“What was I thinking and why was I out of control? If I could just take those few moments back!” For the next several weeks, we are still thinking about how we could have said and done things differently.
In Internal Affairs, we get asked questions we can’t answer. We remember the steak we ate last week, but can’t recall details of yesterday’s escalated incident… how is that possible?
You are not alone, as Block-out happens often, and it causes us to not remember (to block out) details of the situation. That’s why Duty to Intervene is so important for officers to have each other’s back when situations get escalated in a moments notice.
Judge and Jury
Public servants are judged every day on their actions, especially when engaging with the public. With cell phone videos and body cameras, an officer’s actions are often questioned and judged. One emotional outburst on a call can be a career-ending move.
In public service, after years of Cumulative Career Trauma (CCT), it is easy to suddenly let something get under your skin in a moment’s notice.
Emotional Response Training (ERT) is often layered with Block-Out Syndrome, which is in a moment’s notice, a person can ‘snap’ in an emotional outburst. This can get escalated into physical engagement, as well as making senseless mistakes.
In public service, after years of cumulative career trauma, it is easy to suddenly let something get to you in a moment’s notice. When block-out syndrome occurs, these symptoms will appear.
Officer Block-out happens in Layers
Everyone comes to the agency with their own layered baggage. Between their personal life, upbringing, spousal support, and work life, everyone handles stress differently. On the job stress happens, how we handle that stress is an individual challenge.
Characteristics of Block-Out Syndrome:
- Occurs in a split second, no notice
- No way to anticipate or pre-plan it
- You get emotionally triggered
- Unaware of what you’re saying in the moment
- Time will lapses, without your knowing
- You can do physical harm unintentionally
- Must be ‘woken up’ from emotional trance (Duty to Intervene)
The RITE Emotional Response is part of a Training that helps bring your attention to the present, and teaches ways to avoid escalating a situation by going into Block-out.
Violent Communication is acting in ways that result in hurt or harm such as bullying, having racial bias, blaming, finger pointing, discriminating, and speaking without listening.
When negative communication gets escalated to Block-out, this can be career-ending for the employee. It can also bring negative media attention, lawsuits to the agency, and community distrust.
Violent Communications Indicators:
- Judging others, spreading rumors or gossip
- Having racial bias, (implicit and explicit)
- Blaming, finger pointing, discriminating
- Criticizing others or ourselves
- Name-calling and bullying
- Overreacting when angry
- Being overtly defensive, and argumentative
- Entitlement – It’s all about me!
Violent Communication can often affect someone for long periods of time, and the employee may be completely unaware that they are influencing others at work negatively, while causing an unprofessional workplace culture for everyone in the organization. We call this ‘the toxic employee.’
Many walk around at work in a trance, not being mindful or present of how their negative energy affects others. ~ Linda Webb
If you show up to work mad or angry, about something in your past, and you never release that emotional rage, then it will continue to affect your work performance. Understanding what fuels your Emotional Response System can be different for everyone.
Emotional Response Indicators
- Understanding what makes you Mad… your Hot Buttons
- Profanity used casually, is unconsciously used in the community
- Being mindful and present of your actions and emotions
- Move forward complaining about your past
- PIVOT away from toxic employees
- RITE’s Emotional Energy Ladder increases awareness
Emotional Response Training takes practice and giving every employee in the training physical cognitive imprinting tools, allows every participant to work on themselves after the training. Like a professional athlete has sports training tools to be successful, so must the public servant have the right tools to help themselves for officer wellness.
Whether you have peer support groups, CIT, Mental Health Advocates, and/or Chaplains, providing mental support for your employees, providing individual tools for officers will give them the personal help they need to work on themselves.
Emotional Response Training (ERT) in your agency shows that you care about your employees’ emotions while strengthening the culture inside the organization. Having a positive work culture and encouraging your employees to continually work on themselves personally is key to a successful Officer Wellness Program.
3 Steps that Help all Employees
- ERASE a simple mistake from your story, and move forward
- PIVOT from toxic employees and be mindful of your purpose
- PRACTICE being aware of your emotions
These simple ERT steps is the RITE positive fuel needed to strengthen the well-being of everyone in your agency. Building a mindful culture encourages officers to work on themselves, and to reach out when they need help.
ABOUT
RITE Training helps ALL public servants improve Emotional Response communication that improves officer wellness. When you learn to control your emotions, you will control every situation, and that builds Career resiliency. Contact us to bring RITE to your agency.
RITE Academy is Certified and approved by IADLEST
Register for Next RITE Training – April 16-17, 2024
