Desert Waters Correctional Outreach

How can I as a floor staff be a leader? How are those of us who walk the tier be a team? I have laundry folks who do one thing, I have food service doing something else, property....they are in their own world and the security folks, they are only here when it gets bad (which is a blessing.....). To me, it is reaching out to those other folks, finding a person who cares a little more about things...sort of a professional. That one person who likes or cares about their job enough to take that extra minute to get it done right. Personal pride? I don't know; I just know they do their job and do it well. Those are my team mates. I try to find a way to see what I can do in my area to make their job a little easier. When I do that, I find that they are willing to help me. Maybe some will see that as I'll scratch your back, you scratch mine, but it works. It makes our job easier.

And on the tier, I look for the same ones. And I do the same thing.

That is the team; when I do those things, I become a leader. The more I lead, the easier my job becomes. It begins to look effortless, practiced. Just like the craftsman of old, I have learned my trade and have become a craftsman.