ACTin’ RIGHT
“That dude don’t know how to act.” So goes a common epithet lobbed around the halls of the camp at FCI Thomson, and not unfairly so. As I prepare for my successful return to home, community, and the workforce, comportment is a subject that is on my mind. Examples of how not to act abound in prison and I work hard every day to resist internalizing those attitudes and behaviors. But it is a reality that I have been away for quite a while and I will need to be intentional as I make the transition into the next phase of my life.
Of particular importance is my re-entry into the realm of work. I intend to secure a full-time job that will likely be in an office setting. It has been years since I have gone into an office each day. Prior to my incarceration, when I was found guilty at trial, I lost my job running a small consumer products company and took on the role of stay-at-home dad. For several years leading up to my termination, I worked primarily from a home office. I have decades of experience with proper comportment in business, but adjustments will need to be made when the time comes. In so far as I can, I am practicing the right mindset and behavior now so that I can hit the ground running, and the ACT WorkKeys and Tessera programs that I completed were helpful in that regard.
The ACT material provided a positive way to get my mind re-centered and refreshed amidst the dysfunctional work environment in prison. My fellow campers often display poor work ethic. The “slave wages” that are paid for prison work are tantamount to a disincentive. The work itself is often menial and without purpose. And we are supervised by staff who typically possess low morale. On multiple occasions I have been told by supervisors to “pace myself” and “stop making us look bad” when I worked too hard or efficiently. Not exactly the ideal influences to produce winners in the workplace.
This level of apathy was a shock to my system. Most of my business career was spent managing brands and businesses in entrepreneurial cultures that were dynamic and demanding. On those teams, it was simply unacceptable to work without purpose, effectiveness, and accountability in producing results. My study of the basic and advanced levels of ACT got me back in touch with core skills and some of the factors that contribute to career success.
ACT WorkKeys and Tessera are self-study programs here at Thomson. For most guys, more structure, like periodic coaching or discussion groups would be better, but I am self-directed and the format suited me well. The education staff members who administer the program did their best to ensure that I made steady progress. My approach was to thoroughly study the material to master it, rather than doing just enough to pass the test, which is the unfortunate custom of most of my comrades. My diligence paid off as I passed both final exams with flying colors, and I am not embarrassed to admit my satisfaction upon receiving certificates of completion. Every win in prison is cause for celebration.
The first level of the ACT program is called WorkKeys. The promotional literature touts it as a research-based curriculum that helps people “achieve foundational career readiness, as well as the confidence needed to succeed in today’s workforce.” The approach is based on 25+ years of research and practice, with the goal of “closing skill gaps,” a worthy and important aim, especially for incarcerated people who may have never learned these critical skills. Students who complete this level earn a National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC).
The curriculum consists of nine modules: applied math; graphic literacy; workplace documents; working in teams; interpersonal and business communications; work discipline; customer service; problem solving and critical thinking; and financial awareness. Each module has seven levels that get progressively more challenging, and for which quizzes must be passed to proceed. When all modules have been completed, a standardized final exam is proctored by the staff.
According the ACT Tessera Playbook I obtained, the advanced level of the program teaches “soft skills”–employability and social-emotional skills–that have been shown to predict job performance, income and occupational prestige, success at work, and well being. Given that I will not be re-entering the workforce at an entry level, these advanced skills provided a great refresher on the fundamentals of comportment into which I could sink my teeth.
The Tessera curriculum included: integrity (acting honestly); resilience (maintaining composure); leadership (socializing with others); collaboration (getting along with others); work ethic (sustaining effort); creativity (keeping an open mind). After working through the modules, the final exam for Tessera was an assessment consisting of questions requiring answers on the agree-to-disagree spectrum. It is based on the HEXACO model of personality, measuring six behavioral categories: honesty/humility, emotional regulation, extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness. Assessments such as this always deliver helpful insights that I put to use to grow as a professional.
The Tessera material was more fertile ground for reflection and preparation, and I took the time to dig more deeply into it.
* Work ethic is defined as the extent to which someone is dependable, motivated, and sets and achieves goals. A critical building block for success. The playbook provided a lengthy list of values to consider. Those that resonated with me were autonomy, creativity, flexible hours, helping people, influencing others, intellectual stimulation, and variety.
* Collaboration is the extent to which a person’s actions demonstrate empathy, helpfulness, trust, trustworthiness, and the ability to work in teams. In my next workplace, I want my colleagues to say, “I love working with Jason.” To ensure this sentiment, I will bring to the table effective communication (particularly as a listener), respect, and a commitment to do whatever the team needs to achieve its goals.
* Resilience is the extent to which a person can demonstrate stress management, emotional regulation, a positive response to setbacks, and poise. Much of my prior work experience was in start-up, development, or turn-around situations–adaptability to change and calm in the face of stress have always been strengths of mine. Coming out of my period of incarceration, my resilience has been boosted to superpower levels.
* Creativity is the extent to which someone is open-minded, innovative, and thoughtful in the their work; and enjoys the process of thinking about and solving problems. The prison culture and people in it are rigid and recalcitrant. Getting back into an environment where creativity in solving problems is valued will be a breath of fresh air.
* Leadership is the extent to which a person’s actions demonstrate assertiveness, influence, optimism, and enthusiasm. “Leadership role” has a negative connotation in the criminal legal system, so I have attempted in a low-key fashion to lead by example and make a positive contribution where I can at Thomson. I am ready to step back up as both a leader and effective follower upon my return to the workforce.
* Integrity is the extent to which someone values and adheres to ethical and moral standards of behavior. As a formerly incarcerated person, I understand that I will be scrutinized and that there will always be people who are skeptical of me because they are bought into a stigma. I know who I am and my values are aligned with timeless principles. I will therefore be able to overcome that challenge.
During my time at the camp at Thomson, the combination of ACT WorkKeys/Terresa, graduating from the Highland Community College vocational training program, teaching Business 101, and my own supplemental studies has me feeling ready to tackle the next phase of my career. To maintain that readiness I am taking further preparatory steps.
To reinforce the disciplined adherence to a schedule, I found a spot in the camp where I can work effectively. I arrive at the same time each morning and with the exception of scheduled activities, I stay in that spot for 12 hours each day working on my positive and productive agenda. I dubbed the room the Think Tank and it is a space that is free from the dysfunctional forces around me.
A portion of each day is spent on communications. I keep my network active and engaged, and I have started to expand my outreach into organizations that interest me, such as the Evans Scholars Foundation and First Tee. It’s not possible to do too much exploration of the opportunities that may be available to me to put my skills and experience to use upon release.
My pen goes to paper daily journaling, developing ideas, and writing essays. Books are now in the works as well. I am entering writing contests and doing outreach to add to my resume as a published writer.
I also spend time in reflection on my strengths. From my previous career, I was strong in motivating others to perform at their highest level, networking and making connections, creative vision, persistence and perseverance, and written and verbal communications. During my time in prison, I have added resilience, discipline, and focus to that list.
And finally, a regular activity that takes place in the Think Tank is what we call the interrogation of ideas. Like minded guys come in to talk politics, economics, society, business, philosophy…anything but the typical prison nonsense. We dive deeply into topics, question everything, and hold ourselves accountable for rigorous thinking. Civil yet substantive conversation is at a premium in the workplace and in society at large, and I am committed to keeping my mind sharp.
When I return home from prison, I am confident, because I’ve put in the daily work, that I will know how to comport myself appropriately in any setting. I’ll know how to act right, thanks in part to the ACT program. I have a great deal to contribute to an organization that gives me a chance and I can’t wait to get after it.
