OFF THE SHELF
A virtual book club for the modern learner
What's new
DISABILITY AWARENESS MONTH
MARCH 2024
Disability Awareness Month emphasizes the need for accessible infrastructure, inclusive policies, and societal attitudes that enable people with disabilities to participate fully in all aspects of life. This month, OFF THE SHELF is featuring a bookshelf of resources that recognize the countless contributions individuals with disabilities bring to our workplaces, our society, and our world.
NATIONAL READING MONTH
MARCH 2024
National Reading Month is a time to celebrate and promote reading, literacy, and the love of books. The goal of National Reading Month is to encourage people of all ages to make reading a daily habit, and to raise awareness of the importance of literacy for personal and societal development. This month, OFF THE SHELF is featuring a bookshelf of popular business books, articles, audiobooks, book summaries, and audio summaries released to Percipio in 2023.
MONTHLY SELECTIONS
UPDATED MONTHLY
Each month we feature one of our most popular titles on relevant, timely topics, and we include discussion questions to promote provocative conversations. This thoughtful curation process ensures that our readers are consistently engaged with content that is not only significant, but that fosters a genuine connection between readable assets and the world around us.
What is a virtual book club?
Virtual book clubs allow and encourage people with similar interests to share and gain different perspectives in an effort to promote learning and engagement. Harvard Business Review ran an article about the benefits and popularity of corporate book clubs—saying that they can be good for the mind, good for leadership, and good for business.
Skillsoft’s Off the Shelf
Skillsoft’s OFF THE SHELF isn’t a typical book club… it’s a great benefit for employees and the entire organization. Designed for business professionals, OFF THE SHELF gives readers access to ebooks, audiobooks, and book summary content to enrich the learning experience.
Why Book Clubs Matter
FOSTER
The practice of reading and learning.
START
A provocative discussion.
GET TEAMS
Talking and listening to each other.
APPLY
Ideas and concepts to your business.
The Solution
HAND SELECTED TITLES
- Key titles chosen from the Skillsoft library
- Offers a relevant and meaningful learning experience
MONTHLY BOOK SELECTIONS
- Learners can add the ebook, audiobook, or book summary to their playlist
- Flexibility to read or listen at their convenience
FACILITATOR’S GUIDE
- Helps organizations support their own virtual book club discussions
- Readers can apply the book’s ideas and elevate the conversation
- Create and launch your own book club
- Align with corporate initiatives and themes
- Empower people to lead discussions and select topics and/or books
Take learning OFF THE SHELF.
Skillsoft created this virtual book club to support learning and engagement in your employees, your teams, and your organization. The Facilitator’s Guide makes it easy to launch homegrown book clubs in your company.
Launch Engagement and Discussion
Book clubs are good for your business. Many companies already use book clubs as a way to connect people around a central topic, get coworkers and colleagues talking and working together, and foster a culture of learning. Just imagine how a book club discussion can spark innovation, new ideas, and strengthen professional relationships.
Ready to Get Started?
ACCESS
The book, audiobook, or book summary on Skillport or Percipio.
JOIN US
For our next book club title and discussion questions.
DISABILITY AWARENESS MONTH
POSITIVELY PURPLE: BUILD AN INCLUSIVE WORLD WHERE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES CAN FLOURISH
by Kate Nash | Kogan Page © 2022
For many people with a disability, either visible or invisible, that experience is hard to navigate in the context of work. Champion change, for yourself and others, challenge stigma and become Positively Purple.
Sharing a compelling personal story, Kate Nash offers practical advice for how employers can build environments of trust and support for those with disabilities, how employees with disabilities can advocate for themselves and flourish in the workplace and how those without disabilities can be true allies.
Don't become guilty of the soft bigotry of low expectations when it comes to disabled colleagues, employees and customers. Build disability confidence and help create spaces where people with disabilities feel valued and included.
DISABILITY VISIBILITY: FIRST-PERSON STORIES FROM THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY
by Alice Wong (ed) | Kogan Page © 2022
One in five people in the United States lives with a disability. Some disabilities are visible, others less apparent—but all are underrepresented in media and popular culture. Activist Alice Wong brings together this urgent, galvanizing collection of contemporary essays by disabled people, just in time for the thirtieth anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
From Harriet McBryde Johnson’s account of her debate with Peter Singer over her own personhood to original pieces by authors like Keah Brown and Haben Girma; from blog posts, manifestos, and eulogies to Congressional testimonies, and beyond: this anthology gives a glimpse into the rich complexity of the disabled experience, highlighting the passions, talents, and everyday lives of this community.
DISABILITY FRIENDLY: HOW TO MOVE FROM CLUELESS TO INCLUSIVE
by John D. Kemp | John Wiley & Sons (US) © 2023
Although progress has been made around equality for many marginalized groups, people with disabilities are still massively underrepresented in organizations’ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts. People with disabilities make up at least 15% of the population, yet they are still too often overlooked. Many people with disabilities are highly motivated, create fantastic work, and add tremendous value to organizations.
Disability Friendly is a clarion call to businesses around the world to realize the opportunities presented by employing people with disabilities. It explains the potential of disabled employees, how to create a culture of inclusion, and, in the process, help people with disabilities become proud contributors.
DEMYSTIFYING DISABILITY: WHAT TO KNOW, WHAT TO SAY, AND HOW TO BE AN ALLY
by Emily Ladau | Published by Ten Speed Press © 2021
People with disabilities are the world’s largest minority, an estimated 15 percent of the global population. But many of us—disabled and nondisabled alike—don’t know how to act, what to say, or how to be an ally to the disability community. Demystifying Disability is a friendly handbook on the important disability issues you need to know about, including: How to appropriately think, talk, and ask about disability, Practicing good disability etiquette, and Ensuring accessibility becomes your standard practice, from everyday communication to planning special events.
Authored by celebrated disability rights advocate, speaker, and writer Emily Ladau, this practical, intersectional guide offers all readers a welcoming place to understand disability as part of the human experience.
LIFE OF THE MIND INTERRUPTED: ESSAYS ON MENTAL HEALTH AND DISABILITY
by Katie Rose Guest Pyral | Blackstone Audio, Inc. dba Blackstone Publishing © 2022
In these deeply personal, fiery essays, Pryal tells her story of transformation that began the moment she chose to publicly disclose her own mental illness and leave her career in higher education to begin fighting for a better world for people with psychiatric disabilities. The stories she tells are universal: the fear of stigma, the fight for accommodations, and the raw reality of living with mental illness in a world that pushes mental health to the margins.
People carelessly call each other “schizo” and “bipolar.” A colleague is fired for “instability.” Pryal learned that, as a psychiatrically disabled person working in higher education, her very livelihood could be stripped away by the groundless suspicions of others.
SWIMMING AGAINST THE TIDE: TRUE STORY OF PARA SWIMMER MADHAVI LATHA
by Madhavi Latha Prathigudupu | Published by SAGE Publications Pvt. Ltd | © 2021
Swimming Against the Tide is an inspirational story about an ordinary woman with extraordinary grit who set out to create a fair and inclusive world for the persons with disability.
When she was seven months old, a massive polio attack left Madhavi paralyzed below the shoulder. But her parents refused to leave her to her fate. With their most powerful wealth―patience and love―they gave Madhavi the wings to set out and conquer the world on her own terms.
Triumphing over a near-death situation with hydrotherapy, she eventually became a national champion in para swimming. She then started a movement called ‘Yes, We Too Can!!!’ and co-opted other athletes with disabilities to realize their dreams through access to sports.
VISION STATEMENT: A BLIND MAN’S VIEW OF LIFE FROM THE INSIDE OUT
by Tom Sullivan | Blackstone Audio, Inc. dba Blackstone Publishing © 2022
Life as experienced from the inside out, rather than the outside in, offers us a path to the elimination of labels that cripple our ability to love and care for each other with open hearts and open minds.
