Re: 911:: I'm in dire need of some encouragment

[Guest guest]

It really iritates me to hear that there are trainers out there that forget

where " they " came from and belittle and intimidate " newbies " . I have been

dispatching over 20 years now and training for at least 15. I promised myself

I would never forget my " roots " and instill that philosophy in all my

trainers. Don't give up Kim, if you did in once you can do it again. You will

make it, just don't let it get under your skin. Remember, a domestic call

where you came from is still a domestic call where you are now... Now you

just don't know everyone involved. Keep the faith and you will prevail.

Clyde W

Communications Supervisor

Pinellas Park PD, Fla.

(hese are my opinions and not those of my department)

[Guest guest]

Dear Kim,

I can't agree more with the others on this one. I serve as the lead trainer

on my team and I make it a point to remember how hard it was to deal with

these folks when I was new. The feelings you've expressed are nationwide at

the 911 centers. Just because you came from a smaller center does not mean

that you won't be able to hang in at a bigger center. It's sad that your

trainer has fallen in to the 'holier then thou' trip. The way I handle

people like that is to confront them directly...sometimes in this line of

work directly asking the person what the problem is brings it to their

attention. To play devil's advocate, she may not even realize she's doing

that to you, and by you asking her, she may let up a little bit. You have to

be strong enough to face them without letting them get to you, or bring you

to their level. I wish I could tell you more but that's my advice, ask her

what's up, and maybe she'll relax. Good luck!

Audrey Rychalsky

Lancaster County 911

[Guest guest]

Let me add another possibility to the mix. Maybe she is feeling threatened

because you already know the job--to an extent--and she is not confident in

her own skills. I have experienced that before with people who look good to

those who know nothing about the subject, but to someone who already has

knowledge, they don't look quite so good! As a former trainer, you threaten

her.

Is there more than one trainer? If so, meet privately with the supervisor,

tell him/her that " Trainer X and I don't seem to be on the same wavelength;

is there any way I could work with Trainer Y and see if there's

improvement? " If you have been with Trainer X for a while, they might

consider moving you. You don't have to be negative about your current

trainer; in fact, I'd advise against it.

Above all, hang in there, good luck, and don't let her get you down. Feel

free to email me off-list if you need anything.

Kim Kinsey

Chattanooga, TN PD/FD

opinions are mine and not my agency's!

home email: kjkinsey@...

work email: kinsey_kim@...

AOL IM or ICQ: CPDKimmieK

911:: I'm in dire need of some encouragment

>Can anyone please help me understand why this is so difficult?

>I used to work as a dispatcher in a smaller agency out in the country. I

>worked there for a year, and was quite happy... Until my husband and I

>decided to call it quits. I moved out to the suburbs where I am from and

>applied at a larger department. At the time I was so confident that I was

cut

>out to be a dispatcher for the rest of my working life.

>

>Then I started working with a trainer who was very negative. Everything I

did

>was the wrong thing it seemed like. Every call I do wrong she prints and

>makes sure I see that she is doing it...then she gives it to the

supervisor.

>It's almost like she is trying to intimidate me. Her approach has worked.

All

>of my confidence is gone. I am a nervous wreck. I never hear about anything

I

>do right. She goes out for sodas and asks everyone in the room what they

want

>except for me.

>

>At my old department they used to tell me that I was really good at what I

>do, and my boss even told me he thought I had found my niche. Now I'm not

so

>sure. I used to love dispatching and my deputies used to ask for me by

name.

>Now I can't even get past call taking at my new job.

>

>I have never worked on a cad before, it was all done manually. That has

been

>a huge obstacle for me. I have been trying my heart out and continue to

feel

>as though I am nothing but a big failure. When I used to train people I

would

>always try to be positive even if I thought my trainee would never make it

as

>a dispatcher. Am I the abnormal one here? I can take criticism, but like

most

>people I would like a little bit of encouragement every now and then.

>

>Somebody please help me... I feel like I'm drowning. Kim

[Guest guest]

At 17:46 08/18/2001 -0400, one of the Kims on this list beseeched us:

>Can anyone please help me understand why this is so difficult?

>I used to work as a dispatcher in a smaller agency out in the country. I

>worked there for a year, and was quite happy... <little snip>. At the time

I was so confident that I was cut

>out to be a dispatcher for the rest of my working life.

>

>Then I started working with a trainer who was very negative. Everything I did

>was the wrong thing it seemed like. Every call I do wrong she prints and

>makes sure I see that she is doing it...then she gives it to the supervisor.

>It's almost like she is trying to intimidate me.

<much bigger snip>

>Somebody please help me... I feel like I'm drowning. Kim

I left one agency and location in CA after 14 years working there, and

started all over again with my current department 350 miles south of my

familiar stomping grounds. Because I had seen some of this syndrome in

action before, I knew I had to keep my mouth shut about What I Did Before

(and most certainly that I'd promoted to Comm Center Supervisor in my

former incarnation). My new supervisors knew of my past experience, but

all I told my co-workers was " I worked in a 9-1-1 Center for a lot of

years.... "

Yup, I was subject to some nastiness from one or two really hateful

" peers. " One gal delighted in making me look stupid whenever she could.

Of course I made mistakes - lots and lots of them - and I also didn't know

the area very well at all, so I was learning THAT at the same time I was

learning how to do something I KNEW how to do, but differently.

