Wasted Honor -- - Say What you Need To Say......: Correctional Officers

Wasted Honor -

Carl R. ToersBijns is the author of the Wasted Honor Trilogy [Wasted Honor I,II and Gorilla Justice] and his newest book From the Womb to the Tomb, the Tony Lester Story, which is a reflection of his life and his experiences as a correctional officer and a correctional administrator retiring with the rank of deputy warden in the New Mexico and Arizona correctional systems.

Carl also wrote a book on his combat experience in the Kindle book titled - Combat Medic - Men with destiny - A red cross of Valor -

Carl is considered by many a rogue expert in the field of prison security systems since leaving the profession. Carl has been involved in the design of many pilot programs related to mental health treatment, security threat groups, suicide prevention, and maximum custody operational plans including double bunking max inmates and enhancing security for staff. He invites you to read his books so you can understand and grasp the cultural and political implications and influences of these prisons. He deals with the emotions, the stress and anxiety as well as the realities faced working inside a prison. He deals with the occupational risks while elaborating on the psychological impact of both prison worker and prisoner.

His most recent book, Gorilla Justice, is an un-edited raw fictional version of realistic prison experiences and events through the eyes of an anecdotal translation of the inmate’s plight and suffering while enduring the harsh and toxic prison environment including solitary confinement.

Carl has been interviewed by numerous news stations and newspapers in Phoenix regarding the escape from the Kingman prison and other high profile media cases related to wrongful deaths and suicides inside prisons. His insights have been solicited by the ACLU, Amnesty International, and various other legal firms representing solitary confinement cases in California and Arizona. He is currently working on the STG Step Down program at Pelican Bay and has offered his own experience insights with the Center of Constitutional Rights lawyers and interns to establish a core program at the SHU units. He has personally corresponded and written with SHU prisoners to assess the living conditions and how it impacts their long term placement inside these type of units that are similar to those in Arizona Florence Eyman special management unit where Carl was a unit deputy warden for almost two years before his promotion to Deputy Warden of Operations in Safford and Eyman.

He is a strong advocate for the mentally ill and is a board member of David's Hope Inc. a non-profit advocacy group in Phoenix and also serves as a senior advisor for Law Enforcement Officers Advocates Council in Chino, California As a subject matter expert and corrections consultant, Carl has provided interviews and spoken on national and international radio talk shows e.g. BBC CBC Lou Show & TV shows as well as the Associated Press.

I use sarcasm, satire, parodies and other means to make you think!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Correctional Officers - Stepping Up

Reading Peter Gruber's article “Managing Up” When Your Boss Has You Down” felt so right to copy and adapt for the purpose of guiding correctional employees on the right track for career development. It was loaded with great advice and the more I read into it, the more I saw a unique opportunity to apply his concepts to the correctional profession. In fact, it was hard not to write word for word as it was filled with reality checks inside a correctional operational and management setting. Hence I will try to deliver his message with a slight adaptation for the environment and challenges on this most difficult job of being a correctional officer working in a very negative environment.

First we must first most of us must admit that we love our jobs but we hate the way your job is being managed by your supervisors or administrators. Not wanting to quit your job there are some reasonable alternatives available to you to not only do your job but to excel in getting it done. Realizing you have alternatives is important for it give you the motivation you need to get up every day and go to work. As time goes by, you have adjusted well to the job and contributed to many core values that are important in the areas of public safety and staff safety.

We have all experienced the difficult bosses. Whether you are working with a boss that is a micro-manager, bully, clueless wonder or brown noser you must adjust your performance in order to successfully attain better career growth and opportunities. The first step in taking the positive direction is to realize that although you boss can make you miserable, you must identify this to be one of your own problems to address in order to get ahead and be successful. You have to adjust your relationship with your boss to endure the time and make significant career growth plans long the way while focusing on pay raises and other opportunities that come with successful career planning. The adjustment is easier than you may realize as the very first step you take is to emphasize your boss's job and responsibilities. Know how to walk in your bosses' shoes makes sure you are on the same ideology thought track and aligns their interest and goals the same as yours making you totally compatible to the organization as well as your boss. Being in harmony with these two elements assures your longevity and opportunities within the workplace. Therefore, to have empathy is the first key to successful planning and managing your career.

The second step is to learn the mission, the strategic goals and taking a proactive interest in how your boss wants or intents do accomplish this. This means your relationship with you boss must be one of sharing and communicating how he or she thinks or executes so that you can better understand the strategic objectives and manner of expectation this is realized to be accomplished.

Third you must take ownership and show you have a professional and personal interest in the “game” meaning you are committed to do your best to show your respect, maturity and willingness to demonstrate your commitment. Emulating your boss's favorite style of communicating is very important for it establishes a comfort level between you and your boss illustrating you are on board with the boss's preferable communication method whether it be email, phone, face to face etc.. Knowing how your boss operates is instrumental in being in tune with the systems in place and shows an attention to detail many bosses admire and respect. It also builds your reputation and makes you trustworthy of special assignments and other special duties. Peter Gruber states that “ The more you convey through your actions that you are trustworthy, the more confidence your manager will have in giving you greater responsibility and recognition. This means that you don’t just deliver problems, but solutions. This type of transparency deepens a trusting relationship.”

Corrections is a difficult job as it stands. Every bit of advice emulation or mentorship is essential in building your success. Reading, educating, training and understanding your job is important but getting along with your boss is very instrumental in your career success and career development that allows you to grow.

Source;

http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20130509190459-101213441--managing-up-when-your-boss-has-you-down?trk=eml-mktg-condig-0108-p3