New Book by Diverse Graduate Students Provides Business Tips Based on Psychology

CHATSWORTH, Calif. - Dec. 20, 2019 - PRLog -- While most graduates go their separate ways after the commencement ceremony, one group of 13 doctoral program alumni worked together to write a business book, People Practics: 17 Practical Tactics for Business & Nonprofit Success, released Tuesday. It is based on what they learned about organizational psychology. These new "doctors" graduated in April from Phillips Graduate University in Chatsworth, Calif., recently renamed the Phillips Education Center for Campbellsville University.

Editor Deborah Jackson was a graduate of the program, which taught students a mixture of business and psychology with "the practical aim of making us better business consultants and leaders."

In 2017, a professor asked the group to write a book chapter as their final semester assignment, which became the basis of People Practics. Jackson explained that the word "practics" is a combination of the words "practical" and "tactics."

"There are lots of business books out there," Jackson said. "Ours is unique in that it's based on understanding human behavior and leadership in an organizational context. And because our cohort worked together to write it."

The book discusses employee motivation, teamwork, conflict resolution, best practices in leadership, organizational culture, strategic planning, process improvement and more.

Kristyl Smith, who wrote the chapter on organizational research, said, "People Practics is the book I wish I'd had when I served as the executive director for a small nonprofit. The foundation of our doctoral program was to transfer high-level knowledge to everyday people. We have accomplished that goal wonderfully in this book."

Alice Nkore, an international student from Uganda, described the diversity of the authors. "Another member of my grad cohort is originally from Ghana. We are diverse in terms of gender, ethnicity, race, religion, and sexual orientation."

Nkore said, "Every tactic is based on extensive research. The book offers information that any business leader would pay a consultant to provide."

Sherman Mitchell, a nonprofit executive, wrote a chapter on managing change. He said, "Abraham Maslow said: 'You will either step forward into growth or backward into safety.' Our cohort had the audacity to set a goal, work tirelessly, and trust the process. Our book affirms our ability to contribute to the world as leaders."

People Practics is available through Amazon.com for $19.99; $14.99 for the e-book.

The 13 contributing authors are Bennett Annan, PsyD, EdD, MBA, MS, MA, LMFT; Margaret Easter, PsyD; Melanie Gharapetian, PsyD; Greg Hilsenrath, PsyD; Raffi Islikaplan, PsyD; Deborah A. Jackson, PsyD; Sherman L. Mitchell, II, PsyD, MAIOP, MPA; Jamie Menendez-Adamski, PsyD, MA; Ramila Naziri, PsyD; Alice Nkore, PsyD, MBA; Brandy Reid, PsyD, LMFT; Shari Scott, PsyD, MA; and Kristyl J. L. Smith, PsyD.

For more information about the book, visit accentonwords.com.