Elevate Your Call To Service

Leadership Lessons That Shaped a Police Chief

LLeadership isn't built in a single moment—it's shaped through years of service, challenges, mistakes, and the willingness to keep learning.
In this episode of Elevate Your Call to Service, Mike and Cathy McIntosh sit down with Retired Police Chief Leon P. Jones to discuss the leadership lessons that defined his career. From beginning as a young police officer to serving as Chief of Police at Oklahoma State University, Leon shares the experiences that taught him the importance of character, trust, humility, and developing others.
Together, they explore why great leaders don't keep their knowledge to themselves, how mistakes can become defining moments of growth, and why preparing the next generation of leaders is one of the greatest responsibilities of leadership.
Whether you're an aspiring supervisor, an experienced executive, or someone committed to serving others well, this conversation offers timeless leadership principles that extend far beyond law enforcement.
In This Episode
Leadership lessons that shape great leadersLeading with character and humilityBuilding trust and developing others
Listen. Learn. Lead.
View our show notes at https://www.leleaders.com/elevate/leadership-lessons-police-chief

How To Create Consistent Leadership Standards Across Every Rank

Leadership standards shouldn't change based on rank, assignment, or personality—but in many organizations, they do.
In this episode of Elevate Your Call to Service, Mike and Cathy McIntosh explore how consistent leadership standards create stronger organizational culture, improve trust, and develop future leaders across every rank.
Why do employees have vastly different experiences depending on who supervises them? What's the difference between leadership standards and organizational policy? And how can executives, commanders, supervisors, and future leaders create alignment throughout an organization?
Mike shares lessons from nearly four decades in law enforcement leadership and explains why organizations often struggle with consistency—not because they lack values, but because they lack alignment.
In this conversation, you'll learn:
• What leadership standards are and why they matter• The difference between leadership standards and organizational policy• Why inconsistent leadership creates confusion and weakens culture• How accountability reinforces organizational expectations• The role mentorship plays in leadership development• How leaders create alignment across ranks and divisions• What executives can do to strengthen leadership consistency• Practical steps to build a stronger leadership culture
Whether you serve as a first-line supervisor, commander, executive leader, or aspiring leader, this episode will help you create clearer expectations, stronger trust, and a more consistent leadership experience throughout your organization.
Because leadership style may vary.
Leadership standards cannot.
View our show notes at https://www.leleaders.com/elevate/leadership-standards-across-ranks

How Great Leaders Build Resilience and Confidence Before Promotion

How Great Leaders Build Resilience and Confidence Before Promotion
Confidence and resilience are not leadership traits that magically appear after promotion.
Yet many organizations promote people into leadership positions and hope future leaders will figure it out once the pressure arrives.
In this episode of the Elevate Your Call to Service Podcast, Michael and Cathy McIntosh explore how leaders can intentionally build resilience and confidence before promotion. They discuss why confidence is not personality or ego, why resilience is more than simply "toughing it out," and how mentorship helps future leaders process adversity before pressure begins defining their leadership.
Michael shares practical insights from nearly four decades in law enforcement leadership, explaining why confidence is built through preparation and experience, how resilience grows through reflection and recovery, and why future leaders need opportunities to face controlled pressure before they are responsible for leading others through it.
In This EpisodeWhat leadership confidence really isThe difference between confidence and resilienceWhy pressure exposes preparation gapsHow mentorship builds resilient leadersThe role of organizational culture in leader developmentPractical ways to prepare future leaders before promotion
Future leaders don't need less pressure. They need better preparation for pressure.
View our show notes at https://www.leleaders.com/elevate/leadership-resilience-confidence-before-promotion

