The Two Police Promotion Questions That 99.9% of Officers Get Wrong

Are you thinking about police promotion but not sure whether you want to pursue it or what it really takes? You're not alone. Every week, I speak with officers who have burning questions about the promotion process, and I've discovered something fascinating: nearly every single one gets two crucial questions completely wrong.

I'm Raj Kohley, a coach at Blue Light Consultancy, and I spend a significant portion of my time helping officers navigate the complexities of police promotion. Over the years, we've built a very strong track record of guiding officers towards promotion success, but there's something I need to share with you that might surprise you.

The Two Questions That Stump Almost Everyone

In my coaching sessions, I consistently ask two fundamental questions about the promotion process. Here's what's remarkable: 99.9% of officers get both answers wrong. Yes, you read that correctly - nearly every single officer I speak with, regardless of their experience level, gets these questions incorrect.

Question 1: When Does the Promotion Process Start for You?

Think about this for a moment. When would you say your promotion to sergeant or promotion to inspector process actually begins? Take a guess before reading on.

If you're like most officers, you probably think it starts when:

• The promotion opportunity is advertised

• You submit your application

• You begin preparing for the promotion board

• You start gathering evidence for your competency examples

But here's the truth that might shock you: you're likely wrong.

Question 2: What Is the Hardest Part of the Promotion Process?

This question often brings responses like:

• The competency-based interview

• Gathering evidence and examples

• The written exercises

• Dealing with nerves on the day

• The waiting period for results

Again, if you've chosen any of these, you're probably incorrect.

Why These Questions Matter So Much

You might wonder why I'm so focused on these two questions. The answer is simple: how you answer them reveals everything about your approach to promotion and, more importantly, whether you're likely to succeed.

The officers who get these questions wrong often struggle with:

• Poor preparation timing - starting too late or focusing on the wrong elements

• Misplaced priorities - spending energy on less critical aspects while neglecting what really matters

• Unrealistic expectations - not understanding what the process truly demands

• Inadequate mindset preparation - approaching promotion with the wrong mental framework

The Real Answers Will Change Your Approach

When I reveal the correct answers to these questions during our coaching sessions, I see the same reaction every time: a moment of realisation followed by a complete shift in perspective. Officers suddenly understand why their previous promotion attempts may have failed or why they've been hesitating to apply.

These answers aren't just academic - they're practical insights that can transform your entire approach to police promotion. They help you:

• Start preparing at the right time

• Focus your efforts on what truly matters

• Develop the right mindset for success

• Avoid common pitfalls that derail other candidates

Why Most Officers Get It Wrong

The reason so many officers answer these questions incorrectly isn't because they're not intelligent or capable. It's because the promotion process is often misunderstood, even by experienced officers who've been through it before.

There's a lot of misinformation, assumptions, and outdated advice circulating about police promotion. Officers rely on corridor conversations, personal anecdotes, and their own limited experience to guide their understanding. Unfortunately, this often leads them down the wrong path.

The Blue Light Difference

At Blue Light Consultancy, we don't just help you prepare for the obvious aspects of promotion - the interviews, the exercises, the competency examples. We help you understand the deeper truths about the process that most officers never discover.

Our strong track record isn't just about having good coaching techniques (though we do). It's about understanding what really matters in the promotion process and helping officers approach it with the right strategy from day one.

Your Promotion Journey Starts with Understanding

If you're serious about police promotion, your journey begins with understanding these fundamental truths about the process. Without this foundation, you might find yourself:

• Preparing for the wrong things

• Starting too late (or too early)

• Focusing on peripheral issues while missing the core challenges

• Feeling overwhelmed by what seems like an impossibly complex process

The Challenge: Do You Want to Know the Answers?

Here's my challenge to you: are you confident you know the answers to these two questions? More importantly, are you willing to discover that you might be wrong?

Most officers are so sure they understand the promotion process that they never question their assumptions. They apply the same approach repeatedly, wondering why they don't get the results they're hoping for.

But the officers who succeed - the ones who achieve their promotion to sergeant or promotion to inspector - are those who are willing to challenge their preconceptions and learn what the process really demands.

Why This Matters for Your Career

Understanding these two questions isn't just about passing a promotion board - it's about approaching your entire career with the right mindset. The insights that come from answering them correctly will serve you well beyond your immediate promotion goals.

They'll help you:

• Make better strategic decisions about your career development

• Understand what really impresses promotion panels

• Avoid wasting time on ineffective preparation

• Build confidence based on genuine understanding rather than false assumptions

Your Next Step

If you're thinking about police promotion but not sure whether you want to pursue it or what it takes, don't let uncertainty hold you back. The answers to these two questions could be the key to unlocking your promotion success.

But here's the thing - I can't give you the answers in a blog post. They need to be discussed, explored, and applied to your specific situation. That's where our coaching comes in.

Are you ready to discover what 99.9% of officers get wrong? Are you prepared to challenge your assumptions and learn what the promotion process really demands?

Your promotion success might depend on it.

Ready to Accelerate Your Police Promotion Journey?

🚀 Want to guarantee your success and secure that promotion spot?

Our Academy programmes offer expert advice, plus access to a range of valuable resources such as online content, sample exercises, small group webinars, recorded sessions, and personalised 1-2-1 coaching. Plus, we back our services with a money-back guarantee if you don't pass.

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Book a call now to discover whether the Academy is a good fit for you - and to finally get the answers to those two crucial questions.

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📺 Watch the Full Video

Want to see the complete discussion about these two critical questions? Watch the full video on our YouTube channel for deeper insights into what really matters in the promotion process.

⭐ Don't Just Take Our Word For It

Check out our 750+ five-star Trustpilot reviews from officers who've successfully achieved their promotion goals with our support:

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Don't let misconceptions about the promotion process hold you back. With the right understanding and support, you can confidently tackle any challenge that comes your way.

Take care out there - you're doing an amazing job keeping our communities safe.