Excellence in Training Course Testimonials
I had the pleasure of attending the Excellence in Training course in April of 2012. I have had time to reflect on this training and remember the eagerness of wanting to share the information I had learned. I have never referred to my notes as much after attending a course, finding that I am reading them frequently to refresh teaching points and methods, and enlighten myself to provide the best delivery mindset for the task at hand.
This is the first course I have attended where I experienced training in all sensory learning processes, seeing, hearing, feeling. The use of audio/visual, group participation and performance enhanced imagery increased my knowledge base immensely in the learning process of candidates and will be an asset in delivering training programs in the future. It helped me to understand ways to get through to participants that may attend a training course, and how to instill confidence and a winning mindset.
The course has provided me with limitless ideas for training from delivery processes on all Use of Force levels to developing a winning mind for overcoming injuries. The only thing missing now is the budget and time limited by agency to deliver. It instilled in me to understand, respect and share as presented, life’s most powerful question – What’s Important Now? Brian Willis is a true professional, he has been gracious with his time and knowledge and has provided material and assistance in all requests. The course is truly a great asset in providing as the title states -Excellence in Training.
Peter Schulz
Saskatchewan Ministry of the Environment
Senior Provincial Training Officer
Education & Training Unit
I took Excellence in Training as I was in the midst of developing a training program for new recruits.
Never before, have I been so excited about, or taken training which I have used to this extent. Daily. Hourly!
After listening to Brian, I revamped my entire program. I changed everything from how I introduced myself, to PowerPoint slide content and layout, questioning techniques and even what words I said.
Excellence in Training was a total eye opener. I have used the knowledge and techniques not only as a training coordinator, but also as an officer and even on my days off.
I am currently preparing for my triennial pistol requalification and I can’t say enough about how truly valuable the imagery and relaxation techniques have become.
“What’s Important Now” is my new mantra. It is mindboggling how such a simple question can instantly and easily relieve the stress encountered in both work and home life.
Without doubt and not said lightly, Excellence in Training has changed my life. I feel like I have such an advantage now.
Carol Green
Border Services Officer – Victoria Marine
Training, Learning and Development Coordinator – Victoria and Sidney/North Island
Canada Border Services Agency | Agence des services frontaliers du Canada
I have attended Excellence in Training several times .And I can say it is one of the best seminars I have had the privilege of attending. Any one who is a LEO Instructor, field trainer or use of force investigator should attend this seminar.
Thanks Brian for sharing your knowledge and insights, it has truly helped to develop me in my field.
Shawn Penner,
Deputy Sheriff, Saskatchewan Justice, control tactics instructor and Basic firearms instructor.
Following the Excellence in Training Course I helped a highland games athlete with guided imagery and the results were remarkable. He competed at the national championships recently and won first place. The way he did it was unusual because he placed first in the initial event, then placed last in the next event. This should have put him out of contention. He responded by winning every single event after that and placed first. His competitors were curious (and dismayed) and he gave a lot of credit to the work I did with him so now they are interested. I can probably work with this fellow via skype but if there is someone that you know who lives in his area that may be better. If you can help that would be great
On another note, I took the idea of using positive instruction on my most recent PARE session at the RCMP and I avoided all warnings and instructions on what not to do. Normally most people get some penalties and some get a lot because I usually spend a lot of time showing them what not to do. Anyway, the session was clean. No one got a single penalty. The DFLA from F division is now looking at revamping PARE instruction.
Thank you for your instruction.
Duane Banman (Regina)
I have always felt that there was more to training than they physical aspects and that we had never fully explored the mental aspects of performance improvement. In 2004 I learned of an Excellence in Training class
being presented at a local police department that explored just this topic. I paid for the class out of my own pocket and it was one of the best training decisions I have made in my 29 years in law enforcement.
The Excellence in Training Course represents the cutting edge in training, and Brian is truly a leader in this field. For many years professional, Olympic, and collegiate athletes have had access to mental performance coaching programs, as has the military. Today, this training is finally making its way to the law enforcement community thanks to Brian’s efforts. I believe this is the next great step in law enforcement training and represent the future for us.
