“The Way” Forward: My Thoughts on Five Years of The CCA Way
This year, we’ve shined a spotlight on The CCA Way. Through monthly contests, stories on InsideCCA and in Correct Perspectives, and new special edition merchandise available through our CCA Shop, we’ve spent the past seven months celebrating the guiding principles that have come to define us as a company.
And this month is particularly special, as August 2009 officially represents the realization of a critical milestone. I am proud to now say that for five years we have been living according to – and aspiring to better embody – The CCA Way.
When the vision, mission and 12 guiding principles of The CCA Way were developed in 2004, we were motivated by the ethical sensibility and professionalism that have guided us since our founding. We’ve always believed in being responsible for our actions. Improvements and innovation have always inspired us to challenge what we think and refine what we know. Safety and security has always been top of mind. Operating according to high standards has never been an option; it’s been a welcome obligation.
However, in developing The CCA Way, we took the expectations, ideals and strengths of our company to a new level. Those bright minds, among the most dedicated and driven in our industry, used that moment to catalog and convey the true culture of corrections as we know and practice it today.
The CCA Way reminds me of the solid home training I’ve grown to appreciate from my parents, grandparents and community. It’s like taking the morals and models I grew up with and transferring them into the workplace.
But there’s also something new and enterprising about The CCA Way – and that’s changing outdated ideas about our line of work. Our desire to be loyal and accountable helps strengthen trust, integrity and communication. Our service drive is rooted in safety and security. Communication and innovation help us maintain the quality that keeps us cost effective. And none of these would be possible without teamwork.
The CCA Way has recalibrated the importance of culture in corrections. It has signaled a shift that has been subtly reiterated in our daily conduct, but it’s been seismic in how our reputation is viewed by professionals and the public. As you commemorate this special time at your facilities, I encourage you to keep the momentum alive. I also challenge you to keep The CCA Way close in all your endeavors every day.
It’s not just about what works at work. I believe it’s what works in life.
-Damon