Paint a Brighter Picture

“Shadows on the hills, Flaming flowers that brightly blaze, Swirling clouds in violet haze, Reflect in Vincent’s eyes of China blue.” – Don Mclean

It’s often looked upon as a positive and endearing trait when people simply ‘tell it like it is’. Limited resources, tight budgets, ongoing cuts to policing and disruptive change contribute to pressures in the current policing environment; it’s something unlikely to change quickly and the promotion panel already know all about it.

Your police promotion interview is a golden opportunity; one you are likely to have worked very, very hard to arrive at. It’s a chance to articulate via your responses to some questions how you will help the organisation move forward to face and tackle policing challenges on the horizon.

Promotion is unlikely to be bestowed upon individuals who can only indicate that the ‘Emperor has no clothes’. It is instead awarded to those who describe a brighter future under their leadership. Consider for example the following prompts

As a newly promoted Sergeant or Inspector what will your contribution be?
What is the leadership you need to provide?
What will you do (specifically) to help the force achieve its priorities?

You may want to get your thinking cap on for those, because when I ask clients these questions, I’m often met with silence or puzzled looks. It’s ok though, because it confirms that there is some work to be done ahead of a promotion board and I can help! Optimism is usually the first port of call.

Optimism

“I am an optimist. It does not seem too much use being anything else.” – Winston Churchill

Optimism in police promotion
The questions above may be difficult to answer at first, but with a depth and breadth of preparation, the likes of which you may have never considered before, they’ll become a lot easier. They are certainly a gift for any well-prepared candidate. You will be painting this picture with your vocal chords not a brush.

Painting brighter picture Passion, enthusiasm, positivity, motivation, determination, optimism and focus are just some of the things board members might expect to see and hear from you as a promotion candidate.

If you can’t paint a picture of a brighter future ahead with you as leader, manager and supervisor, how will you persuade a panel that you deserve to be promoted?