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16.06.2022 Feature Article

Is Police Administration Acting To The Gallery Or It's Inclined To The Improper Use of Power To Conceal Leadership Ineptitude

Is Police Administration Acting To The Gallery Or It's Inclined To The Improper Use of Power To Conceal Leadership Ineptitude
16.06.2022 LISTEN

Are leaders to guesstimate or question the authority of managers - deviating from rules and regulations concerning the best practices and behaviors? Or apparently oblivious that leads to stingy domineering acts and conducts - of leaders who misuse power with intent to conceal or to offset or for their lack of experience or knowledge and skills or professional incompetence.

Do your superior give orders in a domineering manner yelling at you? Are you treated in an unfairly harsh way when you take action with intent to resolve a difficulty or improve a situation where you didn’t check in with him or her first? Or have you learned it is better to be quiet than upset your boss? If so, you are not alone.

Many leaders abuse the power and authority of their role because it’s the only tool they have at their disposal and as their available personal assets or a set of tools.

Most people failed to realize that the intended purpose assumed by the leader in an organized body of people with a particular purpose, such as the military or the police comes with much position power. And because many leaders don’t know how to lead through the use of leadership skills - as personal power and influence rear its ugly head, and its effects sought to prevail over ethical standards and resulting in autocratic acts and conducts with a sole reason to overcome personal shortfalls and as a conveyor to get things done their way.

Experience indicates that, excessive and habitual use or misuse of power is a direct offshoot of lack of experience, knowledge or skill. Such acts or actions are based on or influenced by personal feelings, opinions and incompetence - which leads to a countless deviations from the norms or rules and regulations in the institution - on teams - peers and subordinates - and even the way the establishment functions. In other words, a leader’s abuse of power can negatively have a strong effect on subordinates performance, engagement, morale, individual effectiveness, which is the bottom line.

Regrettably, one of the things most complained about by subordinates and least talked or write about by those who should be doing something about it are very ones who misuse power. And are the very leaders and persons who are in charge of the activities, tactics and training within the structural framework.

They either use the wrong way or the wrong approach to hang onto power to stay in control - becoming autocratic - emotionally driven, and a bully. As a matter of fact "Leaders" who misuse their power don’t add value to subordinates experience, the institution, neither do they develop as reasonable personnel.

Oftentimes when a superior wrongly or improperly use power and becomes autocratic, the next level of leaders acts out of lack of ability, the lack of influence or power which on many occasions create permissive attitudes.

The end product is that a culture of fear evolves, which leads to decline in initiatives and job effectiveness. It's the institution that suffers for the reasons that everyone gets stuck trying to placate the "Autocratic Leader" at a loss of the subordinate own talents, abilities, and competence.

In spite of the fact that there are a large number of stories in the news of how leaders abuse power in a manner that is contrary to criminal law, these are not the people I'm referring here.

The spotlight is on leadership within security services, especially the Ghana Police. I'm of the view that the hierarchy is drifting off, leaving subordinates at the mercy of the hostile populace that seems to have intractable problems owing to the wayward attitude of many.

This write up is about those leaders who tries to cover up their inability to influence the behavior and performance of subordinates in any other way than becoming autocratic and authoritarian.

As the saying goes, “If the only tool you have is a hammer, you will treat every issue as though it were a nail.” And many leaders fall into this category. In fact, many leaders who scream at subordinates, belittle them, sabotage their own integrity and work, which tends to give rise to otherwise aggressive conduct of subordinates.

There is no doubt that professional incompetence alongside power leads to aggressive approach to have things done which inflate one’s sense of superiority.

What we have to understand, the threatened leader will always turn around and threaten their subordinates as a way of discharging their fears and other feelings.

The noose around this article is about what is happening in the Ghana Police. Believe it or not, I have a great feeling that the morale of the Police Service is at its lowest level in recent times.

Listening to the Inspector General of late give cause to despondency within the ranks of the Police Service. Allowing excessive freedom of expression and lax behavior from the citizenry subverts the authority of the Police. Leaders that subjects subordinates to ridicule in the public are not worth the office they occupy. The end game of such actions have a disturbing consequence and undermines the institution and in instance the leader's own authority. Honestly, it's been disastrous for the Police Service.

I'm of the view that some of the actions taken as the head of the Service go against "Police Ethics". The interdiction of the deputy Regional Commander in the public space for whatever reason for me is a devolution of power and an affront to good supervisory supervision.

From where I stand, a gradually descending into or becoming a media or populist is fast gaining momentum and the earlier it's checked the better it will be. Anyone who has a background in security matters know that issues pertaining to security and measures are not spewed out without recourse to the overall standings of the security entity like the Police.

My admonition to all and sundry, if we choose to undermine the police for whatever reason/reasons we do so at our own disadvantage and perils. If we allow irresponsible conduct or inciting of violence against law enforcement officials then we will be an avenue for breeding ground for monsters.

And to the media - you have a responsibility to be civil in your reportage than show biases toward incidents that borders on public disturbances. Why put out unverified information? Why create the impressions that aren't the truth?

Most power-driven leaders want to keep power to themselves. This reminds me of the era of "The Buffalo Soldier" Lt Gen Arnold Quainoo, the Force Commander. A number of his work ethics created enmity between himself and other subordinates officers that has continued to dogged him now . A leader that lead by restricting the freedom and responsibilities of those who are below them in the hierarchy suffers well after the end of tenure in office. They affirm their superiority by making sure everything flows through them.

The best way to lead is by intensity and not by intimidation. To become more successful, you must be surrounded by better and better people. Very talented, and will teach you or coach you to be better. This will help provide the instances that makes it possible to always practice coaching and mentoring, but there were a number of “butt kicks” as well.

My methodology evolved with my career growth and the wisdom that comes with age, which had a profound effect at taming my temperament. I discovered and engaged in practices that felt right to me — and that elicited great results.

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