Module 1: Leadership Foundations (CLCP)

Leadership Foundations

A blue shield with IACP's Chiefs Leadership Program overlaid on it. A green banner says Leadership Foundations

Through real-world scenarios and practical frameworks, explore the unique challenges and skills necessary to lead a police agency. This module lays the foundation for personal leadership growth. Develop self-mastery, a leadership mindset, a clear ethical framework for decision-making, and core executive leadership competencies.  

Topics Covered in this Module:

Lesson 1: Identifying Your Personal Leadership Style
Lesson 2: Integrity and Personal Values
Lesson 3: Resilience and Stress Management
Lesson 4: Building Trust
Lesson 5: Leading Organizational Culture and Change
Lesson 6: Strategic Planning and Vision-Setting
Lesson 7: Executive Decision-Making
Lesson 8: Conflict Management and Negotiation
Lesson 9: Communication and Public Speaking
Lesson 10: Navigating Emerging Issues

Pricing

IACP Member: $375  

Non-Member: $525 

Key:

Complete
Failed
Available
Locked
Introduction: Leadership Foundations
Begin self-paced component package.
Begin self-paced component package. Get started with Leadership Foundations. Meet the featured police leaders and learn how to get the most out of this module.
Lesson 1: Identifying Your Personal Leadership Style
Begin self-paced component package.
Begin self-paced component package. Leading a police organization is a demanding and complex responsibility. The role of chief of police brings with it unique and challenging responsibilities: serving the community, supporting your officers and staff, and collaborating with local government officials.
Discussion: Leading Through Self-Awareness
Open discussion to continue.
Open discussion to continue. Join this discussion from Lesson 1.
Lesson 2: Integrity and Personal Values
Begin self-paced component package.
Begin self-paced component package. Everything you do as a police leader reflects your integrity and your personal values. Being able to articulate your values will help you in everything from high-level policy setting to everyday decision-making. Chiefs must lead by example, aligning actions with values and demonstrating moral courage in decision-making, accountability, and community representation.
Lesson 3: Resilience and Stress Management
Begin self-paced component package.
Begin self-paced component package. It's obvious that police work is highly stressful. When you become leader of a policing organization, you take on new sources of stress that you might not have anticipated and that others might not recognize. As leader, it's your responsibility to help the people you work with deal with their stress, and also to recognize and address your own. In your role as a police leader, resilience is a critical leadership competency.
Lesson 4: Building Trust
Begin self-paced component package.
Begin self-paced component package. Trust is at the core of every successful police organization. Whether it's within the department, with the community, or with government officials, a police leader must build and maintain trust to be effective.
Lesson 5: Leading Organizational Culture and Change
Begin self-paced component package.
Begin self-paced component package. Every organization has a culture. In your role as a police leader, you are responsible for building the culture of your agency and leading change when it's necessary.
Lesson 6: Strategic Planning and Vision Setting
Begin self-paced component package.
Begin self-paced component package. As a police leader, it’s your job to define the purpose of your organization and take the necessary steps to achieve that purpose. Fortunately, there are tried and tested tools you can use to help set the course of your organization and get buy-in from others.
Lesson 7: Executive Decision-Making
Begin self-paced component package.
Begin self-paced component package. Every day, police leaders are faced with making decisions that have a lasting impact. It is increasingly important for police leaders to be able to quickly, effectively, and objectively make decisions that affect the people within their organizations and the safety of their communities.
Lesson 8: Conflict Management and Negotiation
Begin self-paced component package.
Begin self-paced component package. Conflict is inevitable wherever humans interact; it can be more complex and intractable in the context of a police organization. Conflict management and negotiation skills help a police chief de-escalate tensions, build trust, and resolve disputes—both inside the department and with the community. Strong skills in these areas also support fair decision-making, reduce risk, and create a culture where problems are addressed early rather than allowed to grow.
Lesson 9: Communication and Public Speaking
Begin self-paced component package.
Begin self-paced component package. Clear communication and confident public speaking help police leaders build trust, convey complex information, and guide their agencies through routine operations and high-pressure events. These skills also strengthen community relationships, reduce misunderstandings, and ensure that the department’s message is consistent, accurate, and grounded in transparency.
Lesson 10: Navigating Emerging Issues and Trends
Begin self-paced component package.
Begin self-paced component package. Police leaders operate in an environment where new challenges, technologies, and community expectations can emerge overnight. Staying alert to trends and shifting conditions is essential for making informed decisions, protecting public trust, and guiding the department with foresight rather than surprise.
Discussion: Trends in Policing
Open discussion to continue.
Open discussion to continue. Join this discussion from Lesson 10.
Discussion: 90-Day Pilot
Open discussion to continue.
Open discussion to continue. Join this discussion from Lesson 10.
Final Assessment and Conclusion
Begin self-paced component package.
Begin self-paced component package. To complete the module, you will take a 15-question final assessment reviewing the concepts you learned. A passing score of 100% is required to complete the module and receive the module certificate.
End-of-Module Survey
2 Questions
2 Questions Take a moment to provide feedback on this experience in the module survey. Your comments will help improve this module for future learners.