed to provide law enforcement professionals with training regarding the importance of actively listening and receiving the message that is being communicated to them. This skill is so critical that without it law enforcement professionals and their agencies are exposed to potential misunderstandings that can be disastrous and very difficult to recover from.
Effective Communication – ONE HOUR
The process of effective communication is so important to a leader that it must be a primary function in the development of leadership skills. You see, if a leader cannot effectively communicate his/her message or vision to those who will be responsible for carrying it out, they cannot possibly be effective as a leader. This module is designed to explain the importance of competent communication and stress the fact that effective leaders must be effective communicators who understand that communication is a process whereby an individual influences others through successfully communicating their message to achieve a shared goal.
Military Leadership – ONE HOUR
The US Military begins leadership training when a soldier is in basic training and the leadership training is continued throughout a soldier’s military career. You see, the military clearly understands the connection between leadership training and performance. With this in mind, this module provides valuable insight from command level military personnel on their successful approaches to leadership.
ICLD Phase II: Theories & Practices of Leadership – 38 hours
Generations – TWO HOURS
Bridging the Generational Divide: Leadership & Communication Across Eras is designed to equip leaders, team members, and public safety professionals with the knowledge and skills to effectively navigate and leverage the diversity of five distinct generations in the workplace—Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, Generation Z, and Generation Alpha. Participants will explore the values, work ethics, and communication preferences of each generation, identify common sources of conflict, and develop strategies to transform generational differences into strengths. Through real-world public safety case studies, actionable imperatives, and practical leadership tools, the course empowers learners to foster collaboration, build trust, and enhance operational readiness across multigenerational teams. Updated December 2025.
*It’s Our Ship – TEN HOURS includes READING BOOK
This module is a summary of Captain D. Michael Abrashoff’s second book, “It’s Our Ship, The No Nonsense Guide to Leadership.” You see, after Abrashoff’s successful naval career he realized that although he had successfully created an environment of collaboration and organizational growth on his ship, the Benfold, he had failed to share all of his techniques, initiatives, and processes with his fellow captains who were able to achieve success at his level. Therefore, in hindsight, he had failed them. This book discusses how successful leaders share information within their organizations to create great synergy.
Practical Emotional Intelligence – TWO HOURS
This module addresses the importance of having a strong sense of emotional intelligence and its relationship to strong leadership. Emotional intelligence is critical in law enforcement both internally and with public interactions. The instructor defines emotional intelligence and its practical uses in law enforcement.
Good to Great – ONE HOUR
This course is grounded in Jim Collins’ seminal research from Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap…and Others Don’t. It explores the principles that differentiate high-performing organizations from those that plateau at mediocrity and translates them into actionable strategies for public safety leaders. Participants will analyze case studies, reflect on leadership behaviors, and apply evidence-based principles of disciplined leadership to their agency environment. Updated December 2025.
Proactive Communication – TWO HOURS
This module addresses one of the most challenging aspects of law enforcement and public safety – the ability to proactively communicate with our employees, peers and the citizens that we serve. The instructor provides valuable insight into concepts, techniques and exercises that stress communicating proactively in a manner that ensures true understanding.
Conflict Management – TWO HOURS
If you think about it, most of what we deal with in law enforcement revolves around some type of conflict. Therefore, conflict management becomes a key complaint of accomplishing the law enforcement mission, whether there are external conflicts (outside the organization), or internal conflicts (within the organization). This module addresses conflict management and introduces students to techniques, processes and other solutions to address conflict.
Cultural Diversity – ONE HOUR
This module focuses on cultural sensitivity and its importance to leadership, particularly in the law enforcement community. As law enforcement professionals, we are obligated to provide responsive, effective, and equal services to all of the diverse cultural groups that we serve. This module provides insight into the barriers that often hinder us as individuals and organizations in providing these services in the manner intended. It stresses the need to understand the viewpoints of the cultures we
serve and to take a journey of self-discovery regarding our bias, prejudice and perception of these cultures.
Action Leadership – ONE HOUR
This module focuses on Action-Centered Leadership concepts that were developed by Dr. John Adair. Action-Centered Leadership was developed for the military, so it is easily adapted by law enforcement since most law enforcement agencies are based on a para-military structure. This The module addresses the concept that leadership is a trainable skill and that there is a
distinct difference in leadership and management.
Reflective Leadership – ONE HOUR
In this module students are introduced to the concept of Reflective Leadership. Reflective leaders develop a very broad view of their organizations, circumstances, and decisions. They understand that people may not see things the way that they do. They understand the need to develop other
reflective leaders within the organization. This module provides students with the skills, techniques, and concepts of a reflective leader with the hope that they will utilize them for self-growth and the development of others.
