Stewardship Choosing Service over Self-Interest

by BLOCK, PETER

• ISBN13: 9781609948221
• ISBN10: 160994822X
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2013-05-20
• Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers

Summary

The classic first edition of this book argued that organizations that place service above self-interest and practice a far-reaching redistribution of power, privilege, and wealth stewardship will succeed far beyond those with a narrower, more selfish focus. As a successful managing strategy for corporate, governmental, and nonprofit organizations, "stewardship" is, fundamentally, the spirit of partnership and service. Organizations that absorb the principles of stewardship will offer equity and partnership at all levels for its employees, and managers who identify themselves as "stewards" will hold themselves accountable to all those over whom they exercise power. In this revised and updated edition, Block explores what has and has not changed in organizations and in the world in the twenty years since the first edition was published. He argues that the concept of stewardship is more relevant and necessary than ever, and shows how the idea of stewardship can and must be expanded out from organizations into our communities, societies and nations. Peter Block is one of our most provocative, original, and iconoclastic thinkers. Here he extends the scope of his insights to help put us create not just productive and humane workplaces but vibrant communities, an engaged democracy, and a healthy planet.

Author Biography

Peter Block is the author of eight books and a partner in the training company Designed Learning. He is the recipient of many awards—including the Organization Development Network’s Lifetime Achievement Award and ASTD’s Award for Distinguished Contribution to Workplace Learning—and was named to Training Magazine’s HRD Hall of Fame.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Steven Piersanti
Welcome

Introduction to the Second Edition:
What Has Changed?
It’s a Digital World
What Is Good for Business Is Good for the World
Side Effects
Goods We Can Build Upon

PART I TRADING YOUR KINGDOM FOR A HORSE
1 Replacing Leadership with Stewardship
Something more is required
The essence of Stewardship
Choosing Partners
Choosing Empowerment
Choosing Service
We Don’t Act on What We Know
The Leadership Question
The Underbelly of Leadership
The Stewardship Answer
Three Organizational Challenges

2 Choosing Partnership over Patriarchy
Creating Order
Distributing Ownership and Responsibility
Partnership as the Alternative
Balancing Power
Four Requirements of Partnership

3 Choosing Adventure over Safety
The Wish for Safety
Entitlement Is Empowerment Run Aground
Choosing Empowerment
Stewardship Begins at Home

4 Choosing Service over Self-Interest
A Model of Stewardship
Teaching Revolution to the Ruling Class
The Realm of Management
Rank without Privilege
Connecting the Heart and the Wallet
The Point

PART II THE REDISTRIBUTION OF POWER, PURPOSE, AND WEALTH
A Case Study: Sometime Later in the Week

5 Defining the Stewardship Contract
Principles for the Practice
The Stewardship Contract
Life in the Balance

6 Upsetting Expectations: The Emotional Work of Stewardship
The Trail Is Inside Out
Facing the Wish for Dependency and Dominance
Freedom’s Just Another Word for Escape from Freedom
Unstated Emotional Wants: Breaking the Pattern
Just Say No
I want my mentor

7 Redesigning Management Practices and Structures
Full Disclosure
Management Practices
Changing Basic Architecture
Boss as Banker and Broker

8 Rethinking the Role of Staff Functions
In the Service of Top Management
Police and Conscience to the Line
Mandated Supplier
Mandated Services
Offering Choice and Building Capability
Service Guarantee

9 Financial Practices: Creating Accountability with Self-Control
The Money Is about control
Building Widespread Financial Stewardship
Living within the Law

10 Human Resources: Ending the Practice of Paternalism
Institutional Caretaker
A New Purpose and Role
The Structure of Human Resources
Human Resource Practices That Support Stewardship

11 Compensation and Performance Evaluation: Overturning the Class System
The Divine Right of Kings
Pay Reinforces Class Distinctions
Performance Not for Sale
Rank Individualism
Confusing Boss Evaluations with Performance
Pay for Empire
Reward Systems That Support Stewardship
The End of Caretaking

PART III THE TRIUMPH OF HOPE OVER EXPERIENCE
12 Cosmetic Reform: When the Disease Becomes the Cure
nothing is next
The Open Office
Patriarchy Recreating Itself

13 Recreating Our Organization through Stewardship
Stewardship Strategy for Political Reform
Steps toward Political Reform
A Case Study Continued: The Answer to the Power Company Story, “Sometime Later in the Week”

14 Cynics, Victims and Bystanders
The Power of the Cynic
Rescuing the Victim
Facts Won’t Help
Treating Caution as a Choice

15 The Answer to “How?”
How
“How?” Is a Defense

16 Stewardship for the Common Good
The Business Perspective
The Point
References
Index
Designed Learning
The Author
The Artist