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Doing Good & Doing Well: Inspiring Helping Professionals to Become Leaders in Their Organizations
Helping professionals of all types are everyday heroes who routinely and selflessly improve the lives of others. But they often don't believe or realize that they also form a valuable pool of future leaders—that their specific characteristics, distinct aptitudes, and servant leader's mindset not only prepare them, but already uncommonly equip them, to rise to the highest tiers of their organization's leadership structure.
You don't have to be either someone who does good in the world for others or someone who makes a good living running a company or managing others. You can be both—you can remain committed to the greater good of society and still lead a for-profit or nonprofit organization or become a successful entrepreneur. You can simultaneously activate your right-brain and left-brain faculties, apply your honed service-oriented side and your business-savvy side.
How does the author know this can be done? Because he did it himself! Sharing lessons learned over a 30-year career and featuring plentiful anecdotes to illustrate the pointed discussions and central themes, this book aims to inspire helpers to exercise the power they already possess and encourage them to travel a fruitful and fulfilling path to professional development and organizational leadership.
You don't have to be either someone who does good in the world for others or someone who makes a good living running a company or managing others. You can be both—you can remain committed to the greater good of society and still lead a for-profit or nonprofit organization or become a successful entrepreneur. You can simultaneously activate your right-brain and left-brain faculties, apply your honed service-oriented side and your business-savvy side.
How does the author know this can be done? Because he did it himself! Sharing lessons learned over a 30-year career and featuring plentiful anecdotes to illustrate the pointed discussions and central themes, this book aims to inspire helpers to exercise the power they already possess and encourage them to travel a fruitful and fulfilling path to professional development and organizational leadership.
206 pages, Paperback
Published November 25, 2023
13 people want to read
About the author
Michael Kaufman, MSW, PhD, is delighted to have published his first book, which is the culmination of his lessons and insights gleaned over a 30-year career in the helping professions, most notably social work and special education.
What makes his perspective so distinct is the unique blend he brings to all his professional endeavors, combining his “heart of a social worker” with “head of a business executive” to create an uncommon merger that leads companies, effects change, and improves lives.
With a bachelor’s degree in accounting, a master’s degree in social work, and a doctoral degree in clinical psychology, Mike currently directs the special education management and consulting company he co-founded in 2017. Prior to that, he launched the start-up of a now-blossoming teletherapy company and served at the helm of Specialized Education Services, Inc. (SESI)—first as COO, then CEO—one of the largest privatized schooling companies for students with special needs in the country.
A public speaker, college professor, and graduate of Harvard Business School’s Key Executives Program, Mike wanted to share his career path with fellow helping professionals to empower their own rise to organizational leadership, particularly by championing their natural proclivities and abilities. The result is Doing Good & Doing Well: Inspiring Helping Professionals to Become Leaders in Their Organizations (Rowman & Littlefield, 2023).
In all that Mike does, he lives by the Churchill motto “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”
What makes his perspective so distinct is the unique blend he brings to all his professional endeavors, combining his “heart of a social worker” with “head of a business executive” to create an uncommon merger that leads companies, effects change, and improves lives.
With a bachelor’s degree in accounting, a master’s degree in social work, and a doctoral degree in clinical psychology, Mike currently directs the special education management and consulting company he co-founded in 2017. Prior to that, he launched the start-up of a now-blossoming teletherapy company and served at the helm of Specialized Education Services, Inc. (SESI)—first as COO, then CEO—one of the largest privatized schooling companies for students with special needs in the country.
A public speaker, college professor, and graduate of Harvard Business School’s Key Executives Program, Mike wanted to share his career path with fellow helping professionals to empower their own rise to organizational leadership, particularly by championing their natural proclivities and abilities. The result is Doing Good & Doing Well: Inspiring Helping Professionals to Become Leaders in Their Organizations (Rowman & Littlefield, 2023).
In all that Mike does, he lives by the Churchill motto “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 15, 2025
Michael L. Kaufman's Doing Good and Doing Well is an engaging book filled with wisdom and insight about leadership. It is a guide for helping professionals realize their potential as leaders. Kaufman illustrates that the compassion and empathy nurtured in helping professions can be leveraged for impactful leadership, encouraging a transformation in how society views caregivers and helpers. He asserts that the unique skill set developed through years of service equips these professionals for leadership roles that may have once seemed out of reach.
Moreover, Kaufman explores the critical yet often overlooked intersection of business acumen and compassion in leadership, stating, “You can do good and do well.” This idea champions the possibility of balancing altruistic goals with organizational success, encouraging professionals to view their roles as caregivers and as indispensable change agents capable of achieving both personal fulfillment and communal progress. Kaufman's insights pave the way for a new generation of leaders from all backgrounds, particularly in sectors where empathy and care are paramount, reminding us that the ability to lead should be seen as a natural extension of the ability to help.
