INSIGHTS
Q How do you prepare individuals for their next
promotion or assignment prior to their appointment ?
Chief Roy Minter
Years ago , I had a mentor tell me the best way to prepare for future opportunities is to do great work today . I learned early in my career that hard work , preparation and long-term planning are very important for career growth and development .
I believe career development must be an ongoing process that combines the components of Department programs , training , coaching and available outside resources to assist individuals with personal and professional development . This year , the Savannah Police Department launched our Career Advancement Program ( CAP ). CAP which is designed to facilitate improvement of employee knowledge , skills and abilities to benefit departmental objectives through individual employee growth . The core element of our CAP is the opportunity to “ shadow ” individuals and assignments . Shadowing allows members to gain valuable
22 FALL . 2020 knowledge of the position / assignment they are seeking . Shadowing is also a great opportunity for members to familiarize themselves with the supervisors , duties and responsibilities of various assignments . CAP participants can use up to 40 hours per calendar year to shadow assignments . These hours may be used for a single assignment or multiple CAP assignments .
Establishing a mentoring program is also a great employee development tool . Every organization has several strong leaders who can assist with developing future leaders . I always encourage members to seek out these individuals and model their behavior as they prepare for the promotional process or new assignments . A successful mentoring program should offer both structure and flexibility . Structure provides participants a mentoring workflow to follow . Flexibility is essential to support the varying needs of individuals .
Scheduling a meeting with the chief or supervisor of an assignment is another important step . These meetings can provide valuable information on expectations for the position , the direction of the department , important leadership trait expectations or updated information on requirements for the position .
We all know that promotions in our profession do not happen overnight . So , I also stress the need for patience . A lot of people do not make the promotional list or get their desired assignment on their first attempt . My advice to our members is to stay strong and not get discouraged . Members are also advised not to get discouraged if they do not immediately succeed in their new assignment . Career development is a continuous learning process .
Many career advancement opportunities involve a written test , assessment exercises that include oral presentations and practical applications exercises . My advice has always been to do three things now - Practice , Practice , Practice ! You can practice speaking in front of a mirror , use your phone or another device to record yourself making a presentation or have someone assess a practical exercise . It is important that you start preparing early for your assessment exercises . The Savannah Police Department conducts annual promotional preparation training . This training is offered prior to all promotional testing .
Starting a book club is also a great way to prepare members for career advancement . Selecting a good growth and development book to