EDITOR'S CORNER

Last week, corrections veterans Gene Atherton and Jason Heaton discussed how being receptive to new and creative ideas, and being able to successfully manage and coach staff challenges are integral to successful leadership. This week, in part two, they emphasize how much a leader’s ability, or inability, to be sensitive, to listen, and to maintain an upbeat attitude can impact a team.
Jim

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FEATURED STORY

Leadership for the 21st century, Part II

By Jason Heaton and Gene Atherton

Great qualities for great leaders

Most organizations spend a great deal of time and expense in the development and preparation of leaders. Not only is it morally wrong, but it makes bad economic sense to have high performance, “pacesetting" leaders when they are not likely to provide quality services over the long term. Leaders need to see their best, long term performance only possible through a balanced life of work and over all personal health.

Every successful leader is a good listener. When combined with the open ended questions described in Appreciative Inquiry, it is the single most valuable leadership characteristic we know.

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READER FEEDBACK

Regarding Leadership for the 21st century - A human approach, 9/26/07

I found part one of the article extremely interesting. In detailing the aspect of humanity being “ignored,” the authors solidify the concept of the followers’ view of leaders as being inhuman or superhuman. This view is grounded in the perceptual reality of the viewer.

The authors label the leader as the responsible party for knowing “things that work,” and present these “things,” within the context of a “personal agenda.”

While I believe personalizing the safety, security, and control aspects of the correctional environment is required in order to be an effective leader within corrections, it is more necessary for a correctional leader to know those persons within the organization that have the same view of how change can best be accomplished.
Jon A. Eichelberg, Substance Abuse Counselor
Therapeutic Community, Westville Correctional Facility, IN

Have an opinion? Send them to editor@corrections.com.

LOOKING AHEAD

Developing Stories Upcoming stories on Corrections.com and the Corrections Connection ezine Off-duty firearms safety for detention officers Angola Prison Rodeo review Medical Security What would you like to read about?

Focus Issues 2007 October Health - Coverage of current health issues and programs November Legal roundup/review of current cases December The corrections impact on the community Submit an idea for a focus issue

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BUSINESS NEWS

Allen County Sheriff's Dept. signs 5-year phone contract with PCS

Public Communications Services, Inc. (PCS) a leading provider of inmate communications services to the corrections industry, is pleased to announce that Allen County, Fort Wayne Indiana Sheriff's Department has signed a 5-year contract with PCS for their inmate telephone services. More

Syscon Presents Prison Gangs’ Management Solution To National Major Gangs Task Force

Syscon Justice Systems, the world’s leader in offender management systems, announced today that it will officially launch its new Security Threat Groups (TAG STG) application during a luncheon speech and presentation More

DuPont Personal Protection Introduces Tychem® QC for Corrections

DuPont, the maker of Kevlar® and a leader in protective apparel for nearly 40 years, has introduced a new garment for corrections officers, DuPont™ Tychem® QC for Corrections. More

CAREER WATCH

Probation and parole promotion for Rhode Island Rhode Island Department of Corrections Probation and Parole supervisor Shelley Cortese has been promoted to assistant administrator for Probation and Parole. She, along with assistant administrator Richard Delfino, will manage approximately 130 full-time staff and 27,000 men and women on probation and parole in Rhode Island. Read more

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EVENTS

National Conference on Correctional Health Care

Date: 10/13 - 10/17/07
Reap the Rewards Besides attending the dozens of concurrent sessions, be sure to take advantage of all that the National Conference has to offer: Preconference seminars, including in-depth review of the NCCHC prison, jail and juvenile standards...More

Medicine in the Face of Addiction

Date: 10/14 - 10/15/07
According to a 2006 Bureau of Justice Statistics study, 74% of state prisoners and 76% of jail inmates were dependent on or abusing drugs or alcohol. Thus correctional physicians must remain up-to-date on treatment advances to treat patients with drug addiction problems. More

International Association of Correctional Training Personnel

Date: 10/14 - 10/17/07
Join IACTP in Charleston, West Virginia, for the 23rd Annual Trainers’ Conference hosted by the West Virginia Department of Corrections. More

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"To follow, without halt, one aim: There's the secret of success."
- Anna Pavlova, Russian Ballet Dancer (1885 - 1931)

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