PEOPLE CENTERED LEADERSHIP Washington DC Department of Forensic Sciences Forensic Science Laboratory | Public Health Laboratory | Crime Scene Sciences

Washington DC Department of Forensic Sciences Forensic Science Laboratory | Public Health Laboratory | Crime Scene Sciences

PEOPLE CENTERED LEADERSHIP


30 Seconds About Me

Lived• Born Adelaide, South Australia• London• Paris• Adelaide• Melbourne• London• Melbourne – finished school,

then university• Canberra• Washington DC

Engaged for Work• Australia• United States• United Kingdom• France• China• Thailand• Indonesia• Singapore• Ireland• Belgium


30 More Seconds• Graduated B.Sc (Hons) in Biochemistry (Monash University)• Commenced PHD – Interferon (Monash University)• Research Assistant – Pharmacology (Monash University)• Clinical Chemistry and Toxicology (ACTGAL)• Forensic Toxicology (ACTGAL)• Lab Director (ACTGAL)• Hospital Benchmarking Project (Canberra Hospital)• Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Manager (Australian

Capital Territory Chief Minister’s Department)• Coordinator Computer Forensic (AFP)• Manager Forensic Operations (AFP)• Manager Digital Evidence + others (DC DFS)


Great Mentors and Role Modelsand a few authors

• Peter Smith • Sandra Lambert• James Robertson• Mick Keelty• Tony Negus• Ian Chubb

• Richard Branson• Jeffrey Pfeffer• Apple• McDonalds• Bill James (Flight Centre)

Why Would Someone Work For You?

• Pay them lots of $$$$$?• Let people have time off and short days whenever they want?• Let people do what they want?• Drive high productivity?• Beat them into submission?• Scold them when they make mistakes so they ‘do better next

time’?• Play favourites with the high performers to inspire the lesser

performers?• Clearly set a role within the hierarchy?• Inspired by my superior intelligence?


Big Bang Theory

Why Would Someone Work for You?

• This is a question that I ask myself every morning

• It is not because I am lacking in confidence• To find and remind myself of the motivation for

each of my colleagues in an egalitarian workplace– Think Sheldon, Leonard and their friends– Think Asperger Syndrome

• It’s not about me!


Culture and Motivation in Forensic Science

• People with high Asperger score, ie our workforce, need to feel safe and trusted

• Each forensic discipline attracts a certain person

• Therefore, each forensic discipline develops its own culture

• Little difference around the world


Culture

• What do each of the disciplines look like?


Culture

• Crime Scenes– Like being out on the road– Like putting the picture together

• Fingerprints– Generally not interested in the science– Count the lock ups

• Biology– Very risk averse, always looking to create another

form


Culture

• Documents– Have difficulty providing an opinion

• Digital evidence– Passionately uncompromising and inflexible– Love the technology

• Firearms– Easy to work that out

• Chemistry– Chemists just love chemistry


Myths

• We don’t need to be friends…– How then do you get the discretionary effort?

• People who make mistakes need to be punished…– Really??? – If people don’t make the occasional mistake, they are

not trying hard enough• Everyone is motivated by money– Rubbish – if people were primarily motivated by

money, they would not work in the public sector


Solutions• Clearly and explicitly align each person’s work to the mission of the

agency• Talk the mission, create an oral history and tell stories• Celebrate the successes• Have fun at work

– Everyone is at work for 8 hours per day– We see more of our colleagues than we do of our family– A happy employee is a productive employee

• The leaders have a profound impact on the mood, so never look defeated• Anyone can lead when times are good, real leadership comes when

under pressure• No staff or system failures, only failures of leadership and management• “My men, my horse, myself”


Maintain a Vibrant Culture

• Care about your staff and help them be their best– Know your staff– Listen to them

• Ensure your infrastructure facilitates simplicity, efficiency and collaboration– Provide the tools for your people to do their job well

• Empower your staff through your managers– This is your greatest source of innovation

• Learn from other organisations• Model the behaviours

– This is the most important


Talk the Values

• The Australian Federal Police values– Integrity– Commitment– Excellence– Accountability– Fairness– Trust– Respect

• The Australian Public Service Integrated Leadership System– Shapes Strategic Thinking– Achieves Results– Cultivates Productive

Working Relationships– Exemplifies Personal Drive

and Integrity– Communicates with

Influence

• All behavioural based!


Rapid Lab

• Multidisciplinary approach to evidence examination• Real time case conferencing and proposition testing• Single handling• Parallel processing• Fast result generation– DNA in a week– Fingerprints in 24 hours

• Esprit de corps


Conclusion

• Forensic science has a unique workforce comprising several cultures

• Highly educated• Need to feel safe• Need to understand where they fit in• Leadership, not management, is paramount• “My men, my horse, myself”

Thank you

• Paul Reedy• Wearer of many hats• (202) 481 3541• [email protected]