The book's organization is particularly commendable. It has ten engaging chapters tackling various leadership aspects relevant to educators, social workers, and healthcare professionals. Kaufman's examination of the emerging prominence of female leaders and the imperative of soft skills in crises is especially timely and relevant. His use of relatable storytelling demystifies leadership, making the journey toward becoming an effective leader feel attainable for all.
Kaufman’s warm writing style invites readers to reflect on their journeys while emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and personal traits in leadership. Doing Good and Doing Well ultimately leaves readers informed and inspired to redefine their leadership roles in their respective fields. It is a beautifully constructed manual that champions integrating humanitarian principles into leadership, making it a priceless addition to the literature on compassionate leadership.
Moreover, Kaufman explores the critical yet often overlooked intersection of business acumen and compassion in leadership, stating, “You can do good and do well.” This idea champions the possibility of balancing altruistic goals with organizational success, encouraging professionals to view their roles as caregivers and as indispensable change agents capable of achieving both personal fulfillment and communal progress. Kaufman's insights pave the way for a new generation of leaders from all backgrounds, particularly in sectors where empathy and care are paramount, reminding us that the ability to lead should be seen as a natural extension of the ability to help.
The book's organization is particularly commendable. It has ten engaging chapters tackling various leadership aspects relevant to educators, social workers, and healthcare professionals. Kaufman's examination of the emerging prominence of female leaders and the imperative of soft skills in crises is especially timely and relevant. His use of relatable storytelling demystifies leadership, making the journey toward becoming an effective leader feel attainable for all.
Kaufman’s warm writing style invites readers to reflect on their journeys while emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and personal traits in leadership. Doing Good and Doing Well ultimately leaves readers informed and inspired to redefine their leadership roles in their respective fields. It is a beautifully constructed manual that champions integrating humanitarian principles into leadership, making it a priceless addition to the literature on compassionate leadership.
March 15, 2025
In Doing Good and Doing Well, Michael L. Kaufman crafts a compelling message that empowers helping professionals to embrace leadership roles within their organizations. Kaufman's approach is both refreshing and necessary, particularly in a society that often relegates the contributions of caregivers and helpers to secondary status. This book is a clarion call for individuals in caregiving professions, urging them to recognize their inherent leadership potential. In a world increasingly needing compassionate leadership, Kaufman champions that those who dedicate their careers to helping others are suited for and required to step into leadership roles.
A particularly resonant quote from Kaufman states, “Helping professionals are committed to doing good in the world but often don’t realize that they also possess distinct characteristics and aptitudes that uncommonly equip them to rise to top positions within service organizations.” This summarizes the book's essence: it is about recognizing the value of the skills that helpers bring to the table—not just the capacity for empathy and care but also the organizational insight and leadership qualities that can drive meaningful change.
Kaufman also encourages readers to internalize their power and the influence they wield: “When you think about the impact you have in your job, remember that the better you do for the individuals you serve, the better you can do for the many.” Such affirmations inspire professionals to see the bigger picture and understand their potential to advocate for broader systemic changes within their organizations and communities.
A particularly resonant quote from Kaufman states, “Helping professionals are committed to doing good in the world but often don’t realize that they also possess distinct characteristics and aptitudes that uncommonly equip them to rise to top positions within service organizations.” This summarizes the book's essence: it is about recognizing the value of the skills that helpers bring to the table—not just the capacity for empathy and care but also the organizational insight and leadership qualities that can drive meaningful change.
Kaufman also encourages readers to internalize their power and the influence they wield: “When you think about the impact you have in your job, remember that the better you do for the individuals you serve, the better you can do for the many.” Such affirmations inspire professionals to see the bigger picture and understand their potential to advocate for broader systemic changes within their organizations and communities.
March 8, 2024
This isn't a typical professional development book—it’s more engaging and personal. Less of a “how to” advance your career and more of a “this is why you are ready, willing, and able” to advance your career in the helping professions book, I really enjoyed all the stories and examples throughout that illustrate the author’s themes. It’s like you’re having a conversation with the author, whose role here is to mentor and coach, encouraging helpers to believe in their leadership abilities and management acumen, not just their giving natures and compassionate hearts. If you’re a nurse who could run the whole hospital or a teacher who knows you could run the whole district, this book warmly and enthusiastically invites you to go after your dreams—starting today.
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December 22, 2025Michael Kaufman’s Doing Good & Doing Well is an empowering and practical guide for helping professionals who aspire to leadership. Drawing on three decades of experience, Kaufman demonstrates how service-oriented skills and business acumen can be combined to make a meaningful impact while advancing one’s career. The book is full of actionable strategies, anecdotes, and insights on self-care, mentorship, and organizational influence, making it an essential read for anyone in the helping professions looking to lead with both heart and effectiveness.
August 27, 2024
Really enjoyed this book. Speaks on being a leader from a helping profession lens. It inspires one to lead and to remember the importance of the people one works with. I have many pages flagged to refer back to. Inspired me to be a better leader as I navigate this new official role.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews