Put People First

Put People First is the story of Michael Stone, the CEO of a a financial consulting company whose leadership is facing significant challenges. Declining revenues and lower annual profits, and a precipitous decline in organizational morale are threatening the very core of the company. Michael knows his leadership is in trouble but doesn't know how to move forward. Amazingly Michael meets Nick, who takes Michael on a journey of discovery that shakes his preconceived ideas of leadership to the core. Nick challenges Michael to seriously consider eight qualities essential for great leaders. Michael's learning is anything but passive, as Nick takes him on a journey of learning leadership that is a powerful mix of stories, examples of leadership and second chance meetings of leadership where Nick asks Michael to go back and actual manage a meeting again. This unique "do over" is when Michael's leadership begins to thrive.

Put People First is the story of Michael Stone, the struggling CEO of a financial consulting company founded by his late father. Michael is appointed CEO by the Board of Directors upon the sudden death of his father. After five years of his leadership the company is not doing well. Michael's primary quantitive leadership focus has left the company in a precarious position. Company morale is suffering. The company's financial position is weakening. One morning Michael accidentally overhears two managers wistfully comparing Michael's leadership with his late father's leadership. The comparison shocks Michael. He didn't know people felt this way about his leadership. It was a brutal awakening. Stunned, Michael walks back to his office where another surprise awaits him. The annual Employee Satisfaction Survey is sitting on his desk. Tentatively he opens the survey results and learns the satisfaction of employees with the company culture has dropped to an all time low. He realizes his leadership is in real trouble. He abruptly decides to go for a walk and ends up in the company's beautiful gardens where he takes a seat on a bench. It was his first time in the park like setting. Suddenly he looks up and sees an older man approaching him To his surprise the man asks if he can join Michael. Reluctantly, Michael says yes. The man introduces himself as Nick. This is the beginning of a friendship that dramatically impacts Michael leadership. Over the next ten months Nick takes Michael on a journey of leadership discovery that forever changes Michael's views on how to truly lead people and organizations. The journey is painful, provocative and immensely revealing. Nick artfully guides Michael's understanding of eight human qualities essential for leaders to be highly effective. Nick's message to Michael represents the golden rule of leadership. People matter. Put People First is a powerful leadership book. It goes right to the heart of what people want from their leaders.Put People First

Dirk Barram resides in Oregon. He retired after thirty one year's serving at George Fox University as Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dean of the College of Business and Professor of Business. Prior to his university work, Dirk worked at Hewlett Packard in the San Francisco Bay area in Human Resources as a Training and Development Manager. He earned his PhD from Michigan State University. Dirk taught and practiced the kind of leadership he writes about for 31 years at George Fox University. He honed the ideas for the 8 Leadership Principles from his experience.