In recent years there seems to be a growing discussion and debate regarding which pedagogical model or theory of learning and coaching is most effective for police training. When I get asked what theory or pedagogical model underpins my teaching and coaching my answer is, “There isn’t ‘one’. I am guided by my personal values of curiosity, excellence, and respect and by what works best for the participants in my training.” My 35-year journey as a police trainer has taught me to stay curious, keep an open mind, and continually seek better ways to serve the heroic men and women I have the privilege to train.
My mission as a trainer is to:
- Help the men and women I train develop competence and confidence to be able to perform their professional duties at the highest level in complex, uncertain, challenging and often dangerous environments.
- Help the men and women I train to become dextrous, adaptable, and resilient problem solvers.
- Help the men and women I train to prepare their mind and body for where they may have to go.
I have yet to find one model, philosophy, theory, or system that helps accomplish that mission. That does not mean I am indecisive and trying to hedge my bets, as some might suggest. It does mean that I am committed to staying curious and keeping an open mind to best serve the men and women I have the honour to train, teach and coach.
A highly credentialled practitioner with a deep educational background in motor learning, skill acquisition, sports psychology and mental health explained to me during one of our discussions regarding theories of learning and coaching, “As a professor you likely have to ‘pick a camp’. As a practitioner, you do not.” I believe that “picking a camp” as a trainer puts you into a box that does not best serve the people you train.
That is why over 25 years ago at my former agency we developed a hybrid control tactics training program built around components from a variety of systems and insights from a variety of trainers, and it is why we continually hosted training and sent people from our unit to attend a wide range of training programs to continually explore options and learn from fellow practitioners.
That is why I researched numerous modalities for mental training while I was developing my Performance Enhancement Imagery program and why I am continually reassessing the training. It is why my Excellence in Training course has continued to evolve over the last two decades. It is the reason I attend as many classes as possible at the annual NTOA conferences where I have the privilege to deliver a couple of workshops, why I started attending trainer’s conferences over 30 years ago and why I am such a huge proponent for organizations like ILEETA, that seek to expose trainers to a wide range of information, systems, styles, theories, and vendors. It is why I started The Excellence in Training Academy to learn from practitioners, researchers, and authors from around the world. It is why I continue to listen to a wide range of podcasts and continue to read deeply and broadly.
In my 35 years as a law enforcement trainer, I have had the privilege to work with, train with, speak with, and learn from a lot of great trainers, thinkers, practitioners, leaders, and coaches. The focus was always on learning and growing as a trainer and on finding ways to improve training and hopefully facilitate learning to enhance performance in the real world.
As a trainer you have enough boxes already with policy, budgets, syllabuses, and requirements from regulatory bodies. You do not need to try and fit your training into another box dictated by a system, model, or theory. Stay curious, keep an open mind, let the science ground, and inform your training, be willing to run a series of well thought out experiments, and continually reflect on the question from Robert Cooper PhD, “Where might the smallest change make the biggest difference?”
Take care.
Brian Willis
Winning Mind Training – Providing practical training to law enforcement professionals in the areas of instructor development, Performance Enhancement Imagery, leadership and mindset.
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