*Start With Why – TEN HOURS includes READING BOOK
This module is a summary of the book, “Start with Why, How Great Leaders Inspire Every1 to Take Action”, by Simon Sinek. The module is designed to utilize insights provided within the book to give students information that will assist them in effectively leading their employees and agencies. Although the book may come across as a book for those in sales and marketing, the reality is that law enforcement is like running a business where we serve and protect. Understanding the ‘why’, will enable us as leaders to create an atmosphere for being proactive in everything we do.
Legacy Leadership – TWO HOURS
This module discusses Legacy Leadership, the concepts behind it, why it’s important, and the things we must do to make sure we have a strong legacy mindset. Doing this promotes our organization and protects our future. Students will be reminded of the fact that all leaders leave a legacy. What do we want our legacy to be? In law enforcement, we must remember to always pursue excellence and inspire others to do so as well.
Succession Planning – TWO HOURS
This course provides a comprehensive overview of succession planning as a leadership and organizational strategy in law enforcement. Participants will explore the science, structure, and applied methods of ensuring continuity and leadership readiness within their agencies. The course introduces the I.A.C.P. Four-Step Succession Planning Model—Identify, Develop, Mentor, and Sustain—and integrates behavioral science, organizational learning theory, and neuroleadership principles to strengthen understanding and application. Through conceptual learning, reflection, and interactive practice, participants will learn how to build a self-sustaining pipeline of leadership talent aligned with their agency’s mission and values. Updated December 2025.
Human Capital Management – TWO HOURS
Human Capital Management (HCM) is a strategic approach to staffing, developing, and sustaining an agency’s workforce by recognizing people as capital assets whose value can be measured, optimized, and expanded through deliberate investment. In law enforcement, this approach is essential as agencies must balance tight budgets, fluctuating resources, community expectations, operational demands, and workforce well-being. This module explores HCM as both a strategic leadership philosophy and a practical system for enhancing workforce performance, retention, and readiness. Updated December 2025.
ICLD Phase III: Application & Advancement of Leadership – 29 hours
Human Factors & Leadership – ONE HOUR
This module addresses the human factors involved in policing and how they play a pivotal role in supervisors increasing safety margins internally and educating officers, as well as the community on how human factors affect policing practices. The module also stresses the importance of exercise, a personal life outside of the job and other outside interests.
*Founding Fathers on Leadership – EIGHT HOURS includes READING BOOK In an attempt to extend students concepts, principles and tools in this comprehensive summary of the book “Founding Fathers on Leadership, Classic Teamwork in Changing Times”, by Donald T. Phillips, the instructor takes a look at the challenges that the American founding fathers faced as they began the process of establishing a new government and the teamwork they displayed in order to accomplish their goals in very trying times.
Adaptive Leadership – TWO HOURS
This module gives students a comprehensive look at Adaptive Leadership and why it is so important to law enforcement leaders. In today’s fluid, ever-changing environment leaders must be ready to adapt to situations as they arise. Adaptive leadership is the key to making key decisions based on the best information available, particularly in emergent situations. This module provides students with concepts and practices for utilizing adaptive leadership techniques in their professional lives.
Authentic Leadership – ONE HOUR
This module gives an introduction to the concept of Authentic Leadership which is leading in accordance with ones’ values, preferences and needs as opposed to simply leading to please others. Why is this so important to law enforcement leaders at all levels? Simply put, law enforcement professionals are approached from all directions from individuals and groups that will challenge their authenticity, particularly when it comes to performing their duties. This module stresses the need for Authentic Leadership and cites some of society’s ethical and organizational failures, as well as security
breaches as just some of the reasons that Authentic Leadership is a must in order to instill community and public trust.
Servant Leadership – ONE HOUR
This module concerns itself with one of the truly challenging concepts of leadership in the law enforcement arena, Servant Leadership. You see, while law enforcement professionals, by virtue of the profession, are public servants, they often fail to embrace this role, or they don’t truly understand what this means. The Servant Leadership module is designed to introduce students to the concept of being a servant leader. It will share examples of Servant Leadership from leaders in industry, the military and law enforcement.
Credible Leadership – TWO HOURS
This module discusses the importance of Credible Leadership and what that means. It lists positive outcomes that Credible Leadership can influence. The module also reviews the Managerial Leadership Diagram depicting how Credible Leadership positively affects an entire workgroup and why. It also illustrates what a low and highly credible leader looks like.
Effective Leadership – TWO HOURS
This module discusses effective leadership and describes what an effective leader does. It identifies several past and present effective leaders and shares their thoughts and insights regarding their leadership styles. While these leaders came from a variety of disciplines, their styles work in many different environments.
