If you use video or audio clips in your presentation, as many of us do, test them before every presentation to make sure the videos and the sound work. Regardless of how many times before you might have delivered this presentation, test every time. The middle of your presentation is not the time to find out your video or audio clips are not working. I am not a really tech savvy person so I like to keep it simple as possible. My experience is that it is  easier and safer to embed your video and audio clips into you PowerPoint or Keynote presentation and set it up so they start when you go to … [Read more...]

Last year two of the great books I read were: Legacy: What the All Blacks Can Teach Us About the Business of Life and Worth Dying For: A Navy Seal's Call to a Nation. Legacy is about the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team. The All Blacks are one of the greatest teams in the history of sport and legendary in the rugby world. The book is about rebuilding the All Blacks team, culture and legacy after they experienced a slide from the greatness that had always been their standard. One of the lessons they talk about repeatedly is 'The Legacy of the Jersey' and the challenge to every player to … [Read more...]

"A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives." Jackie Robinson In the world of law enforcement few people will have a greater impact on the men and women of your agency and the profession as a whole than you, the trainer. Academy trainers, field trainers and in-service trainers are the people who instil and sustain the culture of the agency. You are the ones who teach new officers how to be law enforcement professionals. You serve as role models, mentors and heroes for the men and women in your agency. You teach the importance of humility, integrity, honour … [Read more...]

You do not have to use PowerPoint.  It is a tool, which you can use if you choose to do so. Dave Grossman and Gordon Graham are the two most in demand speakers in law enforcement and neither of them use PowerPoint. The most powerful speaker in law enforcement is Bobby Smith and Bobby does an entire seminar without PowerPoint. Now, some of you are saying, "Wait a minute Willis, Bobby Smith is blind so it is no wonder he does not use Powerpoint." There are blind people who use PowerPoint. The important takeaway is that if you have a compelling message, and do a great job of delivering it you do … [Read more...]

I get a number of trainers approach me looking for advice as they consider launching their training / speaking careers outside of their agency training. Some are nearing the end of their career and are looking to have a second career as a trainer, and some have a number of years until retirement and are looking to launch something now to grow over the years. I always preface my response by saying, ”If you are looking to talk to someone who is a very astute and successful business person, I may not be the person to talk to. I will however share the many lessons I have learned over the past … [Read more...]