You’re Not Adapting—You’re Coasting on Old Wins: A Leadership Wake-Up Call

Written By LE Leaders Team

Listen Now:

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Podbean

Adaptable leadership in law enforcement: unlearning old habits, applying commander’s intent, and using the L.A.C.E. framework to make safer, smarter decisions in real time.

 

Chapters:

00:00 Intro: Elevate Your Call to Service + hosts
00:37 The parking‑lot lesson: when habits become blind spots
02:27 Unlearning in law enforcement leadership: from anchors to adaptability
06:23 Growth mindset: aim 10% better each week (merge with unlearning)
08:21 Baseball as a leadership lab: reading the full field
14:32 AI is the new DNA: tech’s impact on law enforcement leadership
18:14 Commander’s intent: keep the mission steady, adapt the plan
24:57 LACE framework + trust culture: Listen, Assess, Collaborate, Execute (wrap)

 

When old wins continue to anchor your leadership

A shattered Tahoe window kicks off a candid conversation about adaptability and the habits leaders must unlearn.

In Episode 45, Mike and Cathy explore how seasoned leaders can honor experience without getting trapped by it, why curiosity often outperforms certainty, and how commander’s intent lets you flex the plan without losing the mission.

Through a parking-lot mishap, baseball-as-leadership, and real talk about tech and AI in modern policing, you’ll get practical moves to build trust, hear junior voices without getting defensive, and adapt in real time.



Key Moments

  • The Parking-Lot Lesson: A back-in routine “that always worked” meets a hidden branch—and a shattering reminder to unlearn fast

  • Unlearning the Anchor: When a once‑useful habit starts costing you—and how to replace it

  • Curiosity > Certainty: The power of “What am I missing?” to draw out better intel

  • Baseball as a Leadership Lab: Read the whole field, every pitch, and adapt in motion

  • Commander’s Intent: Keep the mission steady while routes pivot with new intel

  • Tech, DNA, and AI: Why ignoring AI now will look like ignoring DNA then

  • Trust That Talks: Hearing new ideas without taking them as personal criticism


Don’t-Miss Highlights

  • Experience is a resource, not the only answer. Leaders who speak last and Encourage Feedback early get safer decisions.

  • Plans matter; intent matters more. Mission and outcomes are the guardrails; routes should flex as reality updates.

  • Curiosity is a force multiplier. Humble questions reveal blind spots before the stakes rise.

  • Adaptability grows with trust. Create space where junior voices aren’t heard as attacks but as options.

  • Treat AI like the next DNA. Stay curious on tools and tactics or you’ll miss solvable cases.


memorable quotes

“Sometimes the habit that kept you safe becomes the anchor you need to unlearn.”

“The plan is not the mission. Commander’s intent is the guardrail; routes can change.”

“Curiosity isn’t weakness—it’s how we find the better option before the stakes rise.”

“I speak last so I can actually hear the smartest idea in the room.”

“Ignoring AI tomorrow will look like ignoring DNA yesterday.”

 

FAQ: Building Adaptable Leadership in Law Enforcement

What is commander’s intent in leadership—and why does it matter?

Commander’s intent is the clear, outcome-focused goal that guides decisions when plans change. It keeps the mission steady while routes flex with new intel.

  • Use it to align teams on “what must be true at the end.”

  • Pre-build branches: “If A happens, we go Route 1; if B happens, Route 2.”

  • Treat new data as fuel, not a threat—adapt and explain why.

How do seasoned leaders balance experience with fresh ideas?

Listen first, then use experience to assess—not override—new input.

  • Invite junior voices early; leaders speak last.

  • Ask clarifying questions: “What risk does this reduce? What’s the upside?”

  • Pilot the new idea small; scale what works.

How do I unlearn leadership habits without losing credibility?

Name the anchor, replace it with a better move, and close the loop with results.

  • Identify the habit that once helped but now stalls outcomes.

  • Swap in LACE: Listen, Assess, Collaborate, Execute.

  • Debrief quickly: what changed and what’s 10% better next time?

What is the LACE framework for adaptability?

LACE is a simple, repeatable way to adapt in real time without losing control.

  • Listen: Get the full picture—senior read, junior idea, ground truth.

  • Assess: Weigh risks, resources, legal factors, and community impact.

  • Collaborate: Blend veteran judgment with fresh eyes; invite dissent.

  • Execute: Make the call, explain the why, set a quick review point.

How do I decide when to stick to the plan or pivot?

Stick when the plan still serves the intent; pivot when intel changes the safest or most effective path.

  • Reconfirm the mission: does this step still advance it?

  • Check contingencies: are we at a branch point we anticipated?

  • Communicate the pivot and the reasoning to preserve trust.


Connect with Us

  • Follow us on Instagram: @lawenforcementleaders

  • Subscribe to Elevate Your Call to Service on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

  • Visit leleaders.com for more resources and to join our leadership community.


Find the full episode on our YouTube channel.


LE Leaders Team
Next

7 Warning Signs You’re Leading in Isolation (And Your Agency Is Paying For It)