Bullying in Corrections...

By Dr. Olivia Johnson - Blue Wall Institute

The isolation of a job in corrections can leave many feeling out of sight and out of mind. And being out of sight and out of mind tends to allow certain things to go unaddressed. A general consensus I have noticed when talking with CO’s has been that they believe no one cares about their wellbeing and that workplace bullying and bad behavior is at an all time high. Just listening to these stories is enough to make you cry, but I have to ask: What is wrong with us that we have become so cold as to not care about a fellow officer? When did backstabbing, gossip, and all around bad behavior in the workplace become acceptable? Of course perception and reality may be two different things, but if so many CO’s are feeling this way, doesn’t that say something? If it doesn’t, it should.

Anyone accepting a position in corrections understands the threat of the criminal element, the idea that they could be injured or even killed by an inmate. That is reality. And no matter how sad this reality, what is often difficult for many CO’s to understand is how a co-worker, supervisor, or administrator could deliberately and sometimes, even with malice attack them verbally or mess with them just because they can. Sadly, many of these problematic individuals are able to continue this bad behavior without being addressed, disciplined, or terminated.  Call them what you want, but I call these individuals ‘workplace bullies.’

According to the Workplace Bullying Institute (WBI, 2014) bullying by is “threatening, humiliating, or intimidating … work interference – sabotage which prevents work from getting done, or verbal abuse (p. 1). Even sadder than having to address workplace bullying, are the statistics WBI revealed. Twenty-seven percent of survey respondents indicated being victims of workplace bullying, either in the past or currently. Another 72 percent stated that they were aware of workplace bullying and sadly, bosses accounted for the highest number of workplace bullying incidents. Another 72 percent of “… employers deny, discount, encourage, rationalize, and defend it” (para. 2). A 2010 survey revealed some 13.7 million Americans said were currently being bullied at work, with the number around three times this for those bullied in the past (Riggio, 2011, as cited in Psychology Today). These numbers are alarming. If so many are victims and so many are aware of workplace bullying, what can be done to stop the bully and the bullying behavior before if affects workers, the organization, and the morale? 

You Don't Need Rank to be a Leader...

By Safe Call Now®'s Steve Gutzler

Did you know that you can lead from wherever you are? If you are a ranked leader or a personal leader, you have the power to influence those around you.

If you are working on improving your leadership capabilities, here are 17 qualities that leaders need to have:

1)      Think "we" instead of "me." Your greatest joy and passion comes from creating team-based wins. 

2)      Have great self-awareness and understand that moods, attitudes, and emotions are contagious. 

3)      Understand that being a leader is a service job, the role of a servant - service to team, family, social causes, and friendships. 

4)      Keep it about others, not you. 

5)      Grow others and focus on personal development. Make it possible for others to use their abilities and shine. 

6)      Don't just focus on being busy... get clear about true accomplishments - think big!

7)      Build an inner-circle of like-minded, optimistic solution finders. 

8)      Take responsibility for your own weaknesses and work to improve them. 

9)      Keep whatever team you lead moving.

10)   Never underestimate the power of each day to make a huge impact. 

11)   Renew your daily mission to influence others, not impress them. 

12)   Spark the ambitions of others by how you live with purpose and excellence. 

13)   Make choices, minute by minute that make you better in your professional and personal life. 

14)   Treat people as equals not subordinates. 

15)   Have dynamic "thinking time" each week that turns challenges into opportunities.

16)   Commit to body, soul, and spirit, not just business. 

17)   Live in gratitude, compassion, and kindness to others. 

Being the smartest, fastest and best at something does not make you a leader. People choose who they follow. They select men and women they respect and admire. 

Leaders who encourage the ambitions of others, who lead by example and do the small things translates into big wins. 

Regardless of your rank, title or position, focus on being the best leader you can be. It will inspire others and generate new success!

Emotional Intelligence & the #1stresponder

By Safe Call Now®'s Steve Gutzler

"Great leaders inspire us. They ignite the best version of ourselves. Most importantly, they motivate us to accomplish our best work and they make us feel important. 

 A leader who is capable of that inspiration and motivation has a high degree of Emotional Intelligence. Here are the basic competencies:

1.    Emotional Self-awareness - Leaders with high self-awareness are attuned to their inner signals, recognizing how their feelings and moods affect them and those they interact with daily. 

2.    Self-confidence - Self-confident leaders take on challenging assignments. They possess a sense of presence, poise, and self-assurance. 

3.    Emotional Self-management - Leaders with emotional self-control find ways to manage their challenging emotions and impulses. Staying calm and clear-headed is a hallmark of a great leader. 

4.    Transparency - Leaders who are transparent communicate their values and live them. They are open about their feelings, beliefs, and choices. They are leaders who can admit fault, apologize... and move forward. 

5.    Optimism - A leader with optimism can quickly shift from a problem and convert it in to a challenge to be solved. They see life through the lens of possibility and positivity. They believe the future can and will be brighter. 

6.    Developing Others - Leaders who are adept at cultivating abilities show a genuine interest in the success of others. They ask about their goals, strengths, what they enjoy. These leaders provide constructive feedback and lift the vision of those around them to see the next level of what's possible. 

Working with leaders, I find the #1 enemy to personal leadership effectiveness is their ability to manage their emotions. This is a challenge because of the stress hormone cortisol. 

The Life of a Corrections Officer...

By Safe Call Now® Peer Advocate Captain Tammy Norton

The public watches many new TV episodes these days of “Orange is the New Black” or “Prison Break” and they wonder, what is it really like to work in a prison setting? Sean prompted me to write a piece for the blog and intimidated I was, not because I didn’t have plenty to say, I have worked in prison settings for the past 21 years-I just didn’t know how to say it.

