Allan Cox (author)
Allan Cox pioneered application of the theory and practice of the Adlerian school of psychotherapy to business environments and to organizations. He also codified Alfred Adler's style of life construct as falling into two distinct sets: a looming threat or a guardian presence. Cox found that organizations have a life of their own and was the first to apply Adler's style of life theory to organizations.[1]
Allan Cox | |
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Born |
1937 Berwyn, Illinois |
Occupation | CEO, Allan Cox & Associates |
Spouse(s) | Cher Patric Cox |
Website | Allan Cox & Associates |
Biography
Early years
Allan Cox (born in 1937 in Berwyn, Illinois and raised in nearby Oak Park, Illinois) is an American Adlerian scholar, business consultant and author based in Chicago. Cox is CEO of Allan Cox & Associates, which he founded in 1969.
Cox has a B.A. in social science and an M.A. in sociology from Northern Illinois University. He also studied at the Adler School of Professional Psychology in Chicago.[2]
Cox quit McCormick Theological Seminary when he was half-way through the program toward becoming a Presbyterian minister, and enrolled at Adler University in Chicago, Illinois to study Adlerian psychology.
Career
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Cox became an executive search consultant with Spencer Stuart, then the largest global search firm in existence, and served on its management committee. Two years later, he founded a management consulting firm that bears his name. Cox also taught career development workshops at Northwestern University's Kellogg School and the University of Chicago's Graduate School of Business.[2][3]
Cox authored eight books on organizations and management including Confessions of a Corporate Headhunter (1973), which was the first book published on the topic of executive search, and Your Inner CEO: Unleash the Executive Within (2007). He wrote a series for the New York Times Sunday business section [4][5][6] and Field Newspaper syndicate (which was operated by Field Enterprises); articles for Chief Executive, Across the Board, [IndustryWeek], Training & Development Journal, Success (magazine), and Advertising Age. From 1986 to 1988 he wrote a weekly column for Los Angeles Times Syndicate entitled “The Achiever.” His 1985 book, The Making of the Achiever, was made into a six-cassette program for Nightingale-Conant, and his 1990 book on teamwork—Straight Talk for Monday Morning—led to a four-part video series produced by the Bureau of Business Practice—Straight Talk on Teams.
Much of Cox’s writing and consulting work are explicitly grounded in Alfred Adler’s theories and practices. Adler’s concepts of “social interest” and “style-of-life” are described in the Foreword that Cox wrote for the book, Leadership by Encouragement, authored by Drs. Don Dinkmeyer and Daniel Eckstein.[7] This is also true of his chapter, “The Power of Team,” which leads off the human resources section of the anthology, The Best of Chief Executive (magazine), compiled and edited by J.P. Donlon.[8] The November–December, 2007 issue of the North American Society of Adlerian Psychology Newsletter referred to Cox as “Adlerian to the bone,” quoting a Society Past President and Adler scholar, Erik Mansager.
Bibliography
- Confessions of a Corporate Headhunter
- Work, Love and Friendship-Reflections on Executive Lifestyle
- The Cox Report on the American Corporation
- The Making of the Achiever
- The Achiever's Profile
- Straight Talk for Monday Morning [9][10]
- Redefining Corporate Soul with Julie Liesse [10]
- Your Inner CEO: Unleash the Executive Within
Notes
- ↑ Eden, Yoel. "You're Outta Luck if You Miss SOL - Really!".
- 1 2 Chicago Magazine Profile (see below)
- ↑ Training Today Profile (see below)
- ↑ NY Times "Scrap Consensus, Try Diversity" (see Below)
- ↑ NY Times "Focus on Teamwork" (see Below)
- ↑ NY Times "Even 'Flat' Companies Need Leaders" (see Below)
- ↑ Leadership by Encouragement
- ↑ Best of Chief Executive
- ↑ Management Learning review
- 1 2 Business Ethics Quarterly Review
References
- "Your Inner CEO." Video of Allan Cox address to University of Chicago Booth School of Business Entrepreneurial Roundtable, October 20, 2008 http://www.vimeo.com/allancox.
- "US Business Leaders 'Are Out of Touch With Society." U.S. News & World Report. December 13, 1982. p. 83
- "Chicago Interview: Executive Recruiter Allan Cox." Chicago Magazine. April 1985. pp. 185ff.
- "Challenged to Serve-The Corporation in the New Age. A Conversation with Allan Cox." Training Today. April 1987. pp. 4–7.
- Best of Chief Executive, J.P. Donlon (ed.), Irwin, 1992.
- Leadership by Encouragement, Don Dinkmeyer and Daniel Eckstein, CRC, 1995.
- "Business Boards the 'Soul Train'." Management Review. American Management Association. June 1996. pp. 6–7.
- "Member Newsletter." North American Society of Adlerian Psychology. November–December, 2007, Vol.40, No.6
- "Full Plate: Review of The Cox Report on the American Corporation." Alan Kantrow. Across the Board. January 1983.
- "Review of 'Straight Talk for Monday Morning: Creating Values, Vision, and Vitality at Work'." Ian Oliphant-Thompson. Management Learning. 1992; 23; 81.
- "Team Building and the Pursuit of Human Authenticity (review of Straight Talk for Monday Morning)." David Smith. Business Ethics Quarterly. Vol. 3, Issue 1. 1993.
- "Soul as in Ethic (review of Redefining Corporate Soul)." Al Gini. Business Ethics Quarterly. Vol. 7, Issue 3. 1997.
- "Focus on Teamwork, Vision and Value." Allan Cox, New York Times. February 26, 1989.
- "Even 'Flat' Companies Need Leaders." Allan Cox, New York Times. August 20, 1989.
- "Scrap Consensus, Try Diversity." Allan Cox, New York Times. April 7, 1991.