James Despain, Jane Bodman Converse & Ken Blanchard – And Dignity for All: Unlocking Greatness with Values-Based Leadership

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And Dignity for All: Unlocking Greatness with Values-Based Leadership
by James Despain (Author), Jane Bodman Converse (Author), Ken Blanchard (Author)

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. Discover how Jim Despain and his colleagues used values-based management to transform Caterpillar’s Track-Type Tractors Division into one of the firm’s key profit centers. Jim’s honesty and ability to rise from the ashes of his mistakes are inspirational. His respect for the common worker and personal search for dignity and self-worth lead him to a new kind of leadership. And his transformation of a struggling organization provides a powerful blueprint for transforming your own – you can make it happen, too.

Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Ending the struggle between workers and bosses is the agenda of this frank but tendentious memoir-cum-manifesto by former Caterpillar vice-president Despain, who worked his way up from floor-sweeper to VP and general manager of the tractor division where he started. In his climb up the corporate ladder, Despain gained an intimate knowledge of the ongoing shop-floor strife between arrogant, abusive managers and recalcitrant, feather-bedding union workers. But in an overseas posting, he got a look at Japanese factories where harmony and mutual respect reigned, and he later triumphed by inspiring unskilled but eager Mexican workers with his quality-boosting “excellencia” system. Recalled to run Caterpillar’s ailing Peoria complex, Despain instituted a new management “vision” emphasizing “people-based versus power-based principles” built on values like trust, teamwork and empowerment, which he credits with restoring profitability and morale after the bitter 1994 strike that ended with the union returning to work without a contract. Despain offers many valuable first-hand insights into workplace conflicts, and he is unusually forthright in placing unions, a topic that many management theorists side-step, at the center of his discussion of labor-management relations. But his treatment is one-sided; while he even-handedly condemns excesses on both sides of the labor-management divide, his tacit conclusion is that it is the union that must give way to management’s high-minded human-relations initiatives. His call for labor-management solidarity is laudable, but some workers may see it as the velvet glove on the mailed fist.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Back Cover
“This might very well be the best management book you will ever read!” —from the Foreword by Ken Blanchard, co-author of The One Minute ManagerCaterpillar, Inc.’s Track-Type Tractors Division was in deep trouble. It was losing lots of money, and working there was extremely undesirable. But Jim Despain and his colleagues rebuilt the division based on values of respect, empowerment, civility, and openness.

This is the story of how one street-smart boy without a college education became a seasoned leader. Truly a modern-day Horatio Alger story. His honesty and ability to rise from the ashes of his mistakes are inspirational. His respect for the common worker and personal search for dignity and self-worth lead him to a new kind of leadership. And his transformation of a struggling organization provides a powerful blueprint for transforming your own. Jim Despain and his colleagues unleashed a torrent of innovation that transformed a seriously unprofitable division into one of the company’s most important profit centers.

It wasn’t easy; it wasn’t all sweetness and light. Ask the many managers he reassigned in a single day.

But for the 3,000 men and women of today’s Track-Type Tractors Division of Caterpillar Inc., it was the dawn of a new era, in which good people find joy and nobility in their work, new freedom to be creative-and astonishing power to succeed.

* Shared values: your #1 differentiator The simple reality: nothing inspires commitment like honesty and integrity * Leadership based on trust, not power Transform the managers, and the organization will follow * Walking the walk If you don’t mean it, don’t even bother * The right behavior gets the right results Focus on people, and the numbers follow * Real lessons you can start using today Bringing values-based management home-and making it stickHow a Tractor Company Changed Its Tracks

“This might very well be the best management book you ever read. I know it will help you unleash the power and potential of your human organization.”—Ken Blanchard, co-author, The One Minute Manager”They say people can’t change, but this book will convince you it’s not true. I saw the Values Process described in this book change Jim and his team from autocratic managers to real leaders. And I saw their business improve far beyond anyone’s expectations. This book proves what we know in our hearts-that trusting and respecting people makes good business sense.”—Gerald L. Shaheen, Group President, Caterpillar Inc.An extraordinary story of corporate and personal transformation.

• Leading with integrity: why the right way to lead is also the most effective
• Values-based management: one of the toughest things you’ll ever do
• Walking the walk: going beyond mere “vision statements”
• What values-based leadership looks like: 100 behaviors that work

And Dignity for All is about becoming a leader with integrity: one who leads by example and builds an organization around a vision and values that others are proud to share.

As Ken Blanchard observes in his enthusiastic foreword, this is two books in one. It’s the story of Jim Despain’s remarkable personal journey from floorsweeper at Caterpillar to corporate vice president, and from self-serving, “command-and-control” boss to inspirational leader. And it’s also a complete blueprint for translating simple ideas like respect, empowerment, civility, and open dialogue into a corporate culture that works.

Sounds like mush? It isn’t. Despain used these techniques to transform a struggling manufacturing division into a thriving enterprise with exemplary labor-management relations and stellar numbers. With his guidance, you can make equally profound and lasting changes in your own organization.