With a life in show business touched by relationships with stars like Michael Landon, Robin Williams, and the incomparable Betty White, Tom’s personal stories weave a tapestry that offer the listener concrete examples of his unique approach to inside-out vision. At a time when we are being torn apart by unspeakable violence, social injustice, and political cronyism, this book stands as a beacon of hope reminding us of the light that shines out from inside each of us.
YOUR BRAIN’S NOT BROKEN: STRATEGIES FOR NAVIGATING YOUR EMOTIONS AND LIFE WITH ADHD
by Tamara Rosier | Published by Diversion Books © 2023
If you have ADHD, your brain doesn't work in the same way as a "normal" or neurotypical brain does because it's wired differently. You and others may see this difference in circuitry as somehow wrong or incomplete. It isn't. It does present you with significant challenges like time management, organization skills, forgetfulness, trouble completing tasks, mood swings, and relationship problems.
In Your Brain's Not Broken, Dr. Tamara Rosier explains how ADHD affects every aspect of your life. You'll finally understand why you think, feel, and act the way you do. Dr. Rosier applies her years of coaching others to offer you the critical practical tools that can dramatically improve your life and relationships.
Discussion questions
- How has Positively Purple influenced your perspective and self-awareness?
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
- Who could you ‘tell’ about the book or share your thoughts about it with? Who would care and/or benefit the most?
Discussion questions
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
- How has Disability Visibility influenced your perspective and self-awareness?
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
Discussion questions
- What new insights did you gather from Disability Friendly that have influenced your perspective?
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned?
- Was there a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
Discussion questions
- What was the most important, relevant thing you learned from reading the book?
- What new insights did you gather from Demystifying Disability?
- What’s one thing the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
Discussion questions
- What new insights did you gather from Life of the Mind Interrupted that have influenced your perspective?
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned?
- Was there a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
Discussion questions
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned?
- Was there a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
Discussion questions
- What new insights did you gather from Vision Statement that have influenced your perspective?
- What was your favorite quote from the book? Why?
- What’s one thing the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
Discussion questions
- What was the most important, relevant thing you learned from reading the book?
- What new insights did you gather from Your Brain’s Not Broken?
- What’s one thing the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
NATIONAL READING MONTH
d
THE THRESHOLD: LEADING IN THE AGE OF AI
by Nick Chatrath | Diversion Books © 2023
In the face of increasingly intelligent technology, old models of leadership are becoming obsolete. In The Threshold, accomplished leadership consultant Nick Chatrath interweaves an analysis of antiquated leadership models—the ones that leave AI-Era organizations exposed and ineffective with colleagues frustrated, unmotivated, and burnt-out—with his newly developed strategies for more effective “threshold” leadership methods. Supported with anecdotes, research, and a practical toolkit, The Threshold demonstrates that adaptive, effective organizations can be built with human, emotional intelligence: cultivating stillness, nurturing independent thinking, finding rhythms of rest and performance, and raising leadership consciousness. The Threshold illuminates how accessing advanced stages of human development can be both competitive and harmonious with AI’s growing insinuation into our working world.
INFLUENCE IS YOUR SUPERPOWER: THE SCIENCE OF WINNING HEARTS, SPARKING CHANGE, AND MAKING GOOD THINGS HAPPEN
by Zoe Chance | Random House © 2022
You were born influential. But then you were taught to suppress that power, to follow the rules, to wait your turn, to not make waves. Award-winning Yale professor Zoe Chance will show you how to rediscover the superpower that brings great ideas to life.
Influence doesn’t work the way you think because you don’t think the way you think. Move past common misconceptions—such as the idea that asking for more will make people dislike you—and understand why your go-to negotiation strategies are probably making you less influential. Discover the one thing that influences behavior more than anything else. Learn to cultivate charisma, negotiate comfortably and creatively, and spot manipulators before it’s too late.
THE LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE: HOW TO MAKE EXTRAORDINARY THINGS HAPPEN IN ORGANIZATIONS, 7TH EDITION
by James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner | John Wiley & Sons (US) © 2022
In the new seventh edition ofThe Leadership Challenge, best-selling leadership authors and business scholars James Kouzes and Barry Posner deliver an essential strategic playbook for effective leadership. The book’s actionable advice is grounded in robust research and deep insights into the complex interpersonal dynamics of the workplace.
Premier authorities in the field, the authors frame leadership as both a skill to be learned and as a relationship to be nurtured. They demonstrate how to achieve extraordinary results in the face of contemporary business challenges with engaging stories, current case studies, and straightforward frameworks for those who seek continuous, incremental improvement.
[BRIEF]: MAKE A BIGGER IMPACT
by Saying Less by Joseph McCormack | Gildan Media © 2022
The only way to survive in business today is to be a lean communicator. Buried in information and barraged by non-stop interruptions, executives don’t have time to waste. So, throw them a lifeline and be brief.
In his book with Wiley & Sons, Joe McCormack tackles the impact of brevity in business. And related Brief Lab workshops complement the recommendations in the book.
The mastery of BRIEF requires three awareness, discipline and decisiveness. You need to do the groundwork to make your message tight and to the point. Brevity isn’t a nicety, it’s a necessity. If you’re serious about mastering concise communication, order the book and get started today.
MIT SLOAN MANAGEMENT REVIEW ARTICLE ON THE ROLE OF CULTURE IN ENABLING CHANGE
by MIT Sloan Management Review | MIT Sloan Management © 2023
Culture is often described as “how we do things around here” — a passive reflection of legacy norms and behaviors. It’s more helpful to think of culture as the nervous system of an organization. In biology, the central nervous system is the pathway by which thoughts in our brains are translated into actions by our muscles, and how our experience of acting in the world updates our brain’s understanding of the world. In organizations, this means thinking of culture as the transmission mechanism by which a company both communicates its intended strategy to the front lines and receives feedback and intelligence from the field about whether the strategy is achieving the intended outcomes in the market.
GOOD POWER: LEADING POSITIVE CHANGE IN OUR LIVES, WORK, AND WORLD
by Ginni Rometty | Gildan Media © 2023
One of the world's most respected leaders, former IBM CEO Ginni Rometty overcame childhood and financial struggles to embark on a groundbreaking career.
The book begins with raw, vivid memories from Rometty's youth and early professional life as she reflects on the trauma and role models that influenced how she later thought about good power. Rometty then shares how she strived to use good power during her career and as a transformative CEO. Five principles-be in service of many stakeholders, build belief among skeptics, make tough choices, champion tech ethics and inclusion, be resilient-show how to navigate tension and build trust on the path to real change.
DEEP TALENT: HOW TO TRANSFORM YOUR ORGANIZATION AND EMPOWER YOUR EMPLOYEES THROUGH AI
by Ashutosh Garg, Alexandra Levit, Kamal Ahluwalia | Kogan Page © 2023
It's vital that leaders do everything they can to hire, develop and keep the people who are driving their growth and help them recognize their skills, capabilities and potential. Deep Talent provides strategies and approaches that any business leader can adopt to reinvigorate their workforce. It highlights the rising significance of talent intelligence platforms which, when combined with human instinct, can streamline and enhance business practices.
Drawing upon fascinating case studies and first-hand research, Deep Talent provides clear strategies for supporting your workforce and using AI to its full potential. Uncover the cutting-edge ways in which you can reinvigorate the enthusiasm and productivity of your workforce and attract the best talent to your organization.
Discussion questions
- Was there a particular story from the book that resonated with you, and why?
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
- What are the most relevant concepts you learned from The Threshold?
Discussion questions
- What was the most important, relevant thing you learned from reading the book?
- What new insights did you gather from Influence is Your Superpower?
- What’s one thing the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
Discussion questions
- What new insights did you gather from The Leadership Challenge that have influenced your perspective?
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned?
- Was there a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
Discussion questions
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned?
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
- Who could you ‘tell’ about the book or share your thoughts about it with? Who would care and/or benefit the most?
Discussion questions
- What was the most important, relevant thing you learned from reading the book?
- What new insights did you gather from MIT Sloan Management Review Article on the Role of Culture in Enabling Change?
- What’s one thing the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
Discussion questions
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
- How has Good Power influenced your perspective and self-awareness?