Why Mentoring Is Important in Leadership: Building Readiness Before Promotion

In this episode of the Elevate Your Call to Service Podcast, Michael and Cathy McIntosh unpack why mentoring is important in leadership and how structured leadership mentoring helps agencies prepare future leaders before promotion.
Good leadership ideas matter. Training, books, conferences, and leadership development programs all play an important role. But leadership knowledge alone does not automatically prepare someone to lead when the pressure becomes real.
That’s where leadership readiness comes in.
Michael and Cathy explore the difference between leadership development and leadership readiness, why strong performers are not always prepared for the next role, and how mentoring leaders through real situations helps bridge the gap between theory and real-world leadership.
This episode also breaks down why mentorship needs structure. Casual coffee conversations and career stories may build relationships, but structured mentorship helps future leaders practice judgment, communication, accountability, conflict management, and decision-making before the responsibility fully belongs to them.
You’ll also hear:
• Why Great Performers Aren’t Always Ready Leaders• The Gap Between Knowing and Leading• What Leadership Readiness Actually Means• The Promotion Process Reveals the Gap• How Leadership Mentoring Builds Readiness• Why Mentorship Needs Structure• Why Mid-Level Leaders Matter Most• Leadership Challenge: Start Mentoring With Purpose• Why Mentorship Protects Leadership Standards
Whether you are an executive leader building a leadership pipeline, a supervisor mentoring future leaders, or an aspiring leader preparing for the next role, this conversation will help you think differently about leadership development, readiness, and mentorship.
Key TopicsLeadership mentoringLeadership readinessMentoring leadersLeadership developmentLaw enforcement leadershipPolice leadershipLeadership growthLeadership pipeline developmentStructured mentorshipLeadership preparationSuccession planningFirst responder leadershipSupervisor developmentOrganizational cultureFuture leader development
👉 Schedule a leadership coaching conversation: www.leleaders.com
View our show notes at https://leleaders.com/elevate//why-mentoring-is-important-in-leadership-readiness

The #1 Leadership Skill That Builds Unshakable Trust

Most law enforcement leaders believe they’re listening to their teams—but what if your officers don’t feel heard?
In this episode of the Elevate Your Call to Service Podcast, we break down one of the most common and costly leadership blind spots in policing: the gap between listening and actually understanding what your team needs.
If you’re in command staff, executive leadership, or preparing for your next promotion, this conversation will challenge how you approach communication, trust, and influence.
Because in law enforcement leadership, intent doesn’t build trust—action does.
Inside this episode, you’ll learn:
Why officers stop speaking up to leadershipThe difference between hearing and effective leadership listeningHow unmet expectations create frustration, disengagement, and low moraleThe subtle signs your team doesn’t feel heardPractical ways to build trust through intentional communication
Many agencies struggle with leadership development—not because they don’t care, but because urgent demands push it aside. The result? Leaders are often promoted based on availability, not readiness.
This episode addresses that gap directly.
If you want to lead a team that trusts you, communicates openly, and performs at a higher level—this is where it starts.
Who This Episode Is ForPolice leaders, supervisors, and command staffAspiring sergeants and lieutenants preparing for promotionAgencies committed to developing strong, mission-driven leadersReady to Strengthen Your Leadership?
If this episode resonates, it’s likely not just a communication issue—it’s a leadership development opportunity.
We work with law enforcement leaders through 1:1 coaching and mentor-based leadership development to help you:
Build trust with your teamLead with clarity and confidencePrepare for promotion with intentionDevelop leadership skills that actually translate in the field
👉 Schedule a leadership coaching conversation: www.leleaders.com
View our show notes at https://leleaders.com/elevate/law-enforcement-leadership-listening-vs-being-heard

You're Not Leading, You're Just Busy: The Trap Killing Your Law Enforcement Impact

Are you leading your team—or just staying busy?
Most leaders don’t fail because of lack of effort. They fail because they stay in the weeds and lose focus on what actually drives results.
In this episode of the Elevate Your Call to Service Podcast, we break down the leadership trap of busyness vs effectiveness and what it really means to lead at higher levels.
At some point in every leadership career, something shifts. The skills that made you successful early on—jumping in, solving problems, being the go-to—can quietly start to hold you back.
This episode is about making that shift.
 From doing the work → to leading the mission From reacting to everything → to prioritizing what matters From being busy → to being effective
You’ll learn how to recognize when you’re stuck in the weeds, how that impacts your team, and how to step back into your role with clarity and purpose.
In this episode:
Why busyness hides poor prioritizationThe difference between being busy and being effectiveHow leaders unintentionally erode trustThe impact of stepping back into the workA practical way to refocus and lead more effectively
Who this is for:
Law enforcement leaders, command staff, and anyone responsible for leading teams, making decisions under pressure, and improving performance.
Tags:
Leadership, Law Enforcement Leadership, Leadership Development, Decision Making, Prioritization, Team Performance, Command Presence, Organizational Leadership
View our show notes at https://www.leleaders.com/elevate//leadership-busy-vs-effective-leading-above-the-noise

