Joe D. Batten
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Joe D. Batten | |
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| Born | April 30, 1925 Lucas County, Iowa |
| Died | February 20, 2006 (aged 80) |
| Alma mater | Drake University |
Joe D. (Dwight) Batten (born April 30, 1925) was an American business management thought leader, speaker, trainer, and best-selling author. Joe Batten passed away at age 80 years old on February 20, 2006.
Joe Batten, MS, CPAE was the author of fourteen books, over forty training, management, sales, and leadership films, presented to more than three thousand audiences in seventeen countries, and was the first speaker inducted in the National Speakers Association Hall of Fame.[1] His New York Times best-selling book, Tough-Minded Management, was the first management book to reach #1 in America.
Batten worked directly with over 80 percent of the Fortune 500 companies. The phrase “Be All You Can Be” adopted by the United States Army in 1980, was the Batten, Batten, Hudson & Swab 1979 national training and seminar series theme.
Batten was widely considered the Sales Training Dean of America.
The “Batten Philosophy” was internationally known to be one of building on strengths as they are the only reality in any person (a weakness is just a missing or underdeveloped strength). It was also known for Tough-Mindedness, resilience, accountability, integrity, honesty, trustworthiness, and candor.
This philosophy shaped his books, training films, and over 3,000 speeches in 27 countries around the globe. Batten brought Quality Circles to Japan, focusing on companies such as Nissan and Toshiba, who used these philosophies for decades.
The Batten Philosophy was featured on the front page of The Des Moines Tribune on Tuesday, February 19, 1980.[2]
Biography
Early Life and Education
Batten was born in rural Lucas County, Iowa to Jay Fred Batten and Hazel Edna (Wright) Batten. One of four children, including Harold Jay Batten and Elizabeth Ann (Batten) Rue, and Marilyn (Batten) Ryan. Batten graduated from Chariton High School.
Growing up during Great Depression in rural southern Iowa laid a foundation of mental toughness for Batten. Even with the income from the family farm and the work of his grandfather, also Joe Batten, as a blacksmith, the family was financially destitute. It was during this era that Joe learned both mental and physical toughness. With limited opportunities in rural southern Iowa in the 1930s, there was little for an adolescent boy to do besides work tirelessly on the farm; and getting in fights. Ironically, Joe excelled at both.
Batten described his childhood physique as being “a soft pudgy boy”. As a teenager, Joe discovered how physical exertion could give him a positive outlet for the lack of opportunity his hometown offered. By the time Batten was 16, he would strap on a weighted belt, put on two heavy shirts, and run the hills of southern Iowa in oppressive summer heat and humidity. Batten often shared an anecdote about how they were so poor that he tied two anvils to a large tree limb, lay on a flat bench, and use this setup as a make-shift bench press.
In high school, Batten found himself being continuously physically challenged by other students. Although he had never lost a fight, he decided it was time to get tougher, faster, and stronger. Joe enthusiastically began to find ways to increase his size and speed and worked to complete every idea and goal with exhaustive thoroughness. This goal was no different.
Joe excelled at running the mile and set several local records during high school. These successes and working to beat his own times began his streak of resilience and tough-mindedness.
In 1941, Batten bought a goat and began to butt heads with it. As the goat got older and stronger, it would charge toward Joe, expecting to butt heads. So, true to Joe’s character, he saw this as a challenge that must be overcome. When his goat would charge at him, Joe would charge back, ultimately leaving Batten with numb spots on the top of his head for the rest of his life.
As World War II began, Joe graduated from high school early and enlisted in the Marines at age 17 in order to serve his country. With several tours as a Marine, he always shared that he was never more grateful than the day he was safely returned to Iowa after honorable service.
While in the Marines, Batten learned to box and spent any available free time sparring. For formal fights of record, he went 34-2 that included 17 knock-outs. Batten went on to train in a local boxing gym for a short time after discharge.
He studied at Drake University in Des Moines, IA and earned a BA in Psychology, then earning a Masters of Science in Education through the US Military GI Bill.
While applying for a job at the Veterans Administration, Batten met Jean VanNausdle, who he married shortly thereafter.
Personal Life
Batten married Jean Marie[3] (VanNausdle) Batten in Des Moines, IA.
