Doing Good and Doing Well
Inspiring Helping Professionals to Become Leaders in Their Organisations
Michael L. Kaufman
In Doing Good & Doing Well, Michael L. Kaufman speaks directly to those in caring professions, especially educators, who are considering what leadership might look like for them. He begins with an invitation: you already hold many of the qualities of a leader (empathy, service, caring) and what’s required now is learning how to lean into those strengths without losing what you care deeply about.
What stands out is Kaufman’s use of real‑world stories. You’ll find examples from working with students, leading teams, navigating moments of burnout, and transferring helper roles into leadership tasks such as decision‑making, strategy, and culture building. These stories aren’t abstract; they feel familiar to anyone who’s managed a classroom, worked on a school team, or juggled the tension between “doing good” and “doing well.”
The structure is surprisingly gentle. Kaufman gradually builds your sense of what leadership needs: first mindset, then strength recognition, people‑skills, and finally vision. Along the way he offers tools and reflections for having difficult conversations, preserving authenticity, resisting overwhelm. Importantly, he doesn’t promise a perfect path, but a path that is honest and sustainable.
For educational leaders, teachers, pre‑service teachers, and support staff who sometimes question whether they can lead without losing heart, this book offers encouragement and practical insight. It’s not a recipe book, but more like a conversation that challenges, supports, and is full of wisdom.
If you’ve ever thought, “I want to lead, but I’m not sure how,” Doing Good & Doing Well could be the companion that helps you bridge that gap. It may very well be a book you return to as you move through different stages of leadership.