More Endorsements”I highly recommend Jim Despain’s book, …And Dignity for All, to anyone who aspires to reach his or her dreams. It is an excellent story that clearly outlines how important it is to take risks, face your fears, and overcome any obstacles to reach success. This book allows readers to reflect on how they can transform their lives into something they never thought could be imaginable.”Through my personal experience as a former high school teacher and as a leader in the United States Congress, I have learned to recognize the qualities of a great leader. While serving in these capacities, I have come to understand the truth behind the saying, ‘leaders aren’t born, they are made.’ This message is conveyed throughout the book as Jim Despain tells a story about his transformational journey through life that helped him develop into a charismatic and effective leader. It is a story about how he worked his way up the ranks in a high-profile company named Caterpillar, always with steady focus and with fierce determination that allowed him to overcome any challenge that came his way. Furthermore, it shows how Jim Despain inspired his workforce to put aside their differences and trust one another in order to pursue a more efficient, positive working environment. “It was encouraging to read about Jim growing up in a small mining town in Illinois. He never received a college degree, but still managed to develop into one of the more respected, inspirational leaders and role models within the Caterpillar organization. This book reinforced my belief that each individual is responsible for the outcome of their own future—that success isn’t always handed to a person on a silver platter, but rather earned through hard work and determination. “I am thankful Jim Despain shared his personal story so that others might have the chance to understand what it takes to be a successful leader and, above all, how to make any career aspiration come true.”—J. Dennis Hastert Speaker of the House”Jim Despain’s account of his progression from broom sweeper to top manager at Caterpillar Inc. is a great story—particularly for these times—about the right way to improve your corporate culture and your business success.”—The Honorable Bob MichelFormer Minority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives “Jim Despain pulls off this business memoir beautifully. It is a rare and honest look at what it was like for a low-level employee to struggle and overcome obstacles in a not-always-friendly corporate environment. Jim’s climb up the ladder is inspiring. Start-up employees as well as executives should read this book carefully.”—Robert SlaterAuthor, Jack Welch and the GE Way”The cry for corporate integrity is greater today than ever before. …And Dignity for All shows us how to succeed with integrity, not just succeed. It is a compelling case study of a wonderful journey toward individual transition and corporate transition.”—Marshall GoldsmithFounding Director of the Financial Times Knowledge Dialogue and the Alliance for Strategic Leadership and author of 14 books, including The Leader of the Future (a BusinessWeek best-seller)”This is absolutely the most inspiring story about corporate leadership that I have read in the past 15 years! If you want to understand how to turn on employees and turn up profits, Jim Despain’s real life journey from floor sweeper to vice president of a $20 billion company is a must read. Every chapter is filled with important insights for transforming any business into a great company. So refreshing. Almost makes life worth living.” —Eric StephanBYU, Marriott School of Business and author of Powerful Leadership”I met Jim and his management team during the deployment stage of their Common Values process. At first, I thought the effort was superficial and a ‘program of the day’ activity. I was wrong. There is no question this division accomplished an effective, almost unbelievable transformation. Their ability to maintain the gains from our work with them (or their Class A achievement) is clear evidence.”—Jim CorrellChairman, Oliver Wight Americas”…And Dignity for All is not only a compelling story, it is a blueprint for how to succeed in any business. Using the values process described in this book, we took a similar journey and achieved consistent, extraordinary performance. Whether you are in a product business or in a service business like we are, the job of leaders everywhere is to serve and honor people. When people feel good about themselves, each other, and their place of employment, performance always gets better.” —W. Michael BryantPresident and CEO, Methodist Health Services”What an incredible book—a page turner! Jim Despain learned values-based leadership not by idealizing, but rather by experiencing what no longer works in business and inventing and implementing what does work. A must read for anyone attempting to deliver extraordinary results today.” —Michael BaschCo-founder of FedEx and author of CustomerCulture”Mr. Despain’s book allows the reader to take himself/herself, the enterprise, far, far, far beyond the ‘talk.’ It allows the reader, should he/she have the moxie and the energy, to inculcate a system of organizational behavior that will (in actuality, not in theory) produce nothing less than outstanding organizational results.”Beware: the practical application of the concepts contained in this book is not for the faint of heart. I dare say it will constitute the most challenging action you will have ever taken and, should you succeed, produce the greatest reward you have ever achieved.” —P. Joseph O’NeillPresident, G&D Transportation

About the Author
JIM DESPAIN rose from hourly worker at Caterpillar to Vice President and General Manager of Track-Type Tractors Division in East Peoria, Illinois—one of the company’s largest manufacturing facilities. As its leader, he transformed the division’s bottom line, cutting its breakeven point in half, while at the same time dramatically improving its historically difficult labor relations. Despain is currently a trustee at Eureka College.

