Crossing Generational Strategies at Work

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Crossing Generational Strategies at Work

So you are not the younger generation any more but you are not the oldest either so how can you become a better employee in today’s workplace? You have to learn to span generational gaps with generational habits and methods that makes you twice as effective as before.

Nobody knows for sure which is the best or most efficient way to work but if you bridge workplace generations effectively there is a good chance you not only become a better worker or co-worker but you actually have an opportunity to make new friends and build a network for the future.

Using these techniques are hybrid principles already being used by many employees and are proven to work to a large degree. Set aside your music preferences and focus on different ways to communicate better and do some of the things listed here to do that well.

Use the phone once in a while and use it for actually talking to another person on the other end. Don’t be shy about what you have to say and give it a chance. Using the phone in lieu of sending text messages or emails is much better and completes communication gaps with less misunderstands. It offers opportunities for either one of you to ask questions.

Working in the age of high technology and instant gratification, time appears to be important. However, you don’t always have to multitask at a rapid pace to get work done. Sometimes it takes more time than expected and don’t be surprised that if you spent more than 5 minutes on a task. Quality is noticed when you do your work and do it right.

Social media and tweeting has created abbreviated means to communicate complete thoughts or project down to minimum characters allowed. This does not apply to memos or other communication and it would be beneficial if you wrote a more in-depth message when the need arises to be more specific or clear about what you need to be done or what you are doing. An alternative to emails is the telephone but we already covered that.

In this hurry up world we sometimes forget our common courtesy habits and manner at times. Writing a simple thank you can make a world of difference in your relationships at work. Write one not just for work done or the delivery of a project on time but for routine things as well as we sometimes take it for granted that appreciation is expressed. It’s more appreciated than you might imagine. Take the time to say thank you and let somebody know you care enough to make time for them.

Last be not least it the willingness to work as a team and sacrifice things you may need to do so that someone else can finish their job as well. Helping, mentoring or even training someone else is most beneficial in any workplace setting and pays off in the long run. It may be the strategy that gets you where you want to be. Crossing these generational divides will bring you better communications and in many cases, new friends.