Welcome to The Adaptive Way LLC. Our classes provide the latest research-based training and professional development services to help your agency or organization maximize its most valuable resource.
Although the titles of our courses have remained the same, the content has not. With the entrance of Generation Z into law enforcement, corrections, and telecommunications, our classes address this generational shift. Therefore, whether you require Basic FTO Certification, advanced FTO, or supervisory or leadership training, our courses will address the needs of the Gen Z trainee.
Have a look at our training courses and reach out if you have questions or to host a training at your agency or training facility.
Thank you again for time and we look forward to serving you.
Thom Dworak is a retired Sergeant (31 years) from a suburban Chicago police department where he was the Field Training and Evaluation Program Coordinator and the Lead Defensive Tactics/Use of Force Instructor. Thom’s knowledge of experiential learning, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, creative problem solving and decision making has shaped our programs for the challenging and ever-changing environment the Criminal Justice professional find themselves in daily.
Thom facilitates training throughout the country in Field Training, Emotional Intelligence, Leadership and is a core instructor for Below 100. He holds the position of adjunct faculty at the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy at the College of Du Page providing instruction to recruits in defensive tactics and scenario-based training. Thom is a court recognized expert in police practices and use of force. He is a member of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA), the International Law Enforcement Trainers Network (ILET), the Small and Rural Police Executives Association and the Naturalistic Decision-making Association. Follow Thom on Twitter @dworakt or The Adaptive Way @adaptiveway.
Our training courses are available as a flat-rate or per-seat hosting option. Agencies receive complimentary seats for hosting. We will also work with your State POST to obtain certification for training hours. For more information about our no-risk hosting options, contact thom@theadaptiveway.com
The Adaptive FTO is an advanced FTO course that addresses training concerns with incoming probationary police officers. This course does not change your agency's FTO Model. Attendees will work with mental and thinking models to help develop the trainee into adaptive thinkers and assist with proper risk assessment. Our Adaptive Feedback Model nurtures the probationary officer’s creativity and critical thinking skills. Emotional Intelligence techniques help the trainee identify emotional trigger points while enhancing communication and social skills. Attendees will also look at developmental learning tactics for the Gen Z trainee. The Adaptive FTO creates a durable framework for learning with our cognitive coaching philosophy for training the future of your organization.
This dynamic training course designed to equip supervisors with the skills needed to effectively manage and lead in today’s rapidly changing workplace. The Adaptive Supervisor introduces the 5 pillars of Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and the law enforcement supervisory core competencies encompassed in EQ. Attendees will work with a legal and ethical decision-making model and how to conduct post incident after-action reviews. Special emphasis is placed on understanding and engaging with Gen Z employees, leveraging their unique strengths, and navigating intergenerational dynamics. This course will provide techniques to assist the Supervisor not only in their daily activities but also in their overall professional development.
Tele-communicators are the lifeline of any law enforcement agency. Due to their unique position, they are inundated with constant stress, often without an effective way to release it. The accumulation of stress can lead to burn-out, apathy, increased sick-time or at its peak the on-set of PTSD. The question is how to provide a coping strategy for the telecommunicator to effectively negate the effects of stress?
The answer is with Emotional Intelligence. Emotional Intelligence has been shown to reduce stress, allows for better decision-making and provides for a more motivated employee. Research shows that top performers display a high-level emotional intelligence, are more empathetic and less susceptible to an amygdala hijacking.
This workshop provides the telecommunicator with techniques to develop a personal strategy to combat stress, reduce burn-out, re-ignite their "why" and increase their emotional intelligence competencies.
This course will assist agencies in the management of their FTO program. Attendees will discuss the duties of a field training manager, selection and retention of Field Training Officers, legal/liability concerns, and reviewing the Daily Observation Reports. Also, they will view the various reports the program requires and learn how to conduct a forensic post-training review to increase successful new hire decisions. Attendees look into their organizational future with a discussion on the Gen Z trainee and how to use mentoring along with Bridge In-service training to develop higher-performing probationary officers. They will also discuss the recommendations on the Field Training process made by the Task Force for 21st Century Policing.
