To be a police officer, you need to be committed to helping others and adhering to the law and keeping the community safe. While you may enjoy what you do, you may also be curious as to how you can improve your skills and do a better job overall.
Improve your performance as a police officer by reviewing the following suggestions and then getting to work to apply them in your daily routine. The good news is that with a little focus and effort on your part you may soon experience yourself excelling in your job and being considered for a promotion.
Expand Your Knowledge
One way to be a better police officer is to learn and expand your knowledge. There are even programs online in the area of police studies that you can complete in your downtime. Improve as a police officer by learning more about ethics, corruption, and cybercrime through this coursework. It’s going to prepare you to take on leadership roles and help you to get a better handle on the ever-changing landscape of policing. When you have the right attitude, knowledge and educational background you’re going to be unstoppable at your job.
Challenge Yourself
Another way you can be a better police officer is to constantly be challenging yourself. This way, you can begin to grow and develop both as an individual and a professional. Don’t be afraid to raise your hand at work and take on more responsibilities that are bit outside of your normal routine or scope. You may get bored or feel stuck in your role when you choose comfort, instead of stepping outside your safe zone once in a while. Come up with a list of goals you want to meet and then think about what actions you can be taking and what you can be doing differently on a daily basis to achieve them. Be sure to document any extra duties you take on so you can remind your boss about what you’ve been up to at your next performance review meeting.
Talk about Your Experiences
When you refuse to keep all your emotions bottled up inside, you can easily mold yourself into being a better police officer. Policing is a challenging job and you’re going to be faced with a lot of situations and people that may impact your mental health and view of the world. Instead of going on with business as usual and ignoring your feelings, open up and talk about your experiences. You can either find someone who you trust such as a family member or friend or speak with a professional therapist to get some of the stress you’re experiencing off your chest. You may also choose to confide in someone else who’s on the force who’s been policing for a long time and can offer up some guidance to help you work through your emotions.
Avoid Distractions
Being distracted and unfocused is only going to hurt your career and keep you from reaching your full potential. Therefore, you’re going to want to remain free and clear of all distractions and concentrate on what you’re doing in the moment. You’ll make wiser decisions and judgment calls when your mind is clear and you’re focusing on the task at hand. You’re going to be exposed to a lot of people and situations and you may find at times you’re tempted to veer away from your core values. Avoid this dilemma by knowing yourself well and taking breaks when you need them so you can return to your work feeling centered.
Focus on Self-Control
As a police officer, one of your biggest responsibilities will be reacting to a variety of circumstances and individuals without much warning. You can be a better police officer by focusing on improving your levels of self-control. The last situation you want to happen is for you to react poorly and then have regrets later on. Take care of yourself, so you’re well-rested and not tired and emotionally charged when having to deal with issues that arise. Live mindfully so you can make choices that are deliberate and thought-out instead of rash. You have to be able to remember what you were taught in training when faced with real-life situations that can be challenging to manage.
Communicate Openly & Honestly
Communication is another factor that’s going to help you become a better police officer. Not only do you need to be good about getting your point across, but you should also work on doing so openly and honestly. There isn’t much room for blurry lines and confusion when working in the police force. You’re going to need to be adaptable depending on who you’re speaking with and use different communication channels such as email and phone calls to have important conversations, as well as in-person. There will be reports you’ll need to learn how to fill out and individuals you’ll need to learn how to work within your community throughout your career in law enforcement. Therefore, practice relaying your message concisely and thoroughly so you can avoid any misunderstandings.
Ask for Feedback & A Review
Additionally, you can get better at your job by requesting feedback from others and hearing their opinions about how you’re doing. Instead of taking this information personally, use it to your advantage so you can improve your skills and abilities and overcome any weaknesses that are getting in your way of being a successful police officer.
Furthermore, request a formal review from your boss so you can get in writing what you’re doing well and note any areas for improvement.
Practice Work-Life Balance
What’s most important is that you feel healthy and your mood is level most days. You’re going to be a better police officer when you take care of yourself and practice work-life balance. Take advantage of your days off to catch up on sleep or fit in some exercise. Be honest with yourself and take time off from your job if you’re ever feeling overwhelmed and exhausted so you can return to your duties in a better state of mind.