Since that first class I have maintained close contact with Brian, have attended several more of his presentations and hosted his Excellence in Training Course at my agency on several occasions. I have used Brian’s training methods with officers from my agency with excellent results. The applications have ranged from test preparation to firearms training. I have also used it personally with some young student athletes.
I highly recommend Brian Willis, his training methods and his Excellence in Training Course. Brian is an instructor that truly cares about his students and is extremely responsive to their needs even after the class is over. Any agency that does not explore this training and its applications is, in my opinion, not moving forward and not making the most of their training.
Cmdr. Randy Meyers
Oak Lawn Police, Training Division
Brian Willis’ Excellence in Training course is one of the very best courses that I have attended in my 26 years of instructing law enforcement officers. I first attended this course in 2004 and subsequently brought him to Arizona on three occasions to bring this training to over 70 trainers from across the state. The course was always well received and its methodologies are used by trainers throughout the state.
You will learn ways to improve yourself and your students in yours and their quest to become better in any physical skill. If you are using reality based training this course is a MUST to attend. It will give you additional knowledge and skills to make reality based training as effective as it is meant to be.
Officer Mark Zbojniewicz
Tucson Police Department
Arizona POST Training Specialist
I attended the 32-hour Excellence in Training course sponsored by Arizona POST, which was an outstanding class specifically designed for law enforcement trainers. Brain Willis is a role-model instructor who has developed a
comprehensive system to enhance the professional development of law enforcement personnel through progressive training methods and performance enhancement imagery. The skills learned and practiced in the classroom have broad applications from improving athletic performance to training law enforcement personnel for successful outcomes, regardless of the circumstances. I highly recommend this class to agencies committed to providing quality training while improving performance of their law enforcement personnel.
Marcus Young
2003 IACP Officer of the Year and Presidential Medal of Valor Recipient
The Winning Mind Training Excellence in Training course is cutting edge training long overdue in the law enforcement world. High performance athletes learned the concepts and methods taught in this class long ago – how the mind works, developing positive mental images, and the use of guided imagery to improve technique, skills and confidence. Law enforcement trainers and officers are playing catch up with the ideas and techniques Brian Willis instructs in this 32-hour course, but in short time officers can find themselves excelling beyond their current limitations – real or imagined.
Through the four days, Brian builds upon the opening lecture on the power of the mind and how it functions, teaching officers how to build guided imagery sessions to improve general confidence or well-being to correcting or improving skills. Examples of imagery in use as a tool for excellence can be found this August during the Olympic Games. Have you noticed these world class athletes closing their eyes and appearing to work through their routines repeatedly, each time envisioning success? The techniques evidently work as athletes invest in the imagery sessions to create success. Why not use the same techniques to build world class police officers?
As a police officer serving in senior management with responsibility for training officers in arrest and control tactics and the use of intermediary weapons amongst many other administrative duties, I am disadvantaged by the lack of practical street engagements to keep my skills honed. However, through the regular use of imagery I am able to maintain a high level of proficiency in my skills and tactics. The difference shows when I instruct classes and am still able to outpace and deftly move through various skills despite the lack of practical experience.
Our department regularly engages in tactics training and scenario-based exercises to improve officers’ skills,tactics, confidence, and decision-making. In addition to practical exercises, officers complete a number of classroom courses where I promote the use of imagery as a tool for improvement. The power of developing a winning mind through imagery is found in one officer who performed poorly in one round of exercises. Fast forward to another scenario-based training session seven months later, and those of use conducting the exercises noticed significant positive change in this officer. I asked him what caused his improvement. Having the fortitude to recognize his need to change after the first exercises, the officer engaged in mental preparedness exercises. He told us he knew he needed to improve and so he engaged in imagery to improve his confidence and skills, developing scenarios to play in his mind repeatedly. The results proved how the concept can be made a reality. As a result of the skills learned during the Excellence in Training Course, I am able to improve upon my initial suggestions and instructions for using the mind to improve one’s skills.
If law enforcement trainers seek to develop world class officers, a new tool can be provided to help them to that goal – and Brian Willis provides the key for unlocking this new tool in his Excellence in Training course.Timothy Janowick #805
Deputy Chief, Mount Prospect Police Department
Click here to read more about the Excellence in Training Course
Pursuit of Personal Excellence Testimonials
I first met Brian Willis two years ago when he presented a course on the Pursuit of Personal Excellence to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s Leadership Academy. Brian was one of several national/international presenters for this very prestigious academy. I had the opportunity to meet Brian during this presentation. The essence of the message is so critical to the advancement of the law enforcement profession and Brian has been able to capture the attention of the audience with sincere and factual presentation of his material.