I'll never forget one incident: I'd made a silly assumption (thought a unit

was referring to an allied agency, when he was actually referring to

another unit from an adjacent Area Office within our department - how was I

to know this, anyway?) and I called the allied agency to ask about " their

unit on a stop at such and such a location. " They didn't have one

there.... so when I confirmed it with OUR officer, he clarified his

request. The Nasty Individual sitting at the console next to me pointedly

said, " Well, there goes YOUR probation. Think anybody else will hire you if

you can't make it at the CHP? "

Because I was feeling vulnerable, I was shocked to the core and her remark

really stung. Wow - if a simple mistake like that was so bad, I must have

been screwing up all over the place and that one small thing could be the

infamous camel's back-breaking straw! (Of course, it wasn't... )

But what it made me do, after reflection, was SHOW THAT B*TCH she couldn't

shake me up like that ever again. Cheerily, I made fun of all my mistakes

from there on out, even bringing them to her attention and asking her for

" better ways to do it. " Oh, please, from your great height on that Goddess

Mountain, help poor lowly me learn how to be as Good As You Are, Someday!

<wide, artless, innocent eyes>

I know I annoyed the heck out of her. <grin> I'd go talk to my

supervisors and ask them how best to deal with her " because she has so much

experience and I can learn a lot from her. " She didn't stay my trainer

long....

These people are NOT invisible and their tactics ARE well-known. Sometimes

it's just an unfortunate situation that there's nobody else available to

train someone, and the luck of the draw falls badly on a trainee. It

sucks. As a Comm Sup now (and I promoted ahead of the person about whom

I've just spoken, by the way) I work hard to ensure my trainers don't

belittle trainees and I'm vigilant about such things, because I know how it

feels (as do so many of us, unfortunately).

Hang in there. You didn't learn your job in your former position in a

short amount of time; it's always daunting to be a trainee again and feel

that you're at the mercy of your trainer. Our job tasks are incredibly

complex now, with more and more expected of new people. Stick to it, know

that the micro-managing trainer has, in all likelihood, no clue she's

contributing to your difficulties in progressing. Or, if she does, it's a

deliberate tactic engendered from her own insecurities.

People like that just don't get that they're supposed to be training up and

fostering their partners, not tearing down the newbies.

Your supervisors may be able to assign you to someone else for training.

Maybe, maybe not. But do let them know that you're having difficulties and

you WANT to do well and you WANT to work well with your assigned trainer

(whoever it may be). How would they suggest you deal with her machinations

(or your current lack of agency-specific skills)? What can they do to help

YOU succeed?

Don't give up to the drowning sensation. Dog-paddle or backstroke or try

on some " virtual " water-wings of whatever assistance you can garner - great

Olympic swimmers weren't born with the ability to cross the English

Channel, they learned good breathing tactics while practicing those

endurance strokes!

A lot of us have been exactly where you are, now. We KNOW how you're

feeling, all too well. Hang in there!

Happy to be here, proud to serve.

Olmstead

Communications Supervisor

~on the Central California coastline~

" Not presumed to be an official statement of my employing agency. "

Home E-mail: mailto:gryeyes@...

http://www.gryeyes.com/

[Guest guest]

Kim -

This happens here in our dept too - the one woman who trains hates

everybody until the next new person comes along.

The last person she trained called her a b----- right to her face more than

once, and felt she could not do anything right for over a year.

We all went through it, though. I guess you can't be sensitive anyway if

you're going to work dispatch, right?

I'm not going to tell you to stick it out because I don't really know your

situation or what type of a person you are, but I will tell you not to take

it personally. If you know in your heart you are doing a good job, you can

always document everything yourself and save it. Fight fire with fire.

Stand up on your hind legs if the criticism is unjustified.

And remember - you make a difference!

Best wishes -

Sally

[Guest guest]

We all need a GIGANTIC grain of salt around here!!!

Keep smiling!

[Guest guest]

> This happens here in our dept too - the one woman who trains hates

> everybody until the next new person comes along.

>

> The last person she trained called her a b----- right to her face more

than

> once, and felt she could not do anything right for over a year.

> Sally

> ********************************************************************

Sounds like this person makes the rounds. She works for us too. She has

been told to " just get along with people " many times in the past but the

powers that be just keep using her as trainer. Duh.

One young lady that had to endure her wrath confided to me in tears about

the treatment. I told the newbie to look this woman in the eye and tell her

to " bite me. " Then tell her that this person was to train not belittle. If

she doesn't like it tough. Plus I told her to get a small notepad and

document everything she said, when and where it was said, if anyone else was

in the room. And at her periodic newbie reviews tell the supervisor what

was happening. It was going so well, too well. The supervisor was told,

and his response was, " oh, you gotta take her with a big grain of salt. "

Iowa State Patrol Communications Cedar Rapids

Werling, Anamosa, IA N0XZY AOL IM Ridgeroader

http://www.jonescountytourism.com

http://www.ia.net/~anachamb/pumpkin.html

http://www.earthsat.com/Iowa/Winter.html (roads)

http://www.thehungersite.com (feed someone today)

mailto:scott@...

[Guest guest]

Don't lose your confidence. You are still good. It seems there might be a

personality conflict. Ask your trainer for their opinion on what you need to

concentrate on. Tell the trainer that you do not feel comfortable with the

way they are treating you. Alot of people act rude and ignorant and don't

even realize they are doing it. If you are open with how you feel and what

you aren't comfortable with the trainer should work to help you feel more

comfortable. When you start at a new job you feel unconfindant especially

when you are doing new things ex(cad) it just takes time and patience to

learn how to do things. I have worked on a cad for years. When they changed

from one cad to another it's frightening. It takes patience and dedication to

get through it. Don't worry just keeping trying. Everything will work out.

And don't feel that you are a bad dispatcher. You have to take time to get

comfortable with the new environment. Then you will feel more confidant than

you were before. It just takes time. Good Luck.