The first question about studying. How long before your Assessment Center?Effective reading for real learning takes time, unlike skimming a book and hoping some of it sticks in your mind.If you have several months or even years before your process, you can study in a completely different way.If you have very limited time, your study must be focused .Approach your book and article purchases with time-lines in mind.Study to improve.Whatever you read or review, do it with the goal of learning to be more effective in your work, not just to get through a promotional process.Sadly, many people who do well in Assessment Centers have the potential for being much more effective than they require themselves to be after they are promoted.And, just as sadly, their organizations often do not require more of them either! Study to improve, then apply it in the Assessment Center.If you have a considerable amount of time before your Assessment Center. .Take advantage of the time to learn the knowledge and skills needed for success in the job you seek.Establish a regular reading schedule.Take notes about what you read--both what you agree with and what you disagree with.Think, don't just absorb.Purposely work to expand your viewpoint of your organization and your role in it, as well as the profession.*There are several good --admittedly not a lot that are truly excellent--books about police supervision and management.There are also several on leadership.Buy them used but in very good condition, from one of the online sources for used books.*Books about private sector supervision and management are also good resources.People are people, and the concepts are the same.Plus, the writers of those books are often a bit more skillful at conveying the thoughts than some police writers might be.Harsh sounding, but true! Put your focus on real skills, not on the parable books or pop-management books that are useful after promotion but that do not help you prepare for your process.The Briefcase Books series by McGraw-Hill will be far more helpful than "Who Moved My Seven Habits and Ate the Fish?" Those are good books for some, but will not be maximally helpful for your preparation.Also read about communication skills in general, with a focus on personal presentation skills, how to talk effectively in groups and how to listen.(You have to practice, too!).*Also consider websites as sources for ideas about how to handle difficult supervisory and leadership challenges.Just one quote or one illustration or anecdote, can be worth your time.Put sites on an RSS feed, so you can be notified when new articles appear.Print the most useful ones and create your own study resource.*Among the best sources for gaining expanded views of the profession and supervision and management are the magazines produced by the FBI National Academy Associates, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Sheriffs Association, and the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin.You need articles of that quality and with that approach, not articles only about tactical matters or that are negative about management or supervision.Talk to commanders and to your chief or sheriff and see if you can borrow magazines, with the promise to return them promptly.Then, scan the pages or copy them, so you will be able to continue to study them.*Read your Operations Manual (Policy manual) regularly, with a focus on the roles of the rank you seek.Do not wait until testing time to be an expert on the policies and procedures of your organization.Every time there is a new policy or program, study the material as though you will be tested on it.You might be! Assessment Centers often include exercises that require the candidate to know a recent policy or a change in procedures, and all ACs require that you be knowledgeable about your role.*Read about Assessment Center preparation.This type of reading is worthwhile for helping you understand the process and how you can use your learning.Do not buy a book that is primarily about learning tricks, tips and techniques for the process.Instead, focus on books that explain the process clearly, so you can see yourself participating in it.Then, it should help you understand how to apply your learning most effectively.Optimally, it will also give you some good overviews of knowledge about the KSAs (knowledge, skills and attitudes) that will be tested.When you have a solid understanding of how the process works, you will better understand why it is important to have well-rounded knowledge and skills.If you have only a short time to prepare. .If you have waited longer than you should have, you can still gain some insights and knowledge by reading.Pick one book that seems to have a well-rounded approach to supervision and management and read it with a focus on learning principles that might be useful.Focus on interpersonal communications, working with and through others to achieve a goal, how to motivate others and how to self-manage.Take notes and consider how your reading material might be applied in your Assessment Center.Read about Assessment Center preparation, with an emphasis on understanding how the process works.You will always perform better if you know how a process was developed and how it will be applied, rather than being blind about the process but trying to learn how to do well anyway.Start studying! .Whatever the time frame you have for study, it is never too early or to late to prepare.Remember. Your goal is to be excellent in your work, then apply your excellence in your Assessment Center.Excellence takes time, study and practice.Start studying today!