Operational Clarity for Law Enforcement Leaders

Law enforcement is inherently complex—but confusion doesn’t have to be.
In this episode of Elevate Your Call to Service, we break down what operational clarity really means for today’s law enforcement leaders—and why the absence of it is often the root cause behind hesitation, frustration, and misalignment within teams.
Many leaders assume issues come down to effort, attitude, or capability. But more often than not, the real problem is a lack of clarity.
When priorities are unclear…When expectations aren’t fully understood…When success hasn’t been defined…
Even the most capable teams will struggle to execute.
In this conversation, we explore how leaders can cut through complexity, eliminate confusion, and create an environment where people can act with confidence and purpose.
You’ll learn:
What operational clarity actually looks like at the leadership levelWhy confusion is a leadership responsibility—not a team failureHow unclear priorities lead to hesitation and inefficiencyThe connection between clarity, confidence, and performancePractical ways to align teams and improve execution across units
We also introduce simple, actionable strategies you can apply immediately to assess whether your team truly understands the mission—and how to fix it if they don’t.
Because at the end of the day, clarity doesn’t just improve performance—it builds trust, strengthens teams, and allows leaders to move their organizations forward with intention.
View our show notes at https://www.leleaders.com/elevate/operational-clarity-law-enforcement-leaders

Police Leadership and Teamwork: How Strong Teams Drive Organizational Success

In this episode of Elevate Your Call to Service, we break down a powerful leadership concept that transforms how law enforcement organizations operate: the relationship between police leadership and teamwork.
Drawing from real-world experience, we explore how high-performing agencies don’t rely on one unit or one leader to carry the load. Instead, they operate through a dynamic model where teams continuously strengthen the organization and serve forward, allowing others to step in, support, and advance the mission.
You’ll hear how this concept plays out between patrol and investigations, across divisions, and even with partner agencies—and why trust, collaboration, and shared leadership are essential to organizational success.
We also dive into:
How strong teams in policing actually function across an entire organizationThe role of trust in eliminating silos and territorial thinkingCommon leadership pitfalls that weaken teamwork (ego, information hoarding, micromanagement)What effective leadership looks like at the sergeant, command, and executive levelsHow to build relationships before you need them—and why it matters
If you’re a current or aspiring law enforcement leader, this episode will challenge you to rethink how your team operates and give you practical ways to start building a stronger, more unified organization.
Key Takeaway:Strong leaders don’t try to do everything themselves—they build teams that strengthen each other so the entire organization can move forward.
View our show notes at https://www.leleaders.com/elevate/police-leadership-teamwork-organizational-success

The Leadership Intervention Gap: What Sheriffs Across the Country Are Struggling With Right Now

At a recent leaders conference, one leadership theme surfaced again and again in conversations with sheriffs and command staff from across the country.
Leaders often see problems developing in their organizations long before they become serious incidents.
A deputy who pushes the edge while driving.An employee whose comments cross the line.A pattern of behavior that everyone notices but no one addresses.
The warning signs are there.
But too often there is a gap between what leaders recognize and when they choose to intervene.
In this episode of Elevate Your Call to Service, Cathy and Mike explore what they call The Leadership Intervention Gap—the space between recognizing a leadership issue and taking action to address it.
Drawing from Mike’s experience as a sheriff and leadership instructor, they discuss:
• Why leaders sometimes hesitate to intervene• How organizational culture reinforces silence• The risks of waiting until problems escalate• The role of clear communication and accountability• How early intervention protects both people and organizations
Mike also shares a story from his early days as a sergeant and how one difficult leadership conversation helped set the tone for culture, accountability, and trust within his team.
Leadership isn’t just about strategy or influence.
Sometimes leadership means having the courage to step in early, have the difficult conversation, and protect both the culture of the organization and the future of the people you lead.
If you are a law enforcement supervisor, command staff leader, or executive, this conversation will challenge you to examine where intervention may be needed in your own leadership.
View our show notes at https://www.leleaders.com/elevate/leadership-intervention-gap-law-enforcement

Elevate Your Call To Service Trailer

Welcome to the Elevate Your Call to Service Podcast!