Book excerpt: This book presents the concepts and describes the methods that have helped law enforcement officers at all ranks successfully prepare for participation in law enforcement assessment centers at the local, county, State, and Federal levels. An assessment center is a process that uses many techniques and assessors in deciding whether a participant shows the skills and knowledge to perform well in specific law enforcement positions. One chapter explains what to expect in the assessment center experience, as it describes assessment center guidelines and methods. A chapter on planning for preparation and performance suggests how to structure study time, the physical and psychological preparation required, the use of advisors and mentors, preparation resources, rehearsals, and exercises. A chapter on center assessors, rating methods, and rating forms explains how assessment-center decisions and scores are derived and what they mean. Another chapter identifies and discusses the various skills and knowledge that are assessed at a center, including communication, counseling, delegation, discipline, interpersonal sensitivity, job knowledge, motivation, planning and coordination, leadership, management, and problem-solving and decision making. The concluding chapter suggests how to demonstrate knowledge, skill, and attitude in the various center exercises.