AUTHOR OF THE MONTH
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The Leader as a Mensch, Power to Lead: Lessons in Creating Your Unique Masterpiece
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1. “The Leader as a Mensch” – that’s an unusual title. For people who don’t already know, what is a Mensch?
“Mensch” is a German word meaning a person or a human being. In Yiddish, it has a very special connotation: it means a person of integrity—a person who is honorable and decent. It is someone who treats others with grace. Grace is a disposition of kindness and compassion. A Mensch is a naturally kind person who doesn’t expect anything for his or her kindness—only that you, in turn pass on the kindness to others, especially to the next generation.
When you are in the presence of a Mensch, you feel good about you—you sense a total absence of artifice, you know that you are in the presence of a genuine human being, one who will not deceive you, undermine you or try to diminish you in any way. To be called a Mensch, is the greatest compliment one can give you.
2. What inspired you to write the book?
The concept of the Mensch has been with me ever since I was a child. I consider myself very lucky to have had many good role models in my life, people who showed me what it is to be a Mensch, even in the most difficult times. I am a leadership scholar and have done a great deal of thinking about leadership and in, writing about it, I have drawn from research and from my personal experiences. How do you lead teams who are wary of leaders, who are disillusioned by the multitude of examples of hollow leadership?
Our current climate has certainly raised the bar for current and future leaders. People follow the footsteps of those they consider trustworthy. You cannot have effective leadership without credibility; and the quickest route to earn credibility is to act as a Mensch. So, I believe The Leader as a Mensch is a leadership book whose time has come.
3. Who, in your opinion, exemplifies the qualities of a Mensch leader? Why?
An example that comes readily to mind was mentioned a few months ago by President Obama at his Address to the Joint Session of Congress. He spoke about Leonard Abess, a bank president in Florida who took his $60 million cash out bonus, and distributed it to all 399 people who worked for his bank, and not only that, he tracked down another 72 who used to work for him. When he was asked why he did it, he said: “I knew some of these people since I was seven years old. I didn’t feel right getting the money myself.”
Another uplifting example of a Mensch leader is Aaron Feuerstein. Feuerstein is the owner of Malden Mills in Lawrence, Massachusetts. In 1995, the mill was destroyed by a massive fire and 2,000 employees were out of work. Feuerstein, who was in his 70s at the time, could have taken the millions of dollars in insurance money and retired. Instead, he decided to rebuild the plant and not only that, for the next 60 days, out of his own pocket, he paid all employees their full salaries. When he was interviewed, he said that he felt “the responsibility for all my employees, to take care of them, to give them jobs.” He would be the epitome of the leader as a Mensch. A Mensch always tries to do the right thing.
But it doesn’t just have to be about giving money: Linda Hunt, the Chief Administrative Officer at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix is a strong advocate for diversity, and the elimination of racism and discrimination. She has devoted herself to a hospital where she has an opportunity to also serve the poor and underserved in a part of the city with an ethnically diverse population.
And, of course, we all know about Google’s founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin. Their mantra is: "Don’t be evil," which translates in doing the best things they know how for their users and their customers. As Page put it: “So I think if we were known for that, it would be a wonderful thing.” A wonderful thing, indeed, if every businessperson approached their work with the mind-set that “You can make money without doing evil.” This is an example of corporate menschhood.
4. What is the most important quality of a leader? How does one cultivate that quality?
There is an extensive body of research that attests to the fact that honesty is the most important quality for a leader. It’s the heart of leadership—the most defining characteristic that people seek in a leader that they would willingly follow. This is a world-wide finding that has been consistent over time. We all want a leader that we can trust. How does one cultivate this quality? It is, of course, fundamentally a question of character.
There are many things we can do to practice honesty, authenticity. First and foremost, cultivating honesty within ourselves, working to increase our self-awareness; being clear about our strengths and our limitations, our blind spots and our emotional triggers. It’s being clear about our values and living our values every day. It’s managing ourselves with integrity when we make a mistake, owning up to it and showing accountability. It’s endeavoring to consistently keep our word. An honest person views his or her promises as an unpaid debt. It is also being trusted by others to be truthful.
5. Many business people are successful and rich and the antithesis of a Mensch, so why should we aspire to be Mensches?
I am often asked this question. First, let’s define what the antithesis of a Mensch is. This would be someone who lacks empathy, compassion and integrity—an individual who is self-serving, focused only on his own needs to succeed and acquire wealth. One would argue that those who accomplish their goals despite this way of doing business might find success, but not significance. I love Peter Drucker’s exhortation to make your life your end-game, to ask yourself frequently: “What do you want to be remembered for?” Significance is making a positive difference in the world. Success without significance is hollow. I am reminded of these beautiful words: “…if I am only for myself, then what am I?”
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