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
Discussion questions
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned?
- Was there a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
WELLNESS LEARNING MONTH
How to Heal Toxic Thoughts: Simple Tools for Personal Transformation
by Sandra Ingerman | Recorded Books, Inc. © 2022
We may not realize it consciously, but negative feelings can be as toxic as physical poisons, wearing on us and causing depression, illness, and burnout. But how can we keep ourselves safe in a world too often ruled by resentment, jealousy, rage, and stress? How to Heal Toxic Thoughtsprovides the cure, and it lies in the ancient principle of alchemy. Many people think that the old alchemists were trying to turn lead into gold. But in actuality, as Sandra Ingerman—a practicing shaman and psychologist—reveals, they were metaphorically working on transforming heavy leaded consciousness into gold light consciousness. Using their theories, Ingerman offers strategies for processing the harmful thoughts and emotions that hit us throughout our day. Instead of sending and receiving lethal energy, you will learn, through meditations, visualizations, and other exercises, how to radiate positive thoughts and shield yourself from those that are destructive. Her methods of simple . . . but they can change you, others, and the world.
The Self-Care Mindset: Rethinking How We Change and Grow, Harness Well-Being, and Reclaim Work-Life Quality
by Jeanette Bronee | John Wiley & Sons (US) © 2022
In The Self-Care Mindset, celebrated well-being and mindset expert Jeanette Bronée delivers an actionable and groundbreaking approach that challenges us to rethink self-care at work so we no longer have to choose between being healthy and being successful. With Jeanette’s inclusive approach to self-care, you will receive the tools to protect and unlock our most important resource: our humanity. You’ll learn how to better manage stress, break free from living in survival mode, and navigate FUD (fear, uncertainty, and doubt) so you can harness change and grow by reclaiming agency and recovering what you care about.
Happy Healthy You: Your Total Wellness Toolkit for Renewing Body, Soul, and Mind
by KJ Landis | Blackstone Audio, Inc. dba Blackstone Publishing © 2018
We are all so busy nowadays, and tackling all those to-do lists can leave us drained, worn down, and lacking energy. When you take a deeper look inside, you will also discover patterns, old habits, and past events blocking self-growth.
Life coach extraordinaire, KJ Landis, helps identify how, why, and where we got stuck in the first place, and how we can utilize past trauma and drama as a springboard to becoming our most authentic, vibrant selves. As one of KJ's students enthuses, "She has taught me several tangible strategies to cope with stress...I am using KJ's simple techniques to achieve my lifelong health goals."
Yoga Classes for the Complete Beginner: 4 Yoga Classes Suitable for the Complete Beginner
by Sue Fuller | Blackstone Audio, Inc. dba Blackstone Publishing © 2021
This audio set contains four different yoga classes suitable for the complete beginner.
Yoga for the Complete Beginner is a gentle, nurturing class that lays a foundation and prepares the body and mind for regular yoga practice. More Yoga for the Complete Beginner naturally follows and includes a different selection of postures, adding variety to your practice. Yoga Flow for the Complete Beginner introduces the concept of vinyasa flow and moves the body gently through different postures whilst synchronizing the breath and movement. Yoga Nidra for the Complete Beginner introduces the ancient practice of yoga nidra.
#HEALTHY: Rewiring the Brain for Healthy Weight Loss
by Crystal Dwyer, Kusha Karvandi, Dan Palomino | Made for Success © 2018
Finally, a guide on how to live the lifestyle of that girl on Instagram, without all the obnoxious hashtags!
Instead of doing an annoying diet and barraging people with #whole30 #keto #skinny, take a different approach and change your mindset to break food's grip on your life. In this program, you will learn to lose weight naturally as a result of changing how you think about food; gain more energy as your body naturally cleans and refreshes; feel better overall-your self-image, mind, and physical body together; and kick yourself into a better lifestyle and live the life of the skinny b!@#$ ... without annoying all your friends, family, and strangers in the process.
Your Brain on Exercise
by Gary L. Wenk | Oxford University Press (US) © 2021
Decades of research demonstrate that regular modest levels of exercise improve heart and lung function and may relieve joint pain. Regular daily exercise will help your body to regulate blood sugar levels and reduce inflammation, and many of these benefits are a consequence of reducing the amount of body fat you carry around. Your body clearly benefits in many ways from regular exercise. Your Brain on Exercise skillfully blends scholarship with illuminating insights and clarity. Without requiring any specialized knowledge about the brain, Your Brain on Exercise entertainingly illustrates the intersection between brain health, the consequences of exercise, and our need to eat in an entirely new light. An internationally renowned neuroscientist and medical researcher, Dr. Wenk has been educating college and medical students about the brain and lecturing around the world for more than forty years.
Techniques of Healthy Cooking, 4th Edition
by The Culinary Institute of America | John Wiley & Sons (US) © 2013
Choosing a healthy eating pattern is vitally important, as diet directly influences health. From The Culinary Institute of America, Techniques of Healthy Cooking is a comprehensive kitchen reference for understanding nutrition concepts, creating healthy eating patterns, developing healthy recipes and menus, and cooking healthy recipes. From soups, salads, and appetizers to main dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, there are nearly 500 recipes with more than 150 four-color photographs of ingredients, techniques, and finished dishes.
A Walk in the Wood: Meditations on Mindfulness with a Bear Named Pooh
by Joseph Parent, Nancy Parent | Recorded Books, Inc. © 2018
The benefits of mindfulness are well recognized: greater peace of mind, less stress, and the opportunity to work through and transform thoughts, memories, and worries. It also fosters equanimity, helping us accept the changes and challenges life brings.
In our frantic world, who better to guide listeners through this transformative practice than a long-beloved bear who has perfected the art of simply being? (And, not coincidentally, he lives in the woods.
There is a growing acknowledgment of the benefits of deeply experiencing nature. The calming quality of sounds like running water and rustling leaves, the soothing properties of smells like lavender and chamomile, and the emotional comfort of beautiful natural vistas are well known.
Discussion Questions
- What new insights did you gather from How to Heal Toxic Thoughts that have influenced your perspective?
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned?
- Was there a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
Discussion Questions
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
- How has The Self-Care Mindset influenced your perspective and self-awareness?
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
Discussion Questions
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned?
- Was there a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
Discussion Questions
- How has Yoga Classes for the Complete Beginner influenced your perspective and self-awareness?
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
- Who could you ‘tell’ about the book or share your thoughts about it with? Who would care and/or benefit the most?
Discussion Questions
- What was the most important, relevant thing you learned from reading the book?
- What new insights did you gather from #HEALTHY?
- What’s one thing the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
Discussion Questions
- What new insights did you gather from Your Brain on Exercisethat have influenced your perspective?
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned?
- Was there a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
Discussion Questions
- What was the most important, relevant thing you learned from reading the book?
- What new insights did you gather from Techniques of Healthy Cooking?
- What’s one thing the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
Discussion Questions
- What new insights did you gather from A Walk in the Wood that have influenced your perspective?
- What was your favorite quote from the book? Why?
- What’s one thing the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
AI Fundamentals Month
THE NEW AUTOMATION MINDSET: THE LEADERSHIP BLUEPRINT FOR THE ERA OF AI-FOR-ALL
by Scott Brinker, Vijay Tella, Massimo Pezzini | John Wiley & Sons (US) © 2023
Digital transformation of the business landscape is well underway, and businesses are being reshaped faster than ever before. Agility and adaptability are now critical components of these business' survival. But building these traits requires a holistic approach with an unrelenting focus on automation. How does one go about developing that focus?
In The New Automation Mindset: The Leadership Blueprint for the Era of AI-for-All, renowned entrepreneur and tech strategists Vijay Tella, Scott Brinker, and Massimo Pezzini deliver a guide to implementing automation in the real world, avoiding jargon and vague bromides in favor of concrete examples of the successful integration of automated technologies and descriptions of the positive results they had on the companies that deployed them.
