And Dignity for All: Unlocking Greatness with Values-Based Leadership

By James E. Despain, Kenneth H. Blanchard, Jane Bodman Converse

And Dignity for All is about leading with values, leading by example, and - in so doing - unleashing the astonishing commitment and innovation that are buried within your organization right now.... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0131005324
• ISBN13: 9780131005327
• Release Date: February 2013
• Publisher: Prentice Hall
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.5" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

A Community of Butterflies in East Peoria

We all know that what we (really really) believe and believe in determines what our values are; they in turn determine at least our conscious behavior. (It is human nature to resent being required to act against our beliefs and our values. Some people have died rather than doing so.) If you agree with me so far, then perhaps you will agree that the meaning of "values-based leadership" depends almost entirely on what a given leader believes. Moreover, her or his leadership behavior will be determined by those values. They could include greed, arrogance, and contempt for others or generosity, humility, and respect for others. All this seems pretty basic, indeed obvious to me. Throughout history, the range of leaders is wide and diverse. Evil leaders in the 20th century obviously include Hitler and Stalin. Other leaders contemporary with them obviously include Churchill. All three had very strong beliefs, were committed to quite specific values, and behaved accordingly. I mention all this by way of suggesting the context of the remarks which follow. What we have here is a profile-narrative (rather than a biography) which focuses on the life and career of James Despain up to, of course, the completion of this book's manuscript. Like most of those who read this book, Despain's parents and childhood experiences had a significant impact on his values as he worked his way through the Caterpillar organization, rising to a senior-level executive position while marrying and then starting a family along the way. Of special interest and value to me are the the lessons he learned during his attempts to change the culture of the workplace in which he and his associates struggled to achieve the objective set for them by management. In time, he became an important part of the same management structure (in and of itself a culture resistant to change) and learned other lessons from his involvement with it. The Appendix (pages 189-198) offers a series of summaries of key points. As Despain learned to his dismay, frustration, and occasional disappointment, it is far easier to formulate lists such as "Our Common Values" and "Our Common Values Leadership Guide" than it is to (a) achieve a consensus of agreement on the points listed, (b) effectively engage everyone in a collaborative commitment to the values, and finally (c) to sustain that shared commitment over an extended period of time, especially when there are serious problems to be solved. My own rather extensive experience with culture change has convinced me (and perhaps Despain) that the single greatest barrier is what Jim O'Toole characterizes as "the ideology of comfort and the tyranny of custom." Although there are no cutting-edge ideas in this book, it does offer a comprehensive explanation of how and why effective leadership focuses on people; also and more importantly, how and why the process of value-based leadership -- if the values affirm trust, mutual respect, teamwork, empowerment, prudent ri

Should-be-required-reading

First when our children are young we read them "The Little Engine That Could". This book, "And Dignity For All", is the adult version of that inspirational classic. This book should be required reading for every high school student. This knowledge could help everyone through life.

Fast, meaningful read

And Dignity for All read like a novel - fast and engaging - and the business message about the impact of values on the bottom line was very compelling. I finished the book with a lot of food for thought and tangible tools to implement both professionally and personally. I appreciated the accessibility and messages of this book! A great read...

Executive Coach

I have been working with executives for years and this story reflects so many of my experiences. I've coached a lot of undereducated CEOs that worked very hard, impressed the right people, and got lucky. This book was a page turner, a genuine retrospective that touched my heart. I identified with Mr. Despain on a personal level and was encouraged by his transformation from admitted tyrant to open-minded, respectful, empowering, and appreciative. When the corporate landscape is a minefield of scandals and ethics violations, it's invigorating to think the needed change is as simple as sharing values, defining standards for behavior, and giving people the freedom to exercise their talents and ideas within a shared cultural context. Bravo on a good read and an important reminder to leaders who have forgotten their own roots, who don't appreciate the fragile nature of the human ego, or who simply take their own power too seriously. Try to see yourself through the eyes of those around you. You set the tone for your own culture. If you commit to change, apologize when you falter, and create an atmosphere of trust and respect...people will respond!

A Great Book on the Successes of Values Based Leadership

One of the best leadership books that I have ever read! Providing dignity for all and fullly engaging the workforce is not only the right thing to do, but has tremendous business and financial benefits. Jim Despain is a tremendous leader and he shares his valued based leadership success in this well written book that is also a delight to read. Congratulations Jim & Jane! Sheryl