An unusual road to positive values and cash flow.
3/8/2004
It's an odd partnership that makes for an offbeat but intriguing story. Catell, a career executive and chief of Keyspan, one of the largest American energy companies, is joined on the job by Moore, a former monk turned human resources professional. How they worked together to infuse the century-old enterprise with humanistic values is the premise here. Don't be afraid of religious proselytizing; there are a few references to God and "the Divine," but the point is to think about making the office a more soulful and honest place—and at the same time increasing profits. Their tips about reinforcing diversity, community service, mutual respect among colleagues, and customer satisfaction are applicable almost anywhere. Who can argue with one of the book's conclusions, by former monk Moore? "Remember that most people are doing the best they can. When I worked in the monastery, 10 percent of the people I met were saints; 10 percent were self-serving rascals; 80 percent were just ordinary folks trying to make improvements to an inherently flawed human system. I found the same when I joined corporate life."