ChatGPT FOR DUMMIES
by Pam Baker | John Wiley & Sons (US) © 2023
ChatGPT For Dummies demystifies the artificial intelligence tool that can answer questions, write essays, and generate just about any kind of text it’s asked for. This powerful example of generative AI is widely predicted to upend education and business. In this book, you’ll learn how ChatGPT works and how you can operate it in a way that yields satisfactory results. You’ll also explore the ethics of using AI-generated content for various purposes. Written by a journalist who's been on the front lines of artificial intelligence for over a decade, this book dives deep into ChatGPT’s potential, so you can make informed decisions―without asking ChatGPT for help.
This just-in-time Dummies title is perfect for any life or career may be impacted by ChatGPT and other AI. ChatGPT is just the tip of the iceberg, and this book can help you prepare for the future.
THE AGE OF AI: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND THE FUTURE OF HUMANITY
by Jason Thacker | Harpercollins Leadership © 2020
Are robots going to take my job? How are smartphones affecting my kids? Do I need to worry about privacy when I get online or ask Siri for directions? Whatever questions you have about AI, The Age of AI gives you insights on how to navigate this brand-new world as you apply God's ageless truths to your life and future.
We interact with artificial intelligence, or AI, nearly every moment of the day without knowing it. From our Twitter and Facebook social media feeds to our online carts to smart thermostats and Alexa and Google Home, AI is everywhere. In The Age of AI, Jason Thacker helps us navigate our digital age in this thoughtful exploration of the social, moral, and ethical challenges of our ongoing interactions with artificial intelligence.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN DAILY LIFE
by Raymond S. T. Lee | Springer © 2020
Given the exponential growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI) over the past few decades, AI and its related applications have become part of daily life in ways that we could never have dreamt of only a century ago. Our routines have been changed beyond measure by robotics and AI, which are now used in a vast array of services. This book introduces readers to basic Artificial Intelligence concepts, and helps them understand the relationship between AI and daily life.
Part I (AI Concepts) presents fundamental concepts of and information on AI, Part II (AI Technology) introduces the five core AI Technologies that provide the building blocks for various AI application, Part III (AI Applications) reviews contemporary applications, and Part IV (Beyond AI) addresses topics that are vital to the future development of AI.
OUR PLANET POWERED BY AI
by Mark Minevich | John Wiley & Sons (Us) © 2023
In Our Planet Powered by AI, renowned AI strategist and pioneer Mark Minevich delivers an exciting and practical discussion of how to implement groundbreaking artificial intelligence technologies at every level of your organization. You’ll learn to create sustainable, effective competitive advantage by introducing previously unheard-of levels of adaptability, resilience, and innovation into your company.
Using real-world case studies from a variety of well-known industry leaders, the author explains the strategic archetypes, technological infrastructures, and cultures of sustainability you’ll need to ensure your firm’s next-level digital transformation takes root. Our Planet Powered by AI is an engaging and hands-on exploration of how to take your firm to new levels of dynamism and growth.
THE THRESHOLD: LEADING IN THE AGE OF AI
by Nick Chatrath | Diversion Books © 2023
Are you uncertain about leading in a technological era but eager to embrace new models of leadership? Do you want to learn how to build an adaptive, effective organization? Perhaps you’re keen on leveraging the qualities that make us innately human, as we stand on the brink of an age of AI superintelligence? This book is for individuals at all levels―from the C-suite to the mail room ―who are ready to merge humanness and leadership in the world of AI.
Nick Chatrath delves into the leadership skills that are necessary to help organizations successfully transition into the age of artificial intelligence, or AI. According to the author, navigating this unfamiliar and turbulent world requires a fundamental change in mindset and leadership approach.
Rise Of Generative AI and ChatGPT
by Utpal Chakraborty, Soumyadeep Roy, Sumit Kumar | BPB Publications © 2023
Generative AI and ChatGPT have the potential to transform industries and society by improving efficiency, enhancing creativity, and enabling more personalized experiences. If you are someone who is looking to stay ahead of the curve in this rapidly evolving digital age and utilize its potential, this book is for you.
This book gives a comprehensive overview of Generative AI and ChatGPT, the cutting-edge technologies that have gained significant attention in recent times. The book aims to provide a thorough understanding of these technologies, architectures, and training methods, including their background, development process, and current state. The book helps discover innovative ways in which these technologies have been implemented to achieve measurable benefits, including improved efficiency, customer satisfaction, security, and revenue growth and its potential application across different industries and use cases.
LIFE 3.0: BEING HUMAN IN THE AGE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
by Max Tegmark | Penguin Books © 2017
How can we grow our prosperity through automation without leaving people lacking income or purpose? What career advice should we give today’s kids? How can we make future AI systems more robust, so that they do what we want without crashing, malfunctioning or getting hacked? Should we fear an arms race in lethal autonomous weapons? Will machines eventually outsmart us at all tasks, replacing humans on the job market and perhaps altogether? Will AI help life flourish like never before or give us more power than we can handle? What sort of future do you want?
This book empowers you to join what may be the most important conversation of our time. It doesn’t shy away from the full range of viewpoints or from the most controversial issues—from superintelligence to meaning, consciousness and the ultimate physical limits on life in the cosmos.
Discussion Questions
- What new insights did you gather from The New Automation Mindset that have influenced your perspective?
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned?
- Was there a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
Discussion Questions
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
- How has ChatGPT For Dummies influenced your perspective?
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
Discussion Questions
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned?
- Was there a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
Discussion Questions
- How has Artificial Intelligence in Daily Life influenced your perspective and self-awareness?
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
- Who could you ‘tell’ about the book or share your thoughts about it with? Who would care and/or benefit the most?
Discussion Questions
- What was the most important, relevant thing you learned from reading the book?
- What new insights did you gather from Our Planet Powered by AI?
- What’s one thing the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
Discussion Questions
- What new insights did you gather from The Threshold that have influenced your perspective?
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned?
- Was there a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
Discussion Questions
- What was the most important, relevant thing you learned from reading the book?
- What new insights did you gather from Rise of Generative AI and ChatGPT?
- What’s one thing the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
Discussion Questions
- What new insights did you gather from Life 3.0 that have influenced your perspective?
- What was your favorite quote from the book? Why?
- What’s one thing the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
Work and Life Balance Month
Beating Burnout, Finding Balance
by Melo Calarco | John Wiley & Sons (US) © 2023
Never-ending to-do lists, constant deadlines, intense workloads and the guilty feeling you’re not doing enough—does this sound all too familiar? If so, it’s time to take a step back and find a better balance for your work and life. In this book, you’ll discover the simple practices that will help you create a healthy mindset, boost your wellbeing and prevent overwhelm. So say goodbye to fatigue: with Beating Burnout, Finding Balance, you’ll rediscover the energy you need to thrive. Through inspirational stories and proven techniques, from mountaintop monasteries to executive boardrooms, Beating Burnout, Finding Balance gives you the tools to achieve your goals and live more meaningfully and mindfully.
Embracing the Calm in the Chaos: How to Find Success in Business and Life Through Perseverance, Connection, and Collaboration
by Stacy Igel | HarperCollins Leadership © 2023
Stacy Igel, founder of the global fashion line BOY MEETS GIRL®, walks you through the highs and lows of creating a business: how to establish a brand and attract customers, hire and fire employees, collaborate with business partners, rise up from the midst of discouragement, and not just survive the rollercoaster of entrepreneurship—but thrive.
Stacy shares her twenty-year journey of growing her company from the ground up while powering through life’s challenges. Today, with her clothing sold in Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s, and other stores worldwide, Stacy has climbed to the top of the ladder—but instead of pausing to look at the view, she’s pulling other women up with her.
Chained to a Desk in a Hybrid World: A Guide to Work-Life Balance
by Bryan E. Robinson | Recorded Books, Inc. © 2023
Americans love a hard worker. The employee who toils eighteen-hour days and eats meals on the run between appointments is usually viewed with a combination of respect and awe. But for many, this lifestyle leads to family problems, a decline in work productivity, and, ultimately, physical and mental burnout. Chained to the Desk in a Hybrid World provides an inside look at the impact of work stress on those who live and work with workaholics—partners, spouses, children, and colleagues—as well as the appropriate techniques for clinicians who treat them.