JANE BODMAN CONVERSE was the communications player on Jim’s culture-change team, responsible for messages and media to support the transformation at Caterpillar. She is President of Converse Inc., Peoria, Illinois, and has more than 30 years experience in organizational consulting, communications, and marketing.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
IntroductionI am not your typical senior executive. I don’t have an MBA. I wasn’tborn with a silver spoon in my mouth. No, this is the story of someone with an unlikely resume forsuccess. I was married when I was 16. I didn’t go to college. What I learned, I learned on the job.I watched and I listened. I read and I asked. I tried and I failed. I learned and tried again.
Thisbook is the story of a lifetime of experiences and the lessons I learned that enabled me to becomea true leader of people. I began my career as a sweeper in a factory that makes the largestearthmoving equipment in the world. I ended it at the same company—a vice president of a $20billion corporation. This story includes how we transformed a factory and an entire division intohighly profitable leaders in our corporation and industry. It tells you how to do the same inwhatever business you find yourself.
In the end, through my own experiences, achievements, andstruggles, I discovered that values, defined as shared beliefs with standards for behavior in theworkplace, are the key to succeeding in changing and challenging times. These values aren’t amoralistic code based on personal or company ethics, although ethics are integral. Instead, theyare a blueprint for creating a work environment that drives success because they provide people acontext for their decisions, broad boundaries for their ideas, and more freedom to make adifference.
And what a difference people with values can make. The Track-Type Tractors Division ofCaterpillar Inc. saw unprecedented improvement—improvement in everything from profit toemployee satisfaction. And we did this without extraordinary capital investment, forced”right-sizing,” product replacements or additions, new marketing strategies, or any othertraditional idea. By establishing workplace values, we caused employees to feel an investment inthe organization. We inspired rather than constrained and, in the process, created ahigh-performance organization.
This book is the story of the transformation of a man and thetransformation of a business. Its purpose is to enable you to become a more effective leader and toshorten your journey by telling you what took me a lifetime to learn—that true leadership isvery different from management. Leadership is about others and not about self. It is about trustand not about power. It is about producing results by creating cultures where people know it’s okayto be unique and different, so they willingly take off their masks, express themselves, and dogreat things. Their clash of opposing ideas generates sparks that light the path to progress. Myhope is that this book and my story will help unlock greatness for you.—Jim Despain

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Introduction
I am not your typical senior executive. I don’t have an MBA. I wasn’tborn with a silver spoon in my mouth. No, this is the story of someone with an unlikely resume forsuccess. I was married when I was 16. I didn’t go to college. What I learned, I learned on the job.I watched and I listened. I read and I asked. I tried and I failed. I learned and tried again.
Thisbook is the story of a lifetime of experiences and the lessons I learned that enabled me to becomea true leader of people. I began my career as a sweeper in a factory that makes the largestearthmoving equipment in the world. I ended it at the same company—a vice president of a $20billion corporation. This story includes how we transformed a factory and an entire division intohighly profitable leaders in our corporation and industry. It tells you how to do the same inwhatever business you find yourself.
In the end, through my own experiences, achievements, andstruggles, I discovered that values, defined as shared beliefs with standards for behavior in theworkplace, are the key to succeeding in changing and challenging times. These values aren’t amoralistic code based on personal or company ethics, although ethics are integral. Instead, theyare a blueprint for creating a work environment that drives success because they provide people acontext for their decisions, broad boundaries for their ideas, and more freedom to make adifference.
And what a difference people with values can make. The Track-Type Tractors Division ofCaterpillar Inc. saw unprecedented improvement—improvement in everything from profit toemployee satisfaction. And we did this without extraordinary capital investment, forced”right-sizing,” product replacements or additions, new marketing strategies, or any othertraditional idea. By establishing workplace values, we caused employees to feel an investment inthe organization. We inspired rather than constrained and, in the process, created ahigh-performance organization.
This book is the story of the transformation of a man and thetransformation of a business. Its purpose is to enable you to become a more effective leader and toshorten your journey by telling you what took me a lifetime to learn—that true leadership isvery different from management. Leadership is about others and not about self. It is about trustand not about power. It is about producing results by creating cultures where people know it’s okayto be unique and different, so they willingly take off their masks, express themselves, and dogreat things. Their clash of opposing ideas generates sparks that light the path to progress. Myhope is that this book and my story will help unlock greatness for you.

—Jim Despain 

Product details
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Prentice Hall
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 224 pages

Customer reviews

Thomas J. Quinn
Must read for every manager
A must read for every manager and company owner. I was fortunate to see his challenges and the results in person. His foresight was outstanding and proof that coming from the “school of hard knocks” outshines most MBA’s anytime. His example paid off time and time again in my career.

Colin Ong TS
Recommended Book For Job-Seekers
The uniqueness of this book is how Jim Despain shares his career journey ? warts and all. It makes a great motivational read as it candidly highlights his fears in picking up a skill to not even getting his commission. He does not just spouse out management concepts; he lives his beliefs. It is surprising how down to earth he comes across. There are a few sections that are particularly memorable:
1) How Jim?s dad shot?s their family Dalmatian in the head -; the phrase ?break the rules, pay the price? really stands out
2) How Jim stands up against the union because he believes in achieving his full abilities
As a career counselor, I feel that this book is suitable for all job-seekers as it speaks out their deepest fears and rejoices their career high. It is like a career journal and is a must read for all.”
Colin Ong TS…

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