The Transparent Leader: How to Build a Great Company Through Straight Talk, Openness, and Accountability: Herb Baum, Tammy Kling

• Filed under: Recommended

From Publishers Weekly
To restore consumer trust in American companies and products, Baum, chairman, president and CEO of Dial Corporation, believes that all executives must adopt a “transparent” style of leadership: honest accountability upstairs, a value-based company culture throughout and employees who are service oriented. Writing with Kling (Exit Row), Baum talks about his role in firing a former Dial CEO and about others he has dismissed throughout his career for overstating profits and concealing problems from boards of directors. Baum argues that developing the right company culture starts with a written statement spelling out and encouraging an open line of communication to management, and he presents himself as practicing what he preaches, with employees at all levels regularly emailing or phoning him with comments. The philosophy and approach are sound, though not revolutionary; the broader commentary on corporate greed, scandals and failing companies will be familiar to anyone who regularly follows business news. The book is most compelling when Baum details specific practices at Dial, to the point of printing an appendix of his own memos, on communication and other topics.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Drawing on his experience as a leader in some of the nation’s largest corporations, Baum issues a convincing call for honest, ethical, “transparent” dealing throughout the business world. Baum outlines the management techniques he uses within and without the company to get outstanding results without skirting the rules or bending the truth. Baum maintains that by fostering trust, integrity and accountability at all levels within the corporation, managers can stop the erosion of employee loyalty, restore consumer trust in brands, products, and American business. Baum teaches executives fresh ways of managing Wall Street analysts, communicating with shareholders, and wading through the complex maze of social responsibility issues.

As a member of six corporate boards, Baum offers unique insight into transparent leadership, including the advantages and pitfalls of corporate governance, and the pressures executives face in reporting earnings. He also discusses the importance of setting standards for ethical business practices, yet highlights the dangers of government regulations that may result in excessive compliance costs at the expense of shareholders, creative risk taking, and innovation.

Paperback
edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

order The Transparent Leader: How to Build a Great Company Through Straight Talk, Openness, and Accountability: Herb Baum, Tammy Kling form Amazon.