Hey Leaders: Let’s Pick Up a Mop Once in Awhile

Just the other day I was in our mat room cleaning the mats when one of our fire chiefs stepped in and asked, “Don’t you have people to do that for you?” My response was, “Yes, Me.” After he walked away I started thinking about what he said and reflected on others who have made similar comments when I am found cleaning the mat room. I have had students and parents from our Judo/Jiu Jitsu clubs ask the same thing. 

Odd to me I guess, but not to others. It is common place to see and atmosphere in public safety agencies where we worship the hierarchy of it all. Many martial arts cultures are the same way. We have all been witness to it. When you reach a certain rank, you have earned the right to no longer participate in the “menial” jobs. Right? Wrong. This ”it’s all about me” and the “I got mine, screw those coming after me” attitude is one of the problems with the cultures in many professions and in our society in general.

How many of you have been in a department where the line troops have one set of rules and command has another set? You have to meet certain fitness standards, but command is exempt. Where the FTOs treat their trainees as lesser people? You know, the agency where the trainee sits in the car while the FTO eats lunch inside with his/her buddies, or where the trainee sits at the back of the room instead of at the table with the rest of the officers during briefing. All the things you hated as a trainee, but by God you are going to make those after you suffer the same consequences. These things don’t build camaraderie, they build resentment and create further division among your ranks. We hire adults we should treat them accordingly. Why do we act shocked when our officers treat the public the way they have been treated by their peers and agencies? We shouldn’t be. I am a firm believer, if we treat our people poorly, they will treat the public the same way. Treat your people the way they should be treated and they will treat others the same way.

So why do I clean the mat room? Well, if not me than who? I pride myself in the fact our mats are spotless and we don’t have officers getting skin diseases when they train and the same goes for my students. It might be a strange thing to take pride in, but I do. But from a more selfish perspective, it gives me the opportunity to unplug and reflect. I get to reflect on my father, who came to this country at seventeen (17) years old with a seventh grade education. A man who went from a sheepherder to building his own business with my mom. Parents who came from very little yet put three (3) sons through college. Parents who taught us work ethic and no job was beneath us. Parents who taught us to value everyone. I learned more about leadership from my parents than I ever learned from most police leaders.

It gives me the opportunity to be thankful to work with the amazing people and organization I do. An organization where we have disciplined an officer for the way they treated janitorial staff. You see if you are going to preach about a healthy culture, you better practice it.

So my fellow leaders ask yourself, “When was the last time I picked up brass at the range?” Instead of telling your officers to clean the snow off of the patrol cars, maybe just maybe go to the parking lot and clean it off yourself. Guess what you will soon be joined by the troops more than happy to help.

There’s also an added bonus, you may have a veteran officer who tells the new officers not to complain about the crummy assignment they have been given, because their commander really won’t ask anyone to do a job they wouldn’t do.

The power of leading by example is much more powerful than words or rank. So let’s roll up our sleeves and grab a mop.

 About the Author: Tracy Basterrechea is a twenty-three (23) year law enforcement officer, a police use of force instructor, and an instructor for Gulla’s Arrestling. He also holds a Blackbelts in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Kodokan Judo, as well as an associate instructor in Jeet Kune Do/Filipino Kali