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Lessons from the Shooting Range

Filed Under: Business Musings

Thanks to the Seattle Police Foundation, I spent half a day with members of the Seattle Police Department on their shooting range and training course. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience with lots of leadership lessons. The four top leadership lessons I walked away with were:

1. Have the right tools – It was shocking to see how easy it was to hit the clay pigeon from 100 yards with the right sniper rifle and an amazing scope. I hit the pigeon on my first try (after a little help figuring out how to see properly through the scope). One hundred yards is a long way. I’ve never shot a sniper rifle. As evidenced by the comments from the photo last night, I’m clearly inexperienced when it comes to guns. But, I hit a teensy target from 100 yards away. It wasn’t me; it was the tools.
It’s the same way in business. It’s a lot easier to get the job done when you have the right tools. This means that you want to have above-average technology and the right equipment to make your business a success.
2. Practice– Preparation and repetition is the key to making sure that when a real situation arises that you’ll be ready. Intentional and willful practice is necessary to be an expert. You need to hone your craft, no matter what your craft is.
In this case, the Department had a life-like simulator. It went through various scenarios that you would face on a regular basis if you were a police officer. It helped to figure out what you would do in a real life situation. It turns out that the majority of the civilians trying the simulator killed the innocent bystander. The innocent bystander was just reaching into his pocket to grab his cell phone but in the hyped up simulator situation, the adrenaline and self-preservation instincts kicked in and mistakes were made. It was complex and difficult and gave all players a generous dose of humility and appreciation for the day-to-day gray areas that police officers face.

Trying on the 70 pound Kevlar Bomb Squad outfit

 

3. Love Your Job – Every single police officer I had the honor of interacting with had passion for their job; they genuinely appreciated and loved it. And of all the jobs that anyone could have, being a police officer is one of those most stressful in the world(right up there with being an air traffic controller). In order to make it through the day, for any job, you have to have a genuine appreciation and desire to be there. Being self-employed, if you don’t love your job and find the value in what you are doing each and every day, the motivation to log the long nights, worry about finances and make just one more cold call won’t be there. You need to love your job.

4. Hire for Enthusiasm not Genius – Seattle Chief of Police R. Gil Kerlikowske (that’s him in the above photo) told me that the number one business advice he would give to any small business owner was to “Hire for enthusiasm not genius.” He went on to explain that you can teach skills, improve reflexes and make new neural pathways but ingrained attitudes and joyful enthusiasm are difficult to train.

The half-day training was an amazing experience. The Seattle Police Foundation does a full day training once a year for community members and supporters. If you’re interested in learning more, click here to be taken to their site to request information.

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8 Comments

  1. Love it Denny! I had no idea that you were a competition rifle shooter. That is really cool! It was very difficult but incredibly fun and a great experience. =)

  2. I used to be a competition rifle shooter. I competed in some rifle tournaments at that shooting range when the Seattle Police Department still shared it with a local club. In the photo of you with your target, I think I saw some blackberry bushes. I grazed each time we went to change targets.

    I agree that you can learn leadership and business skills from shooting. I agree with you about the right tools and practice. I also learned that YOU are the one who has to be in control of what you are doing in order for us to have success.

    I love shooting. I love to teach shooting. It's just a great hobby.

  3. Love the business tips! I’ve gone shooting before but never realized how much I can learn about business through my other activities.

    And I now know where to find my next shooting range partner!

  6. Looks like it was a great day. That is quite impressive that you could get back up easily with that extra weight.

    The “hire for enthusiasm” is a great point.

    As always, thank you for sharing such great information.

  7. Thanks – I felt a bit like Gumby.

    But, when they made us lay down and then try to get back up? I got back up fairly easily. It must be the yoga I’ve been doing lately =)