Taking the Step Up: Leadership, Management and the Human Factor in Law Enforcement

At the ANZPAA Police Conference 2025, Gareth Lorigan, Managing Director of the Institute for Strategic Leadership, delivered a compelling address on the evolving nature of leadership within law enforcement and emergency services.

Drawing on over 25 years of experience developing senior leaders across Australia and New Zealand, Gareth’s presentation, ‘Take the Step Up’, explored the critical differences between leadership and management, the challenges of implementing strategy and the importance of self-awareness and resilience in high-pressure environments.

Throughout the session, Gareth encouraged attendees to reflect on the distinction between leadership and management. While management is often associated with processes, tasks and technical expertise, leadership is fundamentally about people—motivating, aligning and inspiring teams to pursue a shared purpose. As Gareth noted, “You manage work. You lead people.”

The discussion highlighted that organisations are frequently ‘over-managed and under-led’, with strategies failing at the implementation stage due to human factors such as resistance to change, poor communication and lack of clarity. Gareth emphasised that true leadership requires not only technical competence but also the ability to navigate complex interpersonal dynamics, foster alignment and build resilient teams.

Gareth outlined three key transitions in the leadership journey: moving from subject matter expert to team leader, progressing to middle management and ultimately stepping into strategic leadership. Each stage demands a shift in focus—from managing tasks to leading people and finally to shaping organisational culture and strategy. The journey is often lonely, with senior leaders facing unique pressures and the need for absolute clarity and calmness in decision-making.

A recurring theme was the importance of self-awareness and mental resilience, or ‘mojo’. Gareth shared insights from leadership programs that measure leaders’ alignment with their passions, their ability to connect with others and their capacity to manage stress. He noted that many leaders struggle with confidence - either too much, leading to arrogance, or too little, resulting in passivity. The key is to understand one’s strengths, blind spots and how one responds under pressure.

The presentation also addressed the challenges of leading across generations, with workplaces now spanning up to 60 years in age difference. Gareth advocated for open conversations, active listening and tailoring communication to individual preferences. He stressed the value of regular engagement surveys and team ‘pulse checks’ to monitor wellbeing and productivity, urging leaders to facilitate ongoing dialogue and empower teams to take ownership of results.

In closing, Gareth reflected on the qualities of the most effective leaders—calmness, presence and the ability to give the gift of time to their people. He challenged attendees to consider whether they are the kind of leader they would want for someone valuable in their own lives, underscoring the profound impact of authentic, people-centred leadership in law enforcement and beyond.

This editorial draws directly from Gareth's presentation at the ANZPAA Police Conference 2025.

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