Probation and pretrial leaders believe that if they had more power they could overcome obstacles and move their organizations forward the way a president can move the country forward. However, even presidents have limited power. Heinemann and Hessler have noted that presidents who want to exert a powerful, positive influence and lead effectively need to master four areas: policy (vision), politics (strategy, political savvy), structure (management and organization), and process (decision-making). The experiences of Carter, Reagan, and Bush indicate that leaders must have purpose and find ways to inspire those who work for or with them to strive to achieve that purpose. They also need to consider the important people whose support they need and the methods available to persuade those people. They have more choices than they think about how to manage their office and structure their operation; thus, they should avoid the temptation to implement management fads without adequate attention to their feasibility in a particular situation. Finally, they need to understand their own decision-making style and the available resources to help them make the best decisions possible. 21 references