Bianca Strosnider - Book Review

Management Book Review – Bianca Strosnider

Main Points Summarized:

Decent People, Decent Company is a management book written my Robert and Carolyn Turknett, a married couple who specialize in management training. The authors separate the book into three main sections each referencing necessary qualities for good management.

“Integrity – The Nature of Character” discusses the need for character, culture and change. The authors discuss how the leadership style used by upper levels of management will influence the work environment. It is also emphasized that people who believe in themselves are more positive in the workplace and accomplish more. The authors also discuss the Leadership Character Model, which highlights the importance of integrity as the foundation of leadership. Leaders are told to take others into account when making decisions.

“Respect – The Will to Understand” has subsections of empathy, emotional mastery, lack of blame, and humility. These four chapters focus on the importance of a leader understanding others, controlling their own negativity, understanding that blaming others is not as effective as fixing a problem at hand and accepting that attributing success to the whole team and process is more important than personal gain.  

“Responsibility – The Power to Act” has four subsections of accountability, courage, self-confidence and focus on the whole. These sections demonstrate to the reader that taking responsibility for one’s actions, having the courage and confidence to act and focusing on the big picture of a project will create a more successful team and outcome.

Overall, the authors focus on the need to be considerate of employees’ needs and wants and the necessity of assertiveness as a leader to be successful.

Is This a Good Approach?

Throughout the book, the authors referenced the Theory X and Theory Y management approach multiple times. Theory Y was promoted since both Robert and Carolyn found this theory to be much more personal, encouraging and less autocratic. They believed that in order for employees to reach their full potential, they must feel as if their work and efforts are recognized and appreciated, and therefore, they would have the desire to continue to do well and improve.

This book contained different aspects of good management more than one solid theory, but in these recommendations were all excellent tools for leaders. Each chapter offered an anecdote to accompany a trait of good management, so any reader would clearly understand what the authors meant and could relate that trait to the workplace. Also, the anecdotes were related to various types of jobs, from grocery store workers to high-level positions in corporate offices. This demonstrates the versatility and legitimacy of their ideas.

The relational aspects of this book are most similar to the Theory Y system of management in that management is encouraged to recognize and acknowledge employees’ work and accomplishments. This brings about good managerial-employee relations and affirms that employees are appreciated. The communication aspect of this book can be related best to the Learning Organization model, as both theories encourage communication and feedback to better the organization and workplace.

Would I Recommend This To Other PR Students?

I would recommend this management book to other public relations students. Many public relations practitioners must work in groups for most of their career, and this book shows not only effective ways to lead a group but also shows useful ways to work in groups as an employee.

Also, the emotional and action sections are relatable to a public relations leader. The importance given to empathy, mastering emotions, taking responsibility for one’s own actions and focusing on the whole are especially important for public relations while creating plans or launching a new campaign for an organization.

Turknett, Robert L., and Carolyn N. Turknett. Decent People, Decent Company: How to Lead with              Character at Work and in Life. Mountain View, CA: Davies-Black Pub., 2005. Print.