I’d rather see someone start this job believing they can make it than arrive already convinced they can’t. But when somebody tells me they’re ready, I want to know what they’ve done to prepare. Believing you can do something doesn’t necessarily mean you’re prepared to do it.
Take somebody getting ready for the academy. He may be confident he’s in good enough shape, but has he actually tested himself against the physical standards? Does he know his running time? Can he complete the required exercises? I’d rather have a recruit who knows he’s struggling with something and is working to improve it than one who assumes he’ll be fine when he gets there.
I look at new officers much the same way.
Wearing the uniform doesn’t mean they’ve learned how to handle every situation they’re going to encounter. I don’t expect that from them, either. But I do expect them to recognize when they’re outside their experience, ask questions, and learn from the people training them. An officer who doesn’t know something and asks for help gives me a lot less concern than one who doesn’t know but acts like he does.
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The same applies when somebody moves into supervision. Being a good officer doesn’t automatically make somebody a good sergeant. He may know the job, have years of experience, and be respected by the other officers. Now he’s responsible for correcting their mistakes, handling disagreements, making decisions that won’t always be popular, and answering for work he didn’t personally do. His experience gives him something to build on, but it doesn’t mean he’s already prepared for every part of that responsibility.
One thing I pay attention to at every level is whether somebody can admit what they don’t know. I’ve never expected anyone to have all the answers, including myself. But if a person is so concerned about appearing capable that he won’t ask a question or acknowledge a weakness, he’s making it harder for anyone to help him improve.
I don’t need somebody to have mastered everything before taking the next step. Some things can only be learned by doing the job. I do want to see that they’ve made an effort to prepare, understand where they still need work, and have enough judgment to recognize when they need help.
I’d have a lot more confidence in somebody who can tell me exactly what he still needs to learn than somebody who assures me he’s ready for anything.
