Leadership and Motivation of Law Enforcement Supervisors: A Phenomenological Stud

There is a lack of understanding of the effect of leadership skills on motivation. The purpose of this qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study was to investigate the lived experiences of law enforcement supervisors' behaviors and how their leadership behaviors might affect motivation in their subordinates. The specific problem researched was the need to reveal the lived experiences and the perceptions of law enforcement supervisors regarding how their leadership skills affected their subordinates' motivation. A sample size of 10 supervisors from the eastern region of North Carolina participated in the study. The study included a review of qualitative data and phenomenological studies. NVivo software was used to manage and analyze the data. The results included five themes developed from the interview data: leading by example, treating officers as people first, self-awareness, strategic use of discipline, and rewards. The key findings suggest that leaders could use the emergent themes to support their efforts in motivating their subordinates.