How Do I Prepare for My Promotion?

Technically, you have been preparing for this position since you were first sworn in as police officer. Remember how each year your supervisor gave an annual evaluation or performance report and the results of that evaluation were, hopefully, discussed with you? If they were not discussed, set up a meeting with your supervisor and have them explain what process they used to evaluate you and if you have questions or disagree with their evaluation, now is the time to discuss it with them. Normally, you are told of your strengths and weaknesses and areas in which you can improve. Your evaluation should be used as a training tool and with that in mind I know that you have taken the advice from your Supervisors and developed your career accordingly. That is why you're now ready to proceed in moving up the ranks of your department.

We know that you started to prepare for this promotional process by education, research, reading, and discussing evaluations with your supervisors. So what can you possibly do next to improve yourself? Since we have just started, you must realize that this is only the tip of the iceberg; you have a lot to accomplish before you are ready for your promotional exam. There are two areas of concern that I feel are extremely important, and necessary for achieving a successful conclusion to this process. One is getting physically fit; the other is becoming mentally tough.

Physically Fit
Prior to participating in any physical activity, consult your Physician. I'm sure as a police officer you try to keep yourself in decent physical shape, but now it's time to make sure that you are receiving proper nutrition as well as continuing your weight training and aerobic training. A properly balanced diet will help you think on your feet while under stress, especially during this testing process. There are numerous books on this subject. Two that I particularly enjoyed are Keep the Connection by Bob Greene and Dr. Bob Arnot's Guide to Turning Back the Clock by Robert Arnot. M.D. These books will describe how weight and aerobic training, for example, will help you get into better shape and feel good about yourself.

The reason I push getting in shape is: If you look good, your clothes fit properly, you feel good and an air of confidence develops, which can give you an edge during this competition and as you know every little bit helps.

So, think about your diet and exercise program, and remember to get a proper night's sleep. These three essentials will not only make you feel better but will assist you in gaining the confidence and stamina you will need throughout the testing process.

Remember: When you walk through that door, you only have one chance to make a first impression and believe me, the raters will take into consideration the way you look and carry yourself. You must demonstrate that you care about yourself, while looking professional at all times. Think about it: If you feel good, look good, and have a great command presence when entering the room for your Oral Board or Assessment Center exercise, you start off in control of the situation.

Mentally Tough
What do I mean by becoming mentally tough? You'll find during this promotional process that it is a very draining experience, both emotionally and physically. Therefore, what I am suggesting is that you make yourself as tough as possible to face this experience so that you will be able to handle any situation that may arise. One of the first things about becoming mentally fit reverts back to the prior section of becoming physically fit because, basically, it all has to do with how you feel about yourself - the way you look at yourself in the mirror each morning. I believe, if you are physically fit and feel very good about yourself, then you are stronger mentally.