Listening
Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
- improv / ˈɪm prɒv / (n.) – a type of performance where people act, speak, or sing without planning or using a script
Example:Dave loves improv because he can be creative and make up stories on the spot.
- think on (one's) feet / θɪŋk ɒn fit / (idiom) – to think quickly and make decisions or answers without much time to plan
Example:During a job interview, it’s important to be able to think on your feet because the interviewer might ask unexpected questions.
- take a breath / teɪk ə brɛθ / (idiom) – to stop for a short time to rest, relax, or think
Example:In the emergency room, the nurse had to take a breath to focus on what to do next.
- morale / məˈræl / (n.) – the feelings of happiness and confidence that a person or group has, especially when working or in difficult situations
Example:The workers’ morale improved after the boss gave them a day off.
- ego / ˈi goʊ / (n.) – the idea or opinion someone has about him/herself, especially the feeling of how important or good he/she is
Example:Lee’s ego was hurt when he did not win the competition because he thought he would be the best.
Article
Read the text below.
Officials at the University of Chicago Crime Lab’s Policing Leadership Academy brought members of The Second City, Chicago’s storied improv theater, to teach police leaders the more diverse skills found in improv exercises—like thinking on your feet, reserving judgment and fully listening.
The academy, a workshop taught over five months, tackles some serious topics like how to make data-driven decisions or how to help officers handle on-the-job trauma.
The skills might not apply to all policing situations in the field, but being a better listener or learning to take a breath before responding can make for better leaders, according to Tree Branch, a strategic client partner at The Second City Works.
The Policing Leadership Academy’s creators believe those skills can also help meet their goals to increase community engagement, improve officer morale and ultimately reduce violent crime.
Capt. Louis Higginson with the Philadelphia Police Department said the academy provided a much broader training than the two weeks of police job training he got before being promoted to captain a little more than a year ago.
“The big thing for me was thinking about the things we allow to happen because they’ve been that way before us,” he said. “And the ways we can change the culture of our district by changing the thinking around why we do things.”
Albuquerque Police Department Commander Ray Del Greco said he’s still thinking more about how he communicates weeks after the improv class.
“When people talk to you and come to have you help solve their issues, to be able to push your ego out and worry less about your own agenda and listen, that’s an understanding of leadership,” Del Greco said. “To me, that was the most valuable class we had.”
Academy leaders stressed the learning doesn’t stop at graduation. They create communication channels so classmates can continue to support each other, they encourage captains to put on training with their departments, and participants are required to implement a capstone project that lasts well past the last day of class and addresses a real problem in their district or department.
This article was provided by The Associated Press.
Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
- Improv classes are used to teach police leaders valuable skills. Do you think using creative methods like this is a good idea for leadership training? Why or why not? Do you think other serious jobs, like medicine, education, or law, could also use creative training like this? Why do you say so? Discuss.
- Even if the skills don’t apply to every policing situation, being a better listener or taking a breath can make for better leaders. What qualities do you think are most important for a good leader? Do you believe that strong personal skills, like listening and self-control, are more important for leaders than technical skills? Why or why not? Discuss.
Discussion B
- Higginson said he started thinking about “the things we allow to happen because they’ve been that way before us.” Have you ever followed a rule, habit, or tradition just because “that’s how it’s always been?” Why do you think people continue these things without question? What could be the benefits or problems of keeping things the same? Discuss.
- Higginson also said that we can change the culture of our community by “changing the thinking around why we do things.” Do you agree that changing how people think is the first step to changing a group or organization? Why or why not? Why might it be important to start with a mindset before taking action? Discuss.