When you hire on as that new Correctional Officer you never know until you walk through those gates that lock you in-and THEM out-how you are going to feel about this new career choice you have made. I have seen many new recruits turn around and head straight back out the gate once they heard the sounds of the locking mechanisms that are prevalent in my work environment-slam shut. T.V. can’t describe that feeling you get when you are outnumbered 200 to 1 and all you carry is a set of keys, a radio, and if you are lucky, a small canister of pepper spray.

 In our profession, we manage the worst personalities that society has deemed unacceptable to maintain in a free environment and we place them all together. We are expected to act in a professional and non-judgmental demeanor to deal with individuals who have committed atrocities against children, other law enforcement officers or members of their communities and maintain safe and secure yet humane environments for them to reside-protecting them and us from each other when necessary.

The stresses of this environment are numerous from shift work, threats of violence from the offender population to either you or another offender, demands and manipulations of the prison culture or everyday difficulties of working with a negative environment or co-worker. Correctional officers also suffer poor public image, lack of relief to access vacation leave time, lack of natural lighting due to ancient construction of most systems and the physicality and nature of the job. Officers are expected to carry equipment, walk and stand on concrete floors or go down on these same floors when necessary to stop an altercation or in defense which can lead to chronic neck/back and knee problems for the individuals, so the normal 9-5 work day does not apply in this profession.

The Isolation of our Corrections Officers

By Dr. Olivia Johnson - Blue Wall Institute

The isolation of a job in corrections can leave many feeling out of sight and out of mind. And being out of sight and out of mind tends to allow certain things to go unaddressed. A general consensus I have noticed when talking with CO’s has been that they believe no one cares about their wellbeing and that workplace bullying and bad behavior is at an all time high. Just listening to these stories is enough to make you cry, but I have to ask: What is wrong with us that we have become so cold as to not care about a fellow officer? When did backstabbing, gossip, and all around bad behavior in the workplace become acceptable? Of course perception and reality may be two different things, but if so many CO’s are feeling this way, doesn’t that say something? If it doesn’t, it should.

Anyone accepting a position in corrections understands the threat of the criminal element, the idea that they could be injured or even killed by an inmate. That is reality. And no matter how sad this reality, what is often difficult for many CO’s to understand is how a co-worker, supervisor, or administrator could deliberately and sometimes, even with malice attack them verbally or mess with them just because they can. Sadly, many of these problematic individuals are able to continue this bad behavior without being addressed, disciplined, or terminated.  Call them what you want, but I call these individuals ‘workplace bullies.’

According to the Workplace Bullying Institute (WBI, 2014) bullying by is “threatening, humiliating, or intimidating … work interference – sabotage which prevents work from getting done, or verbal abuse (p. 1). Even sadder than having to address workplace bullying, are the statistics WBI revealed. Twenty-seven percent of survey respondents indicated being victims of workplace bullying, either in the past or currently. Another 72 percent stated that they were aware of workplace bullying and sadly, bosses accounted for the highest number of workplace bullying incidents. Another 72 percent of “… employers deny, discount, encourage, rationalize, and defend it” (para. 2). A 2010 survey revealed some 13.7 million Americans said were currently being bullied at work, with the number around three times this for those bullied in the past (Riggio, 2011, as cited in Psychology Today). These numbers are alarming. If so many are victims and so many are aware of workplace bullying, what can be done to stop the bully and the bullying behavior before if affects workers, the organization, and the morale? 

#1stresponders... Are You a Personal Leader???

By Safe Call Now®'s Steve Gutzler

Did you know that you can lead from wherever you are? If you are a ranked leader or a personal leader, you have the power to influence those around you.

If you are working on improving your leadership capabilities, here are 17 qualities that leaders need to have:

1)      Think "we" instead of "me." Your greatest joy and passion comes from creating team-based wins. 

2)      Have great self-awareness and understand that moods, attitudes, and emotions are contagious. 

3)      Understand that being a leader is a service job, the role of a servant - service to team, family, social causes, friendships, and clients. 

4)      Keep it about others, not you. 

5)      Grow others and focus on personal development. Make it possible for others to use their abilities and shine. 

6)      Don't just focus on being busy... get clear about true business accomplishments - think big!

7)      Build an inner-circle of like-minded, optimistic solution finders. 

8)      Take responsibility for your own weaknesses and work to improve them. 

9)      Keep whatever team you lead moving.

10)   Never underestimate the power of each day to make a huge impact. 

11)   Renew your daily mission to influence others, not impress them. 

12)   Spark the ambitions of others by how you live with purpose and excellence. 

13)   Make choices, minute by minute that make you better in your professional and personal life. 

14)   Treat people as equals not subordinates. 

15)   Have dynamic "thinking time" each week that turns challenges into opportunities.

16)   Commit to body, soul, and spirit, not just business. 

17)   Live in gratitude, compassion, and kindness to others. 

3 Habits of Great #1stresponder Leaders...

By Safe Call Now®'s Steve Gutzler

Before I share the three habits, I'd like to remind you that every day, leaders must wake up and lead themselves before they lead anyone else. Others depend on us, and because of that we must keep the fire burning within us.   

We must:

• Know where we are going - Our Vision
• Know why we are going there - Our Motivation
• Know how we can help others - Our Leadership

To stay energized and on course - leaders can sustain themselves by:

1. The Habit of Passion -

Your passion will give you two distinctive traits: energy and credibility. Pioneering aviator Charles Lindbergh said, "It is the greatest shot of adrenaline to be doing what you have wanted to so badly. You almost feel like you could fly without the plane."

When you love what you do and do what you love, others find it inspiring. I also believe it's the job of the leader to turn up the passion – the energy – the emotion.

My challenge: today show more passion and heart for those who serve and lead!