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Police Assessment Center Training - What Books Are Best For Study?
The first question about studying. How long before your Assessment Center?Effective reading for real learning takes time, unlike skimming a book and hoping some of it sticks in your mind.If you have several months or even years before your process, you can study in a completely different way.If you have very limited time, your study must be focused .Approach your book and article purchases with time-lines in mind.Study to improve.Whatever you read or review, do it with the goal of learning to be more effective in your work, not just to get through a promotional process.Sadly, many people who do well in Assessment Centers have the potential for being much more effective than they require themselves to be after they are promoted.And, just as sadly, their organizations often do not require more of them either! Study to improve, then apply it in the Assessment Center.If you have a considerable amount of time before your Assessment Center. .Take advantage of the time to learn the knowledge and skills needed for success in the job you seek.Establish a regular reading schedule.Take notes about what you read--both what you agree with and what you disagree with.Think, don't just absorb.Purposely work to expand your viewpoint of your organization and your role in it, as well as the profession.*There are several good --admittedly not a lot that are truly excellent--books about police supervision and management.There are also several on leadership.Buy them used but in very good condition, from one of the online sources for used books.*Books about private sector supervision and management are also good resources.People are people, and the concepts are the same.Plus, the writers of those books are often a bit more skillful at conveying the thoughts than some police writers might be.Harsh sounding, but true! Put your focus on real skills, not on the parable books or pop-management books that are useful after promotion but that do not help you prepare for your process.The Briefcase Books series by McGraw-Hill will be far more helpful than "Who Moved My Seven Habits and Ate the Fish?" Those are good books for some, but will not be maximally helpful for your preparation.Also read about communication skills in general, with a focus on personal presentation skills, how to talk effectively in groups and how to listen.(You have to practice, too!).*Also consider websites as sources for ideas about how to handle difficult supervisory and leadership challenges.Just one quote or one illustration or anecdote, can be worth your time.Put sites on an RSS feed, so you can be notified when new articles appear.Print the most useful ones and create your own study resource.*Among the best sources for gaining expanded views of the profession and supervision and management are the magazines produced by the FBI National Academy Associates, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Sheriffs Association, and the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin.You need articles of that quality and with that approach, not articles only about tactical matters or that are negative about management or supervision.Talk to commanders and to your chief or sheriff and see if you can borrow magazines, with the promise to return them promptly.Then, scan the pages or copy them, so you will be able to continue to study them.*Read your Operations Manual (Policy manual) regularly, with a focus on the roles of the rank you seek.Do not wait until testing time to be an expert on the policies and procedures of your organization.Every time there is a new policy or program, study the material as though you will be tested on it.You might be! Assessment Centers often include exercises that require the candidate to know a recent policy or a change in procedures, and all ACs require that you be knowledgeable about your role.*Read about Assessment Center preparation.This type of reading is worthwhile for helping you understand the process and how you can use your learning.Do not buy a book that is primarily about learning tricks, tips and techniques for the process.Instead, focus on books that explain the process clearly, so you can see yourself participating in it.Then, it should help you understand how to apply your learning most effectively.Optimally, it will also give you some good overviews of knowledge about the KSAs (knowledge, skills and attitudes) that will be tested.When you have a solid understanding of how the process works, you will better understand why it is important to have well-rounded knowledge and skills.If you have only a short time to prepare. .If you have waited longer than you should have, you can still gain some insights and knowledge by reading.Pick one book that seems to have a well-rounded approach to supervision and management and read it with a focus on learning principles that might be useful.Focus on interpersonal communications, working with and through others to achieve a goal, how to motivate others and how to self-manage.Take notes and consider how your reading material might be applied in your Assessment Center.Read about Assessment Center preparation, with an emphasis on understanding how the process works.You will always perform better if you know how a process was developed and how it will be applied, rather than being blind about the process but trying to learn how to do well anyway.Start studying! .Whatever the time frame you have for study, it is never too early or to late to prepare.Remember. Your goal is to be excellent in your work, then apply your excellence in your Assessment Center.Excellence takes time, study and practice.Start studying today!
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