5 Things I Learned Working as a Parole Officer
This will change how you think about human behaviour
My first job after graduating as a Social Worker was as a Parole Officer.
Talk about a baptism by fire.
There I was at the ripe old age of 23, suddenly given a level of power, responsibility and authority, that looking back 15 years later just seems absurd.
There were a couple of weeks of training, then before I knew it I was on the front lines.
As with much of my working life, many of the lessons from this period only crystallized upon reflection years down the track.
I started that job feeling I had some grasp of psychology, human nature and society — this self-assuredness was soon obliterated.
I quickly learned that while human behavior was often predictable, it was rarely rational.
Take a second to read that again.
Understanding that rational thought is not the main driver of human behavior can give you a huge advantage in life.
You will be able to develop a level of self-management and mastery that most would only dream of. Relationships will be easier and more satisfying. You can make work and business decisions based on what actually motivates…