I have met with Brian on subsequent occasions in various academic environments where Brian’s presents to law enforcement professionals. Brian recently presented to the International Law Enforcement Educators Association (ILEETA) annual conference. This collection of professional trainers and educators from all over the United States was well received and Brian is often sought after for advice. Brian’s commitment to the advancement of law enforcement ethics and professional development is without equal. Over the past 39+ years I have interacted with a variety of law enforcement professionals and Brian, with his personal character, commitment and genuine concern to make a different put him at the top of my list of law enforcement trainers.
Lt. Jerry W. Baker
Training Commander
Indiana University Police Department-Indianapolis
I took the Pursuit of Professional Excellence at the 2012 ILEETA Conference. I found the presentation to be very valuable and very much worth taking. The presentation went beyond traditional police training that we all have attended throughout or careers. The presentation focused more on the person as much or more than on the police officer/trainer.
During the presentation Brian made me look at myself. Questions like am I being the best husband to my wife, the best father to my children and the best man for my agency and the community? I really looked at myself and found that the answers to those questions weren’t always yes. I also came to the realization that I was not putting forth enough effort to make self improvements.
That self inventory has caused me put forth more effort into improving myself. I am a better husband and father. I am training harder and reading more. I am finding that the improved me is a better trainer and leader to the officers that I have the privilege of working with.
LT D.L. French#198
Alpharetta P.D.
DUI Task Force/SWAT Commander
I was extremely fortunate to attend the 2012 ILEETA conference and participate in this awesome event. I had the opportunity to take in a number of seminars over the course of the week and was very grateful to be in the presence of so many outstanding people. I have had the priviledge to partake in a number of courses offered by Brian Willis over the years and have always left enriched. When I realized that Brian was presenting on the “Pursuit of Personal Excellence” at the conference I eagerly attended.
Throughout the week, the concept of mentorship really jumped out at me. At times we all get into ruts and need others to help pull us out. Choosing to stay down in the hole or grabbing the rope is entirely up to you. Brian really highlighted the power of choice and how it can dictate your thoughts and subsequent actions. Brian’s presentation drove this home and made me realize that I can make a difference- not only at work but in my family and in my community. I left the ILEETA conference feeling rejuvenated and ready to make a difference- so began my own Pursuit of Personal Excellence. I would highly recommend this presentation to anyone who needs that spark to ignite the fuel lingering inside.
Ian Ellsworth
Yellowknife, NT
I have been fortunate to have been on several different training courses in my career taught by Brian Willis, so I knew that when the Alberta Game Warden Association was to have him provide the Pursuit of Personal Excellence Seminar, we could expect a high quality presentation, and I was right.
The world of law enforcement training is constantly evolving. The traditional training law enforcement officers receive is getting better and better. However, both agencies and individual officers are now recognizing that mental and emotional preparedness training was historically lacking. To increase success and survival in the professional and personal lives of officers, this avenue of training is absolutely crucial.
Brian Willis presented to us at this seminar the two themes of Dare to Soar, and Your Life is Your Legacy. Using real life examples of his own and others, he touched every person in the audience to reflect, improve, and be more prepared to become better people in whatever they do in life. Adapting parts of the presentation with examples directly related to the Wildlife Officer profession had the messages hit directly home. He is an excellent speaker, and with visual aids and audience interaction, the entire presentation was outstanding.
Many comments were received by me from the attendees, both the Fish and Wildlife Officers of our Association, their spouses, and the fellow agencies that we invited, that the information received in this presentation was invaluable. One officer wrote that in his service of 29 years, this seminar was without a doubt the best four hours of training he had ever received. Any law enforcement professional, leaders in all types of careers, and anyone else that wants to pursue their own personal excellence, is highly recommended to take the opportunity to attend this seminar.
Brian Voogd
President – Alberta Game Warden Association
Alberta Justice and Solicitor General
Fish and Wildlife Officer
Click here to read more about the Pursuit of Personal Excellence Course
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