Jim Tresner, 33°, Grand Cross
P.O. Box 70, Guthrie, Oklahoma 73044–0070
Book Reviews Editor, The Scottish Rite Journal

Brethren often mention to me the books they are reading, and I am always grateful for such information or recommendation. Many times, picking up on these leads results both in enrichment of my own knowledge and a book review for this column. Recently, however, one Brother not only mentioned a good book but also provided a review! Frankly, I cannot improve on the guest book review that follows of The Servant Leader. Bro. Richard D. Baskin, 32° (Senior Deacon, Chula Vista Lodge No. 626; Knight of Saint Andrew in the Valley of San Diego; Al Bahr Shrine Legion of Honor; member of the Scottish Rite Research Society) has done a great job of capturing the character and importance of James A. Autry's study as it relates to modern business. The only thing I would like to accent is that the principles discussed in The Servant Leader have a particular relevance to Freemasonry. Every Brother is a servant to the great cause of our Craft, and his ability to communicate that attitude, to build Lodge morale, and to create teamwork among Brethren with individual abilities who come from diverse backgrounds-all these are essential talents for a successful Masonic officer, whatever his Masonic affiliation may be. Improving the "bottom line," can mean gaining membership, renovating your Lodge or Temple, enhancing your financial foundations, conducting an effective and enjoyable Lodge program, or guiding the Brethren to success in attaining any other worthwhile goal. Getting there, while serving a greater cause, is the main theme of The Servant Leader and certainly a theme worthy of the attention of every Brother who hopes to lead Freemasonry to a dynamic future.

James A. Autry, The Servant Leader: How To Build a Creative Team, Develop Great Morale, and Improve Bottom-Line Performance, hardbound, 288 pages, Prima Publishing, ISBN: 0761535357. Available through your local bookseller or on the Internet. It is priced at $16.07 + shipping at www.amazon.com.

This is a timely and insightful book which brings a fresh prospective to leadership and management. Too often today we hear the negative aspects of leadership. Leaders are portrayed as being consumed with power and greed, not motivated to promote the company and protect the employee, but to advance their own power and wealth. The leader Autry describes is entirely different. This leader is a servant first. He places high emphasis on the worth of the individual and believes that the people are what make and hold the company together.

Unlike other books on leadership, the author gives the reader a clear, concise idea of how to apply the principles of servant leadership to the ethical and personal problems leaders face on a daily basis. He effectively illustrates a concept that will be unsettling to some leaders when he states "Business is about people. Business is of, by, about and for people." As far as he is concerned, organizations are not different. They may produce different or unique products, but they are all dependent on people, and that is what makes them the same.

This is not a book about soft or fussy management; it relates to business practices that we use everyday. For Autry, the focus of business must be on people first and only then the financial bottom line. If you take care of the people, treat them fairly and in an ethical manner, bottom-line performance will improve. The author organizes his book around four key issues of importance to all professionals and leaders.

Part One, "A Foundation of Character and Vision," presents the building blocks of servant leadership from two perspectives, the characteristics of the leader and the vision and values of the organization.

Part Two, "Servant Leader as Manager: The Everyday Nuts and Bolts," gets down to managing the hard realities of business life. This section's chapter on "Finding the Right People" is about effective recruiting, and the chapter titled "Tools of the Trade" focuses on job descriptions, performance standards, performance appraisals, and rewards systems. Each of these areas can either have a positive or negative impact on employees and, therefore, on profits. Each topic is directly tied to the productivity of the company because, if done incorrectly, each will adversely affect morale and performance.

Part Three, "The Harsh Realities of Organizational Life," presents some new ideas for servant leaders. A frank discussion addresses the fact that not all employees are good or want to do well. Autry's practical advice demonstrates how to deal with the positive and the negative aspects of human nature.

Part Four, "Finding the Balance," looks at loyalty, conflict, and community from both the leader's perspective as well as the employee's. Again, he presents practical tools that can be applied to solve problems before they develop into a crisis.

This book is itself a great tool for the leader who is looking to have a positive impact on the lives of his employees and the viability of his company. It acknowledges the fact that there will be legal and personal issues to deal with, and it helps you work through the problems from a different and effective perspective. Autry takes the concept of servant leadership from theory to application and provides helpful insights on how to stay the course in the good times as well as the bad. I highly recommend finding a place for The Servant Leader in your professional library and, as a Masonic leader, in your Masonic toolbox.

Richard D. Baskin was raised a Master Mason in Chula Vista Lodge No. 626 in 2001 and is now serving as the Junior Warden of that Lodge. He is a Knight of Saint Andrew in the Valley of San Diego, California, a member of the Scottish Rite Research Society, and a Noble in the Al Bahr Shrine Legion of Honor.