Chained to the Desk in a Hybrid World both counsels and consoles. It provides a step-by-step guide to help listeners spot, understand, and ultimately recover from workaholism.
Powered by Me: From Burned Out to Fully Charged at Work and Life
by Neha Sangwan | McGraw-Hill © 2024
This global epidemic is not merely a case of working too hard or feeling physically exhausted for an extended period of time. According to physician, executive coach, and speaker Neha Sangwan—an expert empowering corporate leaders and organizational teams to excel under pressure—burnout is due to prolonged stress and an ongoing net drain of energy on one or more of five levels: physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual. When we burn out, our productivity suffers, our health declines, and we’re more reactive in our relationships. Not having the resources to handle challenging circumstances, address conflict, or maintain healthy boundaries worsens stress and dysfunction in our professional and personal lives.
The Self-Care Mindset: How We Change and Grow, Harness Well-Being, And Reclaim Work-Life Quality
by Jeanette Bronee | John Wiley & Sons (US) © 2022
The world has changed, our lives have changed, and in recent years, our work has changed. Despite the disruption, our relationship and understanding of self-care have remained the same as we still see it as something fluffy or a perfect list of habits that we “do” alone outside of work to recover. But what if self-care wasn’t something we “do”? What if self-care is a mindset that allows us to achieve peak performance, engagement, and growth without burning out and sacrificing our health and joy?
A can’t-miss resource for busy professionals and business leaders everywhere, The Self-Care Mindset will find its way into the hands of managers, executives, board members, and anyone else who struggles to be busy and find fulfillment and happiness in their working lives at the same time.
The Work-Life Balance Myth: Rethinking Your Optimal Balance For Success
by David J. McNeff | McGraw-Hill © 2021
An empowering guide that will show you how to shed the myth of the “work-life balance” by merging the seven key components that make up your life to attain harmony and whole-life success.
“All of us have Seven Slices in our lives: our Family Slice, our Professional Slice, our Personal Slice, our Physical Slice, our Intellectual Slice, our Emotional Slice, and our Spiritual Slice. These all need to be served in some fashion―and in serving them, they, in turn, serve us.”
What this book will do is provide you with proven new ways of framing your life, seeing stress for what it is, and vastly improving your ability to navigate the emotional challenges that will inevitably arise in a way that serves your Seven Slices.
Balance is BS: How to Have a Work. Life. Blend.
by Tamara Loehr | John Wiley & Sons (US) © 2019
Balance is B.S. is an unflinching and honest look at the challenges today’s working woman faces in balancing her professional and personal lives. In the United States, women comprise over 40% of household income. Increased gender diversity in the modern business landscape continues to have a positive impact on bottom lines and revenue reports across the economy, and offers significant benefits for ambitious women in the workplace. This increase of women in the workforce does present a serious problem—women are working longer and harder outside of the home, but their workload has not lessened inside of the home. While their career prospects rise, expectations of their family and personal lives remain flat. Women pursue the mythical “work-life” balance, and feel guilty for not reaching it. There is a better way.
The Golden Apple: Redefining Work-Life Balance for a Diverse Workforce
by Mason Donovan | Bibliomotion © 2016
Organizations are coming to the reality that work-life balance is no longer solely an issue for working women. As we progress further into the 21st century, workers and ways of working are changing. We have four generations operating together in the workplace, and a tremendous variety of professional expectations, values, goals, and needs. People want to work, but more and more need work to work better in their lives. Backed by 20 years of talent engagement expertise, The Golden Apple bridges the gap between awareness and action, giving leaders practical solutions they can take for immediate impact. In short, the book shows how full engagement of a diverse, inclusive workforce is the competitive advantage of our time.
Discussion Questions
- What new insights did you gather from Beating Burnout, Finding Balance that have influenced your perspective?
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned?
- Was there a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
Discussion Questions
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
- How has Embracing the Calm in the Chaos influenced your perspective and self-awareness?
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
Discussion Questions
- What new insights did you gather from Chained to a Desk in a Hybrid World that have influenced your perspective?
- What was your favorite quote from the book? Why?
- What’s one thing the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
Discussion Questions
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned?
- Was there a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
Discussion Questions
- How has The Self-Care Mindset influenced your perspective and self-awareness?
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
- Who could you ‘tell’ about the book or share your thoughts about it with? Who would care and/or benefit the most?
Discussion Questions
- What was the most important, relevant thing you learned from reading the book?
- What new insights did you gather from The Work-Life Balance Myth?
- What’s one thing the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
Discussion Questions
- What new insights did you gather from Balance is BS that have influenced your perspective?
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned?
- Was there a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
Discussion Questions
- What was the most important, relevant thing you learned from reading the book?
- What new insights did you gather from The Golden Apple?
- What’s one thing the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
Stress Awareness Week
Beating Burnout, Finding Balance
by Melo Calarco | John Wiley & Sons (US) © 2023
Never-ending to-do lists, constant deadlines, intense workloads and the guilty feeling you’re not doing enough—does this sound all too familiar? If so, it’s time to take a step back and find a better balance for your work and life. In this book, you’ll discover the simple practices that will help you create a healthy mindset, boost your well-being and prevent overwhelm. So say goodbye to fatigue: with Beating Burnout, Finding Balance, you’ll rediscover the energy you need to thrive.
Mindfulness for the Wandering Mind: Life-Changing Tools for Managing Stress and Improving Mental Health at Work and In Life
by Pandit Dasa | Gildan Media © 2023
Written by a monk-turned-leadership-guru, Mindfulness For the Wandering Mind offers unique insight on how you can focus your mind, become more resilient, respond better to conflict, and build stronger professional (and personal) relationships. It's all possible when you begin to understand how your mind works and take control of this complicated mechanism. This book will show you how to identify and close the "apps" that are constantly running in your own mind, so you can eliminate distractions and find greater peace and productivity in your daily life.
Rewire Your Brain 2.0: Five Healthy Factors to a Better Life
by John B. Arden | John Wiley & Sons (US) © 2023
In the newly revised Rewire Your Brain 2.0, distinguished psychologist Dr. John B. Arden delivers an essential discussion of how to apply the latest developments in neuroscience, epigenetics, and immunology to help improve your mood, memory, lives, longevity, and relationships. You’ll learn to overcome mild depression and anxiety, procrastination, burnout, compassion fatigue, and a variety of other negative thought patterns. A practical and hands-on roadmap to applying new advances in neuroscience, psychology, gene expression, and immune system research to everyday problems we all face.
Farther, Faster, and Far Less Drama: How to Reduce Stress and Make Extraordinary Progress Wherever You Lead
by Janice Fraser and John Fraser | Gildan Media © 2023
Everyone wishes life could be simpler in this fast-paced world, but that often feels impossible. It doesn't have to. Janice and Jason Fraser have been using their method for decades to help all kinds of people—including Navy SEALs, startup CEOs, and Fortune 100 executives—make progress in both their professional and personal lives by solving hard problems with grace. The approach is simple but powerful, calling on listeners to: orient honestly, value outcomes, leverage brains, and make durable decisions. Farther, Faster, and Far Less Drama offers theory alongside hands-on exercises, formulas, and frameworks that can all be adapted to real-life situations.
Overcoming Stress-Induced Brain Fog: 10 Simple Ways to Find Focus, Improve Memory, and Feel Grounded
by Jill Weber | Recorded Books, Inc. © 2022
Do you ever feel spaced out or stuck in a rut, like you just can't think, or you're moving in slow motion? Perhaps you feel detached or disengaged, defeated and hopeless, or just not fully yourself. If you're struggling with a lack of mental clarity, energy, and belief in yourself and your capabilities, you may be experiencing the dreaded brain fog—a very real issue that can result from the exhaustion, overstimulation, and the stress of modern life.
