JAN. 2025. Blues Vol 41 No. 1

GUEST COMENTARYTravis

GUEST COMENTARYTravis YatesCourage is the Ultimate Virtue.After two decades of law enforcementexperience and morethan one personal story of watchingself proclaimed leaders bow downin times of crisis, I decided to beginusing a phrase called “CourageousLeadership.”A decade ago, there weren’t manyreferencing leadership in this fashionbut today, the term has beenrepeated in articles, books, and ahost of podcasts.I’ve taught a seminar on the topicfor a decade and wrote a book onit in 2019 but with the more popularinterest the term has garnered,there is a risk that what was originallya call to action turns into acool term without substance. Withthis in mind, I thought it made senseto remind everyone exactly whatCourageous Leadership means.WHAT IS LEADERSHIPI consider “leadership” the theory,thought or idea and “courage” theaction behind it. Everyone has someunderstanding of what leadershipis. Sure, 100 people will have 100different definitions but they will allbe correct in some way and I’m notin the business of trying to define aterm with that kind of subjectivity.But I will lean in to courage becausewithout it, all the training,yellow bricks, and theory meanabsolutely nothing.“Without courage, all othervirtues lose their meaning” – SirWinston ChurchillWHAT IS COURAGEThe official definition of courageis “the quality of mind or spirit thatenables a person to face difficulty,danger, or pain.”In regard to leadership within lawenforcement, it is the willingness tolead, regardless of the risk to status,rank, or even employment.You will do what is right…nomatter what.This is why I’m not packing stadiumsacross the country discussingthis issue. It is not for the faint ofheart but it is for those that want toleave a legacy of greatness.It is for you!ULTIMATE VIRTUECourage is the virtue where everyother virtue is reinforced whentested.You can say you are honest,compassionate, fair, and selflessbut when the time comes to showit and you are risking your personalself or reputation, will you still doit?If the chief tells you to lie or befired, are you ready for that?If you witness excessive force willyou report it?Will you let the media or mayorlie about your officer or agency andkeep your mouth shut or will yougo against their narrative and tellthe truth?I could continue for hours and Ihave seen both courage and cowardicein every example givenabove. Some with courage weredestroyed and many with cowardicegot promoted.Which one will you be?As Patrick Bet-David recently said,“You have to have courage if youwant to do something special inyour life. Courage is the commonthread among all the great ones.”Courage doesn’t come withoutrisk but nothing great ever happenedwithout those taking therisks…without courageous leaders.If God gave you today, this is yourchance. This is your time.JOIN THE MOVEMENT TODAYIf you are reading this, you are doingmore than most but I want youto consider what else can be done?• Spread this content to thosearound you• Plug in to our Podcast whereveryou listen to them at “CourageousLeadership with Travis Yates”• If you haven’t read the book thatstarted this movement, you can getit here. If you can’t afford it, I’ll sendit to you.• We are launching a membershipdesigned to encourage and equipyou. If you want information onthe launch, plug your email in hereand you can download our PrinciplePoster for your office or agencywhile you are there.• Encourage your agency or conferenceto host our training. It willthrow gasoline on the match youhave already lit.• If you need anything, call me. Mynumber is located at the top of themain website and you can reach methrough any of the contact pages aswell.And always remember, Lead On &Stay Courageous!REPRINTED FROM THE LAW OF-FICER, lawofficer.com16 The BLUES - JANUARY ‘25

The BLUES - JANUARY ‘25 17