Understanding the Character Maxim and how to make the Character Connection by praising for character rather than achievement makes you a better supervisor. As supervisors, we tend to say things like “Good job” or “Keep up the good work” when praising the members of our teams. Our vocabulary tends to be very limited. But character-based supervision requires a new vocabulary that links the character quality with the achievement. It forces us to become better supervisors, better parents, and better leaders.
In this segment from the Police Dynamics Video Training Series, I demonstrate how to use the character quality definitions from the Character First curriculum to motivate and praise those under your authority.
After watching this video, every time you find yourself saying “good job” or “keep up the good work,” it should serve as a red flag. Realize that you have just praised someone for achievement instead of character, make the character connection by coming up with at least one character quality the person displayed, then praise them for the character quality as well. This will remind them to keep up the good character…!
Category: Dynamic of Character
Another great nugget to reflect on! Thank you for your inspiring diligence in campaigning against leadership lethargy and confusion.
I believe all that you said is true with character especially when an officer takes the place of an individual against an other only because whom the individual is or simply trying get favor from one whom in reality cannot do anything for the officer. He is just a lawyer with no true authority in the say so of an officer’s job especially when he is doing something against his own character. I have also seen officers changing tickets on car accidents to cover for the kids father who was an officer yet the son was in the wrong all the way. But yet his supervisor was in complete adgreement with his officer. He would not listen to reason until it was taken to the top and when the dirty laundry was going to be exposed the the tune changed. So what can be done when it appears the command allows such behavior and trys to defend it’s flaws?
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