Batten and his wife had two daughters, Gail Pedersen and Wendy Havemann.
Military Service
Batten served in the United States Marine Core during WWII attaining the rank of Private First Class (PFC).[4]
Political and social views
Batten was a Christian conservative, often referencing Christian thought leaders and Biblical passages in his speaking and his work.
Batten was active in the Republican Party of Iowa.
Career
Early Career
Batten worked for several companies in Central Iowa including the Veterans Administration and Solar Aircraft Company
Batten gained experience in a variety of roles HR Director where he was tasked with terminations, and learned firsthand about many deficiencies in the prevailing management practices of the day.
Batten, Batten, Hudson & Swab (BBH&S) [5]
Batten was a co-founder and president of the American consulting group known as Batten Batten Hudson and Swab, Inc. (BBH&S), and of the Successful Living Institute, where he served as President.
BBH&S consisted of four principal partners:
- Joe Batten
- Hal Batten
- Leonard Hudson
- Jim Swab
For over twenty years, BBH&S provided management consulting, training, and seminars services to companies and organizations across the United States and around the globe.
BBH&S was known for having their standard training materials and services, as well as an annual focused theme for their content delivery. The 1979 BBH&S series was “Be All You Can Be” which the US Army marketing team later adopted in 1980.
During his time at BBH&S, Batten brought Quality Circles to Japan, focusing on companies such as Nissan and Toshiba, who used these philosophies for decades.
Tough Mindedness (The Batten Philosophy)
Batten often referenced the concept of being “tough-minded” and many of his books and films were based on this concept. Tough-mindedness means being malleable, resilient, willing to change, and having the courage and intestinal fortitude to hold individuals accountable for performance, behavior, and metrics.
Batten often compared Tough-Mindedness to a piece of leather vs. a piece of granite. The leather felt soft, flexible, malleable, and certainly couldn’t be a ‘tough’ as a hard piece of granite. However, when a hammer hits a piece of granite, it shatters into hundreds of pieces and cannot be put back together. When a hammer hits a piece of leather, it temporarily dents or depresses, but bounces back, showing little to no harm from the blow of a hammer. This was the epitome of Tough-Mindedness; when one had the resilience to take a tough blow but keep moving forward.
Recognition
In 1977, the National Speakers Association awarded Batten with the Council of Peers Award for Excellence [CPAE] and inducted him into the Speakers Hall of Fame.
In 2008, the National Speakers Association posthumously awarded Batten with the Legends of the Platform recognition.
In the 1980s, Batten was awarded the Springbokkie Award, a civilian honor, by the South African government for the contributions his teachings and speaking made on influencing the end of apartheid in South Africa.
Batten became a Bestselling Author in 1963; when Tough Minded Management became the first business book to sell more than 1 million copies.
Bibliography
Books
Tough Minded Management (Joe D. Batten)ISBN 10: 1684224195 ISBN 13: 9781684224197
Tough Minded Leadership.(Joe D. Batten) ISBN: 0-8144-5901-3
Expectations And Possibilities. (Joe D. Batten) ISBN: 0-937611-89-1
Beyond Management By Objectives. (Joe D. Batten) ISBN-10. 0814456146. ISBN-13. 978-0814456149
Developing a Tough Minded Climate for Results. (Joe D. Batten) ISBN-10 :0814451012ISBN-13 : 978-0814451014
The Confidence Chasm (Joe. D Batten & Gail Batten) ISBN:0-8144—5309-0
Tough Minded Parenting. (Joe D. Batten, Wendy Havemann, Bill Pearce, Gail Pedersen) ISBN:1-59244-166-1
Leadership Principles of Jesus (Joe D. Batten, Gail Batten, Warren Howard) ISBN: 0-89900-782-1
Building a Total Quality Culture. (Joe D. Batten) ISBN: ISBN-10 : 1625645783. ISBN-13 : 978-1625645784
The Master Motivator. (Joe D. Batten & Mark Victor Hansen) ISBN-10 : 9780760766651 ISBN-13 : 978-0760766651
The Excellent Persuader (Joe D. Batten & Steve Havemann) ISBN-10 : 1498267572 ISBN-13 : 978-1498267571
Dare to Live Passionately. (Joe D. Batten & Leonard Hudson) ISBN-10 : 1592442323. ISBN-13 : 978-1592442324
TRIBUTES & STORIES
In January 2004, the CEO of Siemens US, Klaus Kleinfeld, cited Tough-Minded Management as "A super book that captures leadership elements really well."