Based on cutting-edge research, Overcoming Stress-Induced Brain Fog offers quick solutions you can put to work right away, including exercises based in awareness, mindfulness and acceptance, and self-compassion.
Burnout for Dummies
by Eva M. Selhub | John Wiley & Sons (US) © 2022
Chronic, unmanaged stress—at work, at home, or in other areas of life—can lead to burnout. Burnout For Dummies shows you the way toward understanding and overcoming this all-to-common condition of modern life. Many of us find ourselves living in a state of constant resignation, which sucks the joy out of life and can be detrimental to our physical health. The tips and exercises in this book can help you minimize stress, become more resilient and create a happier, healthier, and more satisfying life.
Mindfulness and resilience guru Dr. Eva Selhub offers a science-based plan that you can use to destress, build inner resources and coping skills, and start enjoying life (and work) again.
Discussion Questions
- What new insights did you gather from Beating Burnout, Finding Balance that have influenced your perspective?
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned?
- Was there a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
Discussion Questions
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
- How has Mindfulness for the Wandering Mind influenced your perspective and self-awareness?
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
Discussion Questions
- What new insights did you gather from Rewire Your Brain 2.0 that have influenced your perspective?
- What was your favorite quote from the book? Why?
- What’s one thing the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
Discussion Questions
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned?
- Was there a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
Discussion Questions
- How has Overcoming Stress-Induced Brain Fog influenced your perspective and self-awareness?
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
- Who could you ‘tell’ about the book or share your thoughts about it with? Who would care and/or benefit the most?
Discussion Questions
- What was the most important, relevant thing you learned from reading the book?
- What new insights did you gather from Burnout for Dummies?
- What’s one thing the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
MANAGING DIVERSITY MONTH
The Inclusive Organization: Real Solutions, Impactful Change, and Meaningful Diversity
by Netta Jenkins | John Wiley & Sons (US) © 2023
DEI is an 8-billion dollar industry that is not yet accessing its full potential through real solutions and results. However, through a powerful formula of policies and practices that motivate employees to be more socially and self-aware, The Inclusive Organization is a revolutionary yet practical resource for individuals at any stage of their career. Jenkins discusses human behavior, workplace psychology, and shares her DEI-tested framework for success. You'll read about: the "how" of DEI implementation with actionable steps, creating your own customized DEI roadmap with worksheet examples and toolkits, and stories with firsthand observations that bring to life important concepts.
Building a Culture of Inclusivity: Effective Internal Communication for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
by Priya Bates and Advita Patel | Kogan Page © 2023
Diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) have never been so important in organizations and yet many feel inadequately prepared. In this guide, the authors combine their expert knowledge to provide a practical approach to bridge this skills and knowledge gap for those delivering Internal Communications. Navigating DEI language can be difficult, but Building a Culture of Inclusivity will help Internal Communication professionals, HR and business leaders engage employees in driving culture change to ensure everyone feels valued and like they belong. This book provides a roadmap to manage tangible change consistently throughout the year and techniques that avoid inauthenticity.
The Equity Mindset: Designing Human Spaces Through Journeys, Reflections, and Practices
by Ifeomasinachi Ike | John Wiley & Sons (US) © 2023
In The Equity Mindset, celebrated researcher, attorney, and activist Ifeomasinachi Ike delivers a moving and impactful exploration of why equity is so important, the shortcomings of institutional diversity and inclusion (D&I) initiatives, and how we creatively and boldly design cultures centering the expertise of those who know first-hand how inequity has shaped work culture. The book examines the dynamics of normalized institutional oppression, offers real-world case studies, and provides readers with new practices, key performance indicators (KPIs), and milestones for measuring the success of modern DEI efforts. At its core,The Equity Mindset is about adopting a problem-solving mentality to address social inequities to ensure we all thrive.
HOW TO BE A DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AMBASSADOR: EVERYONE’S ROLE IN HELPING ALL FEEL ACCEPTED, ENGAGED, AND VALUED
by Celeste Warren | Berrett-Koehler Publishers © 2022
Using a proven three-part framework, this book shows how anyone—from a CEO to frontline employee—can play a pivotal role in creating a diverse and welcoming workplace. Creating a diverse workplace needs to be an ongoing effort, not just the subject of occasional training. As Celeste Warren says, needed change won't take place unless all employees feel that they have a role to play in creating the culture they would like to see in their organization. Regardless of what position you hold, you have the ability to impact change and create a more inclusive environment.
DIVERSITY BEYOND LIP SERVICE: A COACHING GUIDE FOR CHALLENGING BIAS
by La'Wana Harris | Berrett-Koehler Publishers © 2019
The ugly truth about diversity is that some people worry they must give up their power for others to have a chance. La'Wana Harris's Inclusion Coaching method helps people realize that sharing power isn't the same as losing it. La'Wana Harris introduces Inclusion Coaching, a new tool based on cutting-edge research that identifies the stages of preparation, implementation, and “self-work” necessary to help individuals, teams, and organizations build a sustainable culture of inclusion. Harris's six-stage COMMIT model provides a proven process for making people aware of their own conscious and unconscious biases and concrete steps to make inclusion an embedded reality.
AUTHENTIC DIVERSITY: HOW TO CHANGE THE WORKPLACE FOR GOOD
by Michelle Silverthorn | Gildan Media © 2021
In Authentic Diversity, culture change expert and diversity speaker Michelle Silverthorn explains how to transform diversity and inclusion from mere lip service into the very heart of leadership. Following the journey of a Black woman in the workplace, leaders learn the old rules of diversity that keep failing her and millions like her again and again, and the new rules they must put in place to make success a reality for everyone. A millennial, immigrant, and Black woman in America, Michelle will show you how to lead a space centered on equity, allyship, and inclusion and how together we can build a new organization, and nation, centered on justice.
GETTING TO DIVERSITY: WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN’T
by Frank Dobbin and Alexandra Kalev | Recorded Books, Inc. © 2022
Every year America becomes more diverse, but change in the makeup of the management ranks has stalled. The problem has become an urgent matter of national debate. How do we fix it? Arguing that it's time to focus on changing systems rather than individuals, two of the world's leading experts on workplace diversity show us a better way in the first comprehensive, data-driven analysis of what succeeds and what fails. The surprising results will change how America works. Frank Dobbin and Alexandra Kalev draw on more than thirty years of data from eight hundred companies as well as in-depth interviews with managers.
THE ELEPHANT AND THE MOUSE: MOVING BEYOND THE ILLUSION OF INCLUSION TO CREATE A TRULY DIVERSE AND EQUITABLE WORKPLACE
by Laura A. Liswood | John Wiley & Sons (US) © 2022
In The Elephant and the Mouse, award-winning speaker and diversity and inclusion expert Laura Liswood delivers a thought-provoking and insightful new business guide that explores workplace diversity and offers new ideas for gaining the real benefits from your diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. The Elephant and the Mouse refers to the dynamic in organizations that are roadblocks to consciously inclusive success. The Elephant, often dominant group leadership, knows little about the experiences of the Mouse, the non-dominant groups, while the Mouse knows so much more about the Elephant. In diverse workplaces, these two groups live in different worlds.
Discussion Questions
- What new insights did you gather from The Inclusive Organization that have influenced your perspective?
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned?
- Was there a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
Discussion Questions
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
- How has Building a Culture of Inclusivity influenced your perspective and self-awareness?
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
Discussion Questions
- What was the most important, relevant thing you learned from reading the book?
- What new insights did you gather from The Equity Mindset
- What’s one thing the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
Discussion Questions
- Was there a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
- What aspects of the book can you relate to, and why?
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
Discussion Questions
- What are 3 key takeaways from Diversity Beyond Lip Service that you can apply in your life and your business endeavors?
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
- What was your favorite quote from the book? Why?
Discussion Questions
- Share a moment in the book that resonated with you and inspired you to pause and reflect?
- What aspects of the book can you relate to, and why?
- What are 3 key takeaways from Authentic Diversity that you can apply in your life and your business endeavors?
Discussion Questions
- How has Getting to Diversity changed your perspective or built self-awareness?
