Bulletproof Leadership: A Spy’s Perspective

BY JANICE NIEDERHOFER

The 22-year-old female police officer was called to a disturbance, where one unknown male was described as a danger.

She entered the small room and saw a man with a broom slowly sweeping the floor. He ignored the young police officer attempting to engage him verbally. Since the broom was considered a potential weapon, she kept a safe distance as taught in the police academy.

The 6’2” formidable man wouldn’t look or respond to her, but his behavior provided little clues that prompted the 911 call to the police. The officer was unafraid, determined to secure the subject. After briefly negotiating, the subject complied, and the situation was resolved.

This was a training scenario, and the rookie was satisfied with how she had dealt with the potentially violent situation.

To her surprise, the lieutenant in charge of training was not: she had failed. The brawny lieutenant was larger than life and had a reputation for being terrifying and tough.

In full uniform and military stance, he stood with his fiery eyes piercing from beneath the shiny black brim of his police hat. He demanded, “Why did you not engage the suspect physically?” There was no hesitation in her response, “Because it wasn’t necessary!”

She didn’t know it then, but the lieutenant didn’t like female police officers and certainly didn’t like one who spoke the truth. He was determined to have her fired, and everything she did was under strict scrutiny. To remain in-service of her badge, she learned to do her job 150% better than her male counterparts. She quickly discerned what constituted a powerful leader versus one that leads by intimidation and ego.

Accidental Career

This is a true story, and the young police officer was me. My accidental law enforcement career began when I was 21 years old. I intended to become an attorney in college, but destiny stepped in.

In my junior year of college, a Criminal Justice professor told the class, «If you think you are so smart and want to be a police officer, go to Ocean City, Maryland, for the summer. They hire sixty extra seasonal officers, train you through a short police academy, and put you out on the streets by yourself with a gun!»

It sounded like fun. At age 21, I was interviewed, hired, and assigned to patrol - solo! On our days off, we could work overtime doing undercover work. That sounded uniquely interesting, so I gave it a go. I didn’t know it then, but I had found my calling: the underworld of undercover work.

Trailblazer and Leader

I was known as a trailblazer, assigned to notable positions that sharpened my spy skills and promoted my acute interest in studying human behavior. My assignments included undercover work, SWAT team, hostage negotiator, and narcotics detective.

As a leader, I recognized a need for excellence in law enforcement training. Consequently, I created first-of-its-kind training programs for agencies such as the FBI, NCIS, CIA, SS, DEA, ATF, ICE, NSA, DHS, DCIS, Mexico’s Congreso International de Control de Confianza, Los Angeles Police Department, Detroit Police Department, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and numerous other local, state and federal agencies.

Bulletproof Leadership

Some leaders lead with fear and ego, while others do so with self-assuredness, flexibility, courage, and integrity. The best leaders are innovative and know how to empower others to reach a common goal.

This is my perspective from many years of working covertly. A spy’s perspective, which I refer to as “Bulletproof Leadership.” I both demonstrated and taught this hard-earned wisdom because when implemented – it’s bulletproof.

5 Targets of Bulletproof Leadership

Target #1: Anticipate Change

Leaders anticipate change professionally and personally. Stay informed and be flexible, which prepares you for inevitable change. You are a reflection of the books you read, the music you listen to, the entertainment you seek, the places you travel to, and most importantly, the people in your circles of influence. Exceptional leaders don’t have their heads in the sand - they anticipate, plan, and have contingency plans.

During my days of complex investigations both nationally and internationally, we always had a plan A, B, and C. Yet, we still anticipated the unexpected and were mentally ready for anything. Otherwise, the consequences could be dire, causing injuries or death to one of our own, the criminals, or worse, an innocent bystander.

Target #2: Lead by Example

Be an example that lifts people up, believing in them unwaveringly. To do this, you must believe in yourself first. Actions speak louder than words. Leading by excellence encourages your people to follow. Leading by example means caring about the people you lead, possessing genuine compassion for humanity, and accepting responsibility for your own behavior.

Leaders get things done and are decisive. They are not afraid to make mistakes, admit to doing so, extrapolate the lessons learned, and pass them forward. Obstacles become welcomed challenges, and leaders will prevail against the odds.

One shortcoming of leaders is the belief that the rules don’t apply to themselves. If a leader is enforcing rules, they better be willing to lead by example through following the rules.

Target #3: Genuine Confidence

What can’t be learned from textbooks is genuine confidence gained through experience. Knowing yourself is crucial and fundamental. It is our responsibility to continuously discover, learn, and expand ourselves. Lead with power, not force. Power is inspiring and motivating; force is intimidating and condescending. With genuine confidence, leaders easily delegate, not micro-manage, which is a sure killer of morale.

Leaders have magnetism and easily attract people around them because of their positive, inspiring, and enthusiastic attitudes. They realize their success is the culmination of many peoples’ efforts, and they don’t believe they are better than others.

Target #4: Be Flexible

Experience informs flexibility which is beneficial in choosing between diplomacy and when to fight a battle. If a leader believes they know it all, they will eventually fail. Let go of complete control.

Leaders’ competence relies on their steadfast and solid principles and practices. They possess patience and realize there could be more than one way to accomplish a task. This flexibility becomes a morale booster.

Target #5: Motivate and Inspire

A leader must know more than giving orders and demanding respect. They must have sincere compassion for the success of the organization’s big picture as well as the care and welfare of their subordinates.

Outstanding leaders realize the well-being, safety, and success of their personnel are the heart of a thriving organization. When a leader encourages their staff to possess the same sincere interest as their coworkers, there is a ripple effect, and morale rises.

Leadership Into the Future

I continue to innovate, having founded Humankind Alliance, a nonprofit to heal the divide between communities and law enforcement. I’m sharing and passing forward my hard-earned knowledge through experiential and immersive education to create a bolder, wiser, and more evolved world. I am a thought leader passionate about rebuilding trust and strengthening our nation’s communities.

Becoming an extraordinary leader is a choice. Becoming an inspiring leader requires conscious effort. These are just some simple targets that will help you become a Bulletproof Leader. Think and act wisely because you are leaving a legacy.

About the author:

Janice Niederhofer is best known for her impressive 29+ year law enforcement career, most of which she served as a Special Agent for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). She has been breaking glass ceilings for women and forging new ways law enforcement officers perform their duties.

After earning a B.S. in Psychology, B.A. in Criminal Justice, and an M.A. in Forensic Psychophysiology, Janice became certified in several modalities, such as Neuro-Linguistic Patterning, life transformational and success coaching, leadership, communication, and conflict resolution. An expert in human behavior, she excelled in many positions, including leadership development, hostage negotiator, SWAT team member, narcotics detective, interview/interrogator, polygraph examiner, undercover work, primary firearms instructor, defense/ tactical instructor, trauma team, and sensitive specialized details.

Janice is the innovative Founder and Board Chair for Humankind Alliance, a non-profit organization healing the divide between communities and law enforcement. Her well-honed skills and transformative insight form the basis of Humankind Alliance. Janice believes in sharing her knowledge through experiential and immersive education to rebuild trust and strengthen our nation’s communities.