Joe was candid, caring, effective, succinct, and respected internationally… Joe could get to the point without devaluing a person, and rather, could build them up. Joe was the writer and thinker, and Hal [Batten] was the Admin, he could bring in business and manage finances better than anyone. [Jim] Swab was the analyst, and [Leonard] Hudson loved to speak and communicate.
[Gardner McBride – speaking about his time on staff with BBH&S]
My first interaction with Joe Batten was when he came to Drake[University] to speak to undergraduate students. As a highly-regarded alum who was a renowned management consultant and professional speaker. I was determined to hear him speak to the students. It was my goal to work as a professional management consultant, an unusual dream for a woman in the late 1970s. Joe did not disappoint. He had an amazing way of reaching each audience member with his words. He had a real “presence” as he connected with us – totally respectful of our age and providing terrific insight.
[Jill Johnson MBA, President and Founder Johnson Consulting Services]
I’d heard of Joe Batten long before I met him. After graduating from the University of South Carolina in August of 1969, I was facing a 4-month window without a job before the job I had accepted to represent Economics Laboratories in South Carolina would begin in January of 1970. My dad offered me a “job” at his real estate office for that four months. On my first day, he took me into a small office with a desk, chair, about a dozen books stacked on the desk, a legal pad and pencils. He then told me my job was to read all of those books, write a summary of what I’d read and give him at least five hand written pages each Friday in exchange for a small paycheck that would cover my bills.
One of the books he included was Tough Minded Management by Joe Batten along with others like, Think & Grow Rich by Napolean Hill, The Power of Positive Thinking by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, How To Win Friends And Influence People by Dale Carnegie and others. I learned more in those four months about how to interact with, lead and persuade others than I had in my entire time in college.
[Al Walker]
"Tough Minded Management" …for most of us from the world of business and management, this term will forever be known as "Joe Batten." For those of us who were lucky enough to have really known Joe Batten, these words are not at all descriptive of this wonderful, warm Iowan named "Joe." The very words "tough minded" conjure up an image of a ruthless, impersonal, arrogant, harsh and brash individual. And yet, for those of us who really knew Joe, these words would never enter our minds as even remotely descriptive of Joe. With a heart bigger than gold, with a charm bigger than life and with a sincerity and care for his family and friends bigger than "big," this is the Joe Batten most of the world never had the chance to see. The many and varied contributions Joe gave to our world of business and Human Resource Development will always be with us. And what a lasting legacy he left us. And yet as immense and important were his books, films and speeches, these still can't really tell the story. And again, for those of us who were lucky enough to have known him, Joe Batten will never be the "rough and tuff" but rather the "warm and wonderful" Joe Batten! For me, both personally and professionally, I'm proud to have been his friend.
[Edward E. Scannell, CMP, CSP Author of the “Games Trainers Play” series]
My company, Management 2000, exists today, and has existed for 32 years because: I knew Joe, was inspired by Joe, was taught by Joe, was loved by Joe, was shaped by Joe, and Implemented what he taught me.
[Bob Gappa, CEO of Management 2000]
Joe Batten and I were close friends for more than 30 years. We first met at an ASTD (American Society for Training and Development) meeting when he was a general session speaker and I was conducting a concurrent session. I was familiar with his book “Tough-Minded Management” and he was familiar with my “Management by Objectives and Results.” We also discovered that we both enjoyed exchanging puns and quips. This led to an ongoing game of “Can you top this?” which Joe usually won.
[George Morrisey, Author of Morrisey on Planning and CEO of the Morrisey Group][KP4]
References
- ↑ "CPAE Inductees - National Speakers Association". 2021-10-04. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
- ↑ "Des Moines Tribune from Des Moines, Iowa". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
- ↑ "Jean Batten Obituary".
- ↑ "Grave of Joe D Batten".
- ↑ "The Open Database Of The Corporate World". opencorporates.com. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
External links
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