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
- What’s one thing that the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
- How has The Elephant and the Mouse influenced your perspective and self-awareness?
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
- Who could you ‘tell’ about the book or share your thoughts about it with? Who would care and/or benefit the most?
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ DAY
ONE STORY, ONE SONG
by Richard Wagamese | Blackstone Audio, Inc. dba Blackstone Publishing © 2019
Whether the topic is learning from his fifth grade teacher about Martin Luther King Jr., gleaning understanding from a wolf track, lighting a fire for the first time without matches, or finding the universe in an eagle feather, these stories exhibit the warmth, wisdom, and generosity that made One Native Life so popular. As always, the land serves as Wagamese's guide. And as always, he finds that true home means not only community but conversation - good, straight-hearted talk about important things. We all need to tell our stories, he says. Every voice matters.
BRAIDING SWEETGRASS
by Robin Wall Kimmerer | Recorded Books, Inc. © 2016
As a botanist and professor of plant ecology, Robin Wall Kimmerer has spent a career learning how to ask questions of nature using the tools of science. As a Potawatomi woman, she learned from elders, family, and history that the Potawatomi, as well as a majority of other cultures indigenous to this land, consider plants and animals to be our oldest teachers. In Braiding Sweetgrass, Kimmerer brings these two lenses of knowing together to reveal what it means to see humans as "the younger brothers of creation."
AN INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES
by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz | Recorded Books, Inc. © 2014
Today in the United States, there are more than 500 federally recognized Indigenous nations comprising nearly three million people, descendants of the 15 million Native people who once inhabited this land. The centuries-long genocidal program of the US settler-colonial regimen has largely been omitted from history. Dunbar-Ortiz adroitly challenges the founding myth of the United States and shows how policy against the Indigenous peoples was colonialist and designed to seize the territories of the original inhabitants, displacing or eliminating them.
SAND TALK: HOW INDIGENOUS THINKING CAN SAVE THE WORLD
by Tyson Yunkaporta | Skillsoft © 2022
In Sand Talk, author Tyson Yunkaporta shares his views on how indigenous thinking can reshape our attitudes toward current global systems—economic, social ecological, technological, and political—to the betterment of all. Most of all it’s about a very special way of thinking, of learning to see from a native perspective, one that is spiritually and physically tied to the earth around us, and how it can save our world. In this Review, we discuss the salient points of the book based on our interpretation of its contents.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- What new insights did you gather from One Story, One Song that have influenced your perspective?
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned?
- Was there a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
- How has Braiding Sweetgrass influenced your perspective and self-awareness?
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- What was the most important, relevant thing you learned from reading the book?
- What new insights did you gather from An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States?
- What’s one thing the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- Was there a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
- What aspects of the book can you relate to, and why?
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
NATIONAL LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT MONTH
LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT: A PRACTICAL INTRODUCTION, 3RD EDITION
by Rebecca Page-Tickell | Kogan Page © 2022
Providing diagnostic tools, scenarios and case studies, Learning and Development demonstrates how to link learning to strategic business goals and explores both the benefits and complexities associated with L&D. This updated third edition features a new chapter on designing learning interventions, covering technology-led development and the impact of virtual learning. There is also guidance on making learning and development strategies accessible and inclusive for all employees, and information on metrics that can be used for measuring effectiveness.
ARMSTRONG’S HANDBOOK OF LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT: A GUIDE TO THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF L&D
by Michael Armstrong | Kogan Page © 2021
Supported by case studies and examples to put the theory in context, reflective exercises to consolidate learning and further reading suggestions to broaden knowledge and engagement with the topic, Armstrong's Handbook of Learning and Development is crucial reading for academic success. The final part of the book includes additional aspects of L&D including apprenticeships, leadership development and personal and interpersonal skills development. Online resources include lecture slides for every chapter, a lecturer manual and student manual.
LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT PRACTICE IN THE WORKPLACE, 4TH EDITION
by Kathy Beevers, Andrew Rea, David Hayden | Kogan Page © 2020
This new edition of Learning and Development Practice in the Workplace has been fully updated, reflecting the new CIPD Profession Map, and now has dedicated chapters on the different approaches to learning delivery, including face-to-face training and facilitation, technology-based learning, coaching, mentoring and social and collaborative learning. There is also expert guidance on learner engagement including insights from neuroscience and psychology, as well as advice on evaluating the impact of L&D.
INCREASING LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT’S IMPACT THROUGH ACCREDITATION: HOW TO DRIVE-UP TRAINING QUALITY, EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION, AND ROI
by William J. Rothwell, Aileen G. Zaballero, Sandra L. Williams| Springer © 2020
This book provides a guide to the process of accrediting training programs, sets out how to achieve consistent measurement of the results of training, and explains why accreditation is critical for capturing and developing today’s workers’ skills, aiding retention, and boosting strategic organizational credibility with millennials. Workplace and executive training is a multi-billion dollar industry and yet an enormous percentage of that budget is spent on programs that have never been rigorously examined to ensure that they are fit for purpose and deliver value for the money.
THE UPSKILLING IMPERATIVE: 5 WAYS TO MAKE LEARNING CORE TO THE WAY WE WORK
by Shelley Osborne | McGraw-Hill © 2020
Make continuous learning part of your company’s DNA―and growth, profits, and sustainability will follow. Keeping up with the pace of change may seem impossible, but it’s not. The secret is to make continuous learning a top value for every person on the team so when change happens, everyone is prepared. In The Upskilling Imperative, Shelley Osborne, Udemy’s Vice President of Learning, reveals the methods she uses to help many of today’s leading companies―from Adidas to PayPal to Barclays―build and sustain a culture of learning.
THE LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT HANDBOOK: A LEARNING PRACTITIONER’S GUIDE
by Michelle Parry-Slater | Kogan Page © 2021
The skills needed in today's business world are not the same as they were in the past. Therefore, upskilling, reskilling and developing staff has never been more important. However, classroom training isn't the best way to achieve this with employees forgetting more than 70% of what they've been taught within just one day. The Learning and Development Handbook is a practical guide for L&D professionals wanting to move away from traditional classroom teaching but not sure where to start.
COLLABORATIVE LEARNING: HOW TO UPSKILL FROM WITHIN AND TURN L&D INTO YOUR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE
by Nick Hernandez | Kogan Page © 2023
Collaborative Learning explains how to leverage the knowledge and experience of existing employees to upskill your entire workforce from within. This book is full of expert discussion about why collaborative learning is a culture enhancer and skills enabler, and contains advice for overcoming common obstacles when making collaborative learning part of a company's learning strategy. This book is a blueprint for all L&D professionals who are looking to embed collaborative learning in the workplace and upskill from within, but aren't sure where to start.
LEARNING AT SPEED: HOW TO UPSKILL AND RESKILL YOUR WORKFORCE AT PACE TO DRIVE BUSINESS PERFORMANCE
by Nelson Sivalingam | Kogan Page © 2022
Learning at Speed is a practical book which brings together the best from lean and agile methodologies to show how they can be applied to learning and development (L&D) to improve individual and organizational performance. This provides a people development framework which can be used to deconstruct a learning strategy and optimise each element for improved results. It shows how to identify learning barriers and possible solutions, leverage company data to understand learning needs and how to assess the most effective learning resources and delivery channels.
discussion questions
- What new insights did you gather from Learning and Development that have influenced your perspective?
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned?
- Was there a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
discussion questions
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
- How has Armstrong's Handbook of Learning and Development influenced your perspective and self-awareness?
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
discussion questions
- What was the most important, relevant thing you learned from reading the book?
- What new insights did you gather from Learning and Development Practice in the Workplace?
- Who could you ‘tell’about the book or share your thoughts about it with? Who would care and/or benefit the most?
discussion questions
- Share a moment in the book that resonated with you and inspired you to pause and reflect?
- What aspects of the book can you relate to, and why?
- What are 3 key takeaways from Increasing Learning And Development’s Impact Through Accreditation that you can apply in your life and your business endeavors?
discussion questions
- What new insights did you gather from The Upskilling Imperative that have influenced your perspective?