Toxic Leadership – ONE HOUR
This module addresses the major obstacles that Toxic Leadership creates for law enforcement organizations in achieving their objectives at many levels. Toxic leadership cripples law enforcement agencies by allowing leaders to selfishly obtain goals that may not be in the best interest of the organization. In this module the instructor takes a comprehensive look at toxic leadership and the negative affects it has on individuals, organizations, and the citizens we serve.
Community Leadership – TWO HOURS
As law enforcement professionals, we often give our all to our profession and neglect ourselves on a personal level and our personal community involvement. Our exposure to the negative aspects of mankind often leaves us jaded and affects our personal and professional balance. This can have an adverse effect on our personal life and leave us vulnerable to several emotional syndromes that set us up for eventual disappointment in both our professional and personal lives. This module discusses these potential concerns and provides guidance on how to avoid them and create a professional/personal balance in your lives.
Leadership & Customer Service – TWO HOURS
This module introduces the concept of leadership as it relates to customer service both internally and externally. The instructor discusses the importance of developing leadership skills and providing exemplary customer service traits in all that you do. This is so significant to law enforcement because
our customers are the citizens that we are sworn to serve and unlike customers in the commercial world they must rely on law enforcement to provide excellent services regardless of the circumstances. Leadership sets the tone for how these services will be performed.
*Cyrus on Leadership – ONE HOUR
This module summarizes the book “Xenophon’s Cyrus the Great: The Art of Leadership and War”, by Larry Hedrick. The instructor identifies five Leadership principles followed by Cyrus the Great as he led his armies, ruled his empire, and built his legendary kingdom. These five principles are discussed in the context of leading in today’s public safety arena.
Adaptive Decision Making – ONE HOUR
This module discusses the need for law enforcement leaders to have the ability to make sound ethical decisions even when faced with potentially volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous situations (VUCA). Making the wrong decisions under these circumstances can often spell disaster for a law enforcement agency and the community. This module introduces students to counter VUCA decision making tactics and techniques.
Tactical Leadership – TWO HOURS
As law enforcement professionals, we hope that we will never find ourselves in a situation where we and our team are under fire, but we also know that this is a true reality, and we must be prepared to properly lead and react under these circumstances. The Tactical Leadership Module introduces students to the mindset that must prevail during such situations.
*Emotional Intelligence – THREE HOURS
In this module, we take a deeper look into Emotional Intelligence based on the book, “Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than I.Q.”, by Daniel Goleman. The instructor summarizes the concepts discussed in the book and provides explanations on why practicing Emotional Intelligence is critical as a public safety and leadership skill.
Positive Emotional Intelligence – TWO HOURS
This module addresses the fact that change is one thing that an organization and leader can count on. Leaders who wish to initiate change or respond to a need for change may have to go through a transformation themselves. This transformation will allow them to become a true change agent by increasing their level of Emotional Intelligence and their Positive Intelligence Quotient (PQ).
ICLD Phase IV: Leadership Competency & Mastery – 75 hours
*Self-Management Skills – 15 HOURS
The Skills in this cluster are the skills of Living and Working effectively, the skills of Living on Purpose – instead of by accident. The daily psychological stress that law
enforcement professionals experience in their work puts them at a significantly greater risk than the general population for developing a host of long term physical and mental health issues. This module is designed to introduce students to skills that allow them to build a personal foundation to cope with the negative effects of the job on a personal level.
*Interpersonal Communication Skills – 15 HOURS
As a result of the changing culture of law enforcement the first line and middle manager roles have a greater responsibility for coaching, leading and communicating. Even front-line officers are expected to be more of a leader and facilitator. This module is designed to introduce students to the understanding of their natural style of communicating with others and to help them understand and apply the four (4) Facilitative Conditions: Genuineness, Empathy, Respect and Specificity.
*Opportunity Leveraging – 15 HOURS
The skills taught in this module are designed to help students become more effective problem managers. It is also intended to aid students’ understanding of the difference between Coaching, Counseling and Mentoring. Students will learn the importance of properly assessing the development and functioning levels of others and gain an understanding of the 5-step Problem and Opportunity Coaching Model.
*Organization Development Skills – 15 HOURS
The purpose of this module is to provide the law enforcement professional with skills that will allow them to become more capable of creating high performance, high morale teams within the organization so that personnel will actively participate in the planning and implementation of the organizations mission, vision, goals and initiatives.
*Versatility Skills – 15 HOURS
Effective leaders are extremely versatile and receptive to the dynamics of changing environments, events, and organizational needs. This module is designed to help students understand the importance of versatility and how this skill will help them to develop their own style and become more responsive to the unique and ever-changing characteristics of individuals, teams, and organizations. Students will gain an understanding of how role, style and skill shifting can improve their overall leadership performance.
* a book is recommended