The Metropolitan Police are introducing PDR-based promotion this April. This will affect officers seeking promotion, particularly from PC to Sergeant. In my latest new premium podcast, I explain what this means for you as a promotion candidate, insights into good PDR practice, and give tips for supervisors for effective PDRs.
I embed a free sample of this podcast below, but you can read on for some more sneak previews or indeed subscribe to my premium content for this and loads more promotion and leadership CPD…
Met Police New Promotion Process
Intelligence from the Met suggests their highly competitive PC to Sergeant promotion process this Spring will be kickstarted with the Personal Development Review (PDR). This increased emphasis on the PDR process will replace application forms as the first ‘gateway’ to promotion for candidates.
As I discuss in the full episode, the ramifications of this are huge. Firstly, it means greater involvement of the line manager in supporting an individual’s aspirations. Secondly, it mirrors the massive supervisory input proposed in the new SIPP promotion framework designed by the College and currently being trialled by three forces.
With this in mind: How is your relationship with your manager? This could seriously impact the ambition of any promotion candidate, positively or negatively. So in the podcast I share information on how to make this a more positive one and make your supervisor’s job easier in putting you forward!
The Met by the way aren’t first to use such a method. UK forces are all trialling different ways to promote people at different times, as I outline in my Postcode Lottery of Promotion blog. For example, Police Scotland candidates have used their ‘My Career’ system as a PDR-based approach to evidencing their promotion readiness.
“Hi Steve, I purchased your PC to Sergeant toolkit and Promotion Masterclass Video … having passed my NPPF step 2 exam. Subscribing to your podcast for extra CPD and a wider look at issues in policing, I used these resources to prepare for my force promotion process… Having recently received my results I have passed the process – applying material from the toolkits as a framework for presentation exercises, performance management and culture. Cheers.” – Rob, Passed Sergeant Process
PDR: Pointless, Dreaded and Reviled?
PDRs unfortunately have a bad reputation among cops. Whether it’s down to confusing processes, clunky systems, bureaucratic forms, it not counting towards anything, or people just not taking it seriously, it’s generally accepted they have a bad rap.
It need not be this way however! There are some great supervisors out there who do this well, providing value and giving people the support they deserve. Here’s my previous blog on how to do PDRs well (there’s a more in depth premium PDR podcast too!) if you’re keen on doing this right. I also cover more ground in this new episode (S5E7) in the context of this new development in the Met Police.
Doing PDRs well isn’t just an essential skill of supervisors in getting the best out of people and improving performance. It also happens to form good evidence demonstrating competencies for when supervisors in turn want to get promoted (consider for example ‘Support and Inspire’ or ‘Emotionally Aware’).
So in summary, give this podcast a listen to get ahead of the curve. What does this all mean for you as a promotion candidate? What it means for you as a supervisor of aspiring officers? How you can best navigate the inevitable challenges such new processes will bring?
I hope you enjoy the episode, and keep a look out for more premium episodes coming soon in this ‘Year of the Snake’ Season 5 to aid your promotion and leadership CPD!
Kind Regards, Steve
Seeking police promotion? Want a MASSIVE head start right now? Hit the ground running with your personal digital promotion toolkit, and/or my market-leading Police Promotion Masterclass. There’s nothing else like it to effectively prepare you for success in your leadership aspirations. You can also contact me to arrange more personal coaching support. Or try my podcast for your ongoing police leadership CPD covering a range of fascinating subjects.