- What was your favorite quote from the book? Why?
- What’s one thing the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
discussion questions
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned?
- Was there a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
discussion questions
- How has Collaborative Learning influenced your perspective and self-awareness?
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
- Who could you ‘tell’about the book or share your thoughts about it with? Who would care and/or benefit the most?
discussion questions
- What was the most important, relevant thing you learned from reading the book?
- What new insights did you gather from Learning at Speed?
- What’s one thing the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
Preparedness Month
CRISIS-READY LEADERSHIP: BUILDING RESILIENT ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITIES
by Bob Campbell | John Wiley & Sons (US), © 2023
Crisis-ready Leadership provides the knowledge and skills necessary to make timely and effective decisions while managing a large-scale incident. Codifying the best practices from the successful FEMA-certified course On-Scene Crisis Leadership and Decision Making for HazMat Incidents, this comprehensive volume provides systematic guidance on best practices for improving situational awareness, adapting leadership styles, implementing incident command systems across political and organizational boundaries, and more.
TAMING THE RISK HURRICANE: PREPARING FOR MAJOR BUSINESS DISRUPTION
by David Hillson | Berrett-Koehler Publishers, © 2022
Risk management has become a standard part of the strategic tool kit, providing senior leaders with a forward-looking radar to scan the future and give early warnings of approaching threats and opportunities. However, even best-in-class organizations can falter in the face of extreme risk exposure. Special circumstances demand special responses, and extreme risk exposure needs very careful handling. Routine risk management approaches will fall short, but businesses that demonstrate a high degree of flexibility and resilience will have the competitive advantage and the ability to thrive where others fail.
BUSINESS CONTINUITY AND THE PANDEMIC THREAT: LEARNING FROM COVID-19 WHILE PREPARING FOR THE NEXT PANDEMIC
by Robert A. Clark | IT Governance, © 2022
COVID-19 has shown organizations that the threat of a pandemic needs to be taken seriously, emphasizing the importance of having a business continuity plan and a pandemic plan. Clark’s book focuses on how an organization can create a new or update an existing pandemic response plan. He highlights the similarities in managing different types of crisis, whether it is a pandemic, or other threats such as cyber attacks, floods, fires, civil disturbances, terrorism, etc.
RETHINKING READINESS: A BRIEF GUIDE TO TWENTY-FIRST-CENTURY MEGADISASTERS
by Jeff Schlegelmilch, Irwin Redlener | Recorded Books, Inc., © 2020
Rethinking Readiness offers an expert introduction to human-made threats and vulnerabilities, with a focus on opportunities to reimagine how we approach disaster preparedness. Jeff Schlegelmilch identifies and explores the most critical threats facing the world today, detailing the dangers of pandemics, climate change, infrastructure collapse, cyberattacks, and nuclear conflict. Drawing on the latest research from leading experts, he provides an accessible overview of the causes and potential effects of these looming megadisasters.
EXECUTING CRISIS: A C-SUITE CRISIS LEADERSHIP SURVIVAL GUIDE
by Jo Robertson | Rothstein Associates, © 2020
Business leaders would be better served by understanding key crisis concepts and applying them to their own situation rather than relying on crisis advisors to swoop in to take care of a problem once it has become a crisis. Crisis management does not begin on the day the fire erupts, the hurricane barrels through, or the accident happens. Dr. Jo Robertson, a leading expert in heading off and containing crisis, lays out the key concepts that business leaders need to apply to their own organizations.
BECOMING RESILIENT: STAYING CONNECTED UNDER ADVERSITY
by Daniel Schutzer | Business Expert Press, © 2023
Recently we have seen several catastrophic events causing huge disruptions, losses, and panic. There is a growing likelihood that these natural disasters and physical and cyber warfare attacks will increase in frequency and lethality, increasingly impacting civilian infrastructure, due to global warming, increased civil unrest and global tensions as international competition increases. This book details how measures can be adapted to keep our systems operational and to rapidly reconstitute lost infrastructure.
DECISION SPRINT: THE NEW WAY TO INNOVATE INTO THE UNKNOWN AND MOVE FROM STRATEGY TO ACTION
by Atif Rafiq | McGraw-Hill, © 2023
In Decision Sprint, innovation and growth expert Atif Rafiq argues that while talent is critically important to any company’s success, the systems through which collaboration and decision-making happen are what separate industry leaders from the rest—and that systems designed to embrace unknowns are quickest and most enduring way to foster growth, continuous innovation, and realization of strategy. This groundbreaking guide walks readers through the process of embracing unknowns.
CRISIS COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES: PREPARE, RESPOND, AND RECOVER EFFECTIVELY IN UNPREDICTABLE AND URGENT SITUATIONS, 2ND EDITION
by Amanda Coleman | Kogan Page, © 2023
Crisis Communication Strategies is a must-have guide that covers the whole span of a crisis from preparing and laying the groundwork before it occurs, during the incident and the aftermath, including the move to recovery and beyond. It guides readers through each phase, providing details of what to consider, what should be done, tips and checklists for improved responses. This second edition contains new content looking at the phases of crises, behavioral communication as a tactic and how to ensure diversity and inclusivity in tumultuous times.
Discussion Questions
- Was there a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
- What was your favorite quote from the book? Why?
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned?
Discussion Questions
- Can you share a moment in the book that resonated with you and inspired you to pause and reflect?
- What are 3 key takeaways from Taming The Risk Hurricane that you can apply right away?
- What’s one thing the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
Discussion Questions
- What new insights did you gather from Business Continuity and the Pandemic Threat?
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned?
- What aspects of the book can you relate to, and why?
Discussion Questions
- How has Rethinking Readiness influenced your perspective and self-awareness?
- Can you share a moment in the book that resonated with you and inspired you to pause and reflect?
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
Discussion Questions
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned to your own leadership?
- What new insights did you gather from Executing Crisis that have influenced your perspective?
- What was the most important, relevant thing you learned from reading the book?
Discussion Questions
- How has Becoming Resilient changed your perspective or built self-awareness?
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
- What’s one thing that the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
Discussion Questions
- Can you share a moment in the book that resonated with you and inspired you to pause and reflect?
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
- What aspects of the book can you relate to, and why?
Discussion Questions
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned to your own leadership?
- Was there a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
- What new insights did you gather from Crisis Communication Strategies?
Emotional Intelligence Month
BEYOND EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
by S. Michele Nevarez | Gildan Media, © 2022
In Beyond Emotional Intelligence, renowned educator and leadership expert S. Michele Nevarez delivers a powerful guide to building ingrained mental habits to help us achieve desired outcomes, improve our relationships, and live in alignment with our values. You'll discover how to use the author's 12 Self-Discoveries to get to know yourself and stop getting in your own way. You'll retrain your mind to develop new patterns of thought and behavior that will serve you better as you achieve your life goals.
EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE 2.0
by Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves | Brilliance Publishing, © 2010
By now, emotional intelligence (EQ) needs little introduction — it’s no secret that EQ is critical to your success. But knowing what emotional intelligence is and knowing how to use it to improve your life are two very different things. Emotional Intelligence 2.0 delivers a step-by-step program for increasing your emotional intelligence using the four core EQ skills — self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management — to exceed your goals and achieve your fullest potential.
EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AT WORK: A PERSONAL OPERATING SYSTEM FOR CAREER SUCCESS
by Richard M. Contino and Penelope J. Holt | Business Expert Press, © 2021
Even though it is seldom acknowledged, the truth is that business runs on emotion—yours and almost everyone else’s. And that emotion is often negative, leading us into bewilderment, dysfunction, and failure.
This book explains how to face up to this reality and respond by building street smarts and business emotional intelligence (BEQ). It supports your business success by developing your ability to recognize and effectively manage the destructive emotional tendencies, hidden agendas, and behaviors that exist all around you, and sometimes within you, that block business progress.
THE EQ LEADER: INSTILLING PASSION, CREATING SHARED GOALS, AND BUILDING MEANINGFUL