This one day is the ultimate program for thriving in a rapidly changing world. Gain the skills to navigate challenges, drive innovation, and inspire your team. Adaptive Leadership helps you, embrace uncertainty as opportunity. Foster collaboration and lead with empathy and emotional intelligence. Make informed decisions in dynamic environments and motivate your team to achieve exceptional results. Transform your leadership style and succeed in any situation with Adaptive Leadership. Join us to elevate your leadership and make a lasting impact.
The law enforcement environment can often be described as one that is a non-linear, open-loop
system, that happens at light-speed. One where time can be either friend or foe. Operating in
this environment creates stress which affects decision-making. Within this time compressed
environment officers often feel they need to act because they are there, rather than allowing
the circumstances of the call determine the urgency to act.
The question is how to provide a strategy for officer's to effectively control the stress response
and to make lawful and ethical decisions? The answer is two-fold: with 1) Emotional Intelligence
and 2) The Adaptive Decision-Making Model.
Emotional Intelligence deals with the self-awareness and self-regulation of emotions, empathy,
motivation and social skills. Being aware of what an officer's trigger points are and being able
to hit the pause button when something or someone pushes their button. It's understanding
someone's else's point of view, being able to communicate effectively and engage in effective
negotiations with others.
Research show that people with a high level of Emotional Intelligence make better decisions, are
move motivated, display a higher level of empathetic understanding and are less susceptible to
an amygdala hijacking.
The Adaptive Decision-Making Model addresses lawful and ethical decision-making. The
model's foundation is 4th Amendment Search and Seizure law. It asks "Does the officer have
the lawful authority to act or search or arrest?" Then examines the urgency to take an action, or
what threshold of "governmental intrusion" will be acceptable to accomplish the lawful objective?
This engaging workshop provides the attendees with strategies increase their emotional
intelligence competencies and develop their critical thinking and decision-making skills.
This four-day, 32-hour training program has been redesigned for 2025. This course will provide law enforcement and corrections officers with the knowledge and skills to train probationary officers in a one-to-one setting. Diverse instructional methods will be employed to provide a student-centered learning environment.
Attendees will receive a new comprehensive manual to assist with their training post-course. They will do a deep dive into the Standardized Evaluation Guidelines. The attendees will complete several in-class DORs to help them with performance evaluation, remediation of errors, providing proper feedback, and documenting daily training activities using the Standardized Evaluation Guidelines. Attendees will have the opportunity to teach and coach each other during the class. They will complete a performance improvement plan to provide documentation of training deficiencies and provide a written plan for improvement. The attendees will look at tactics for teaching the Gen Z trainee to assist with better decision-making and critical thinking.
Looking for in-service training for your FTOs, First-line Supervisors, or Telecommunicators? We will work with your Training Coordinator to provide in-person or on-line agency-specific training.
Consulting and Expert Witness services are available. Contact Thom@theadaptiveway or call 847-379-1244 for more information.
Mississippi Delta CC The Law Enforcement Academy, Moorehead, MS
Mississippi Delta CC The Law Enforcement Academy, Moorehead, MS
Mississippi Delta CC The Law Enforcement Academy, Moorhead, MS
Mississippi Delta CC The Law Enforcement Academy, Moorhead, MS
Mississippi Delta CC The Law Enforcement Academy, Moorhead, MS
Mississippi Delta CC The Law Enforcement Academy, Moorhead, MS
Bergen Co Law and Public Safety Institute, Mahwah, NJ
Bergen Co Law and Public Safety Institute, Mahwah, NJ
Bergen Co Law and Public Safety Institute, Mahwah, NJ
Bergen Co Law and Public Safety Institute, Mahwah, NJ
847-379-1244
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