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CJBE Conference July 2009 Managing as a
Mensch Barnett Helzberg George
Ferguson Rockhurst University Helzberg School of
Management
Helzberg School
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Presentation Outcomes

• Understand Mensch Management
• Ideas on applying Positive Organizational
  Scholarship
• Aware of other ways of approaching servant
  leadership

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• Mensch
• A person having admirable characteristics, such
  as fortitude and firmness of purpose a decent,
  upright, mature, responsible person

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Course Beginnings

• I want someone who manages as a mensch.
• (Barnett Helzberg)
• Researched concept
• Conducted two test classes
• Designed three-hour elective Mensch Management

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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

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POS

• Exposed to Positive Organizational Scholarship
• Met with Drs. Wayne Baker and Jane Dutton from
  University of Michigans Ross School of Business
• Adopted POS aspects into Mensch Management
• Reflected Best Self
• Work as a calling
• Resilience
• Compassion
• Building relationships and high quality
  connections

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Learning Process Materials

• Students create own Mensch Management text
• Feedback and reflection
• Research Questions
• Speakers
• Class Discussions
• Student Outputs

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Feedback and Reflection

• Self-scored and 360 instruments
• Leadership Practices Inventory
• Reflected Best Self
• INSIGHT
• Locus of Control
• Reflection paper with learnings and action plans

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Research Questions

• A series of short research papers (avg. 5 pages)
• Mixture of academic and pop-press sources
• Deeper thought required holistically, deeply,
  behaviorally
• What is a mensch?
• How can work be a calling?
• How and in what ways is a mensch resilient?
• How and in what situations is a mensch
  compassionate?
• How does a mensch build relationships and high
  quality connections?

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Speakers

• Utilize variety of speakers to share wisdom on
• Work as a calling
• Compassion
• Relationships and listening
• Community feedback on businesses and leadership

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Class Discussions

• Students quizzed each class
• Topical discussions
• Barnett Book Club
• Celebratory dinner

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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

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Impact on Learning
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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. Ive 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.
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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?  
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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 dont need to flaunt your success most
people will already know your achievements and
respect you for those without your ego reminding
them.  
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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.
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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.
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Conclusion