Transcript Managing as a Mensch

Helzberg School
CJBE Conference
July 2009
“Managing as a Mensch”
Barnett Helzberg
George Ferguson
Rockhurst University
Helzberg School of Management
1
Presentation Outcomes
• Understand Mensch Management™
• Ideas on applying Positive Organizational
Scholarship
• Aware of other ways of approaching servant
leadership
2
Mensch
A person having admirable characteristics,
such as fortitude and firmness of purpose; a
decent, upright, mature, responsible person
3
Course Beginnings
“I want someone who manages as a mensch.”
(Barnett Helzberg)
• Researched concept
• Conducted two test classes
• Designed three-hour elective Mensch
Management™
4
Conceptual Aspects
•
•
•
•
A focus on people
An ethics-driven approach to leadership
Self-awareness and reflection
Servant leadership concepts (listening, empathy,
healing, awareness, foresight, stewardship, growth
of others, building community)
• Focusing on the positive
• Personal and professional student development and
growth
5
POS
• Exposed to Positive Organizational Scholarship
• Met with Drs. Wayne Baker and Jane Dutton from
University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business
• Adopted POS aspects into Mensch Management™
o
o
o
o
o
Reflected Best Self
Work as a calling
Resilience
Compassion
Building relationships and high quality connections
6
Learning Process & Materials
Students create own Mensch Management™ “text”
• Feedback and reflection
• Research Questions
• Speakers
• Class Discussions
• Student Outputs
7
Feedback and Reflection
• Self-scored and 360 instruments
o Leadership Practices Inventory
o Reflected Best Self
o INSIGHT
o Locus of Control
• Reflection paper with learnings and action plans
8
Research Questions
A series of short research papers (avg. 5 pages)
• Mixture of academic and “pop-press” sources
• Deeper thought required – holistically, deeply,
behaviorally
o “What is a mensch?”
o “How can work be a calling?”
o “How and in what ways is a mensch resilient?”
o “How and in what situations is a mensch
compassionate?”
o “How does a mensch build relationships and high
quality connections?”
9
Speakers
Utilize variety of speakers to share wisdom on:
• Work as a calling
• Compassion
• Relationships and listening
• Community feedback on businesses and leadership
10
Class Discussions
•
•
•
•
Students “quizzed” each class
Topical discussions
“Barnett Book Club”
Celebratory dinner
11
Student Outputs
• Student Mensch Management™ “text” with answers
to research questions
• Feedback and reflection paper
• Long-term development plan
• Students send drafts of papers to instructors for
feedback throughout the semester
12
Impact on Learning
Question
I was comfortable with the way the
instructor treated the students
The instructor treated me with respect
The course helped me improve my
critical thinking
The course was intellectually
stimulating
This
course
4.93
All
University
4.48
4.93
4.54
4.48
4.03
4.69
4.11
13
Student Responses
“Throughout this semester I have learned a lot about
myself through the LPI and Best Self exercises, and
have thought about ways in which I can be a better
person, both in my professional and personal life,
through the different class discussions. I’ve learned
to be less judgmental and have seen the advantages
of taking the time to listen to others... I strive to be a
role model for others and I think it would be one of
the greatest compliments to one day be described as
a Mensch.”
14
Student Responses
“One of the most important messages from class
this semester was the message that we can
behave as a mensch without doing something
heroic. We all have the ability to choose to look
inside to identify our true values through self
awareness. We all have the ability to live by
those values and lead authentically, and finally,
we can make the choice to ask ourselves ‘What
would a mensch do?’”
15
Student Responses
“I went home after the first night of class and sat
both of my children down. The lesson is that no
matter how successful you are you should
always remember how you treat people. The
secret is you don’t need to flaunt your success;
most people will already know your
achievements and respect you for those without
your ego reminding them.”
16
Leadership Credo
As a leader;
• I am first and foremost a servant to those whom I lead,
genuinely caring for the good of all stakeholders.
• I believe I become a leader the day I accept my lack of
real power over others.
• I practice leadership when I properly balance influence,
courage and humility.
• I constantly challenge others to go beyond their comfort
zone to become more than they are.
• I am creative, not accepting the Tyranny of OR but
striving to find the AND that meets all needs.
• I have the inner strength to stand alone and make tough
decisions, and the wisdom and compassion to listen to
all viewpoints.
• I am responsible for my actions understanding that
quality of actions make a leader.
17
Leadership Credo
Leadership Credo
• I will be passionate about what I do.
• I believe that my integrity is paramount to relating
to those who answer to me.
• My leadership will be based on service to others.
• I will strive to do what is right.
18
Conclusion
19