These include leadership, management, recognition and understanding of the community, an understanding of the profession, and loyalty to the organization. Elements necessary for a successful law enforcement executive consist of vision, creativity, energy, credibility, values, integrity, and mentoring. In management, in particular, traditional skills such as planning, organizing, and staffing plus communication abilities and decision-making skills are required. Success and survival are dependent on the executive's knowledge and understanding of, and responsiveness to, community ethics, mores, directions, economy, and especially changing trends and issues. Other important criteria for success encompass the knowledge of contemporary methods, techniques, and trends within the profession as well as the preparation for the executive position to include provision of both services and protection. Lastly, the perception of loyalty to the department and its personnel within the police subculture is considered an important, but rarely mentioned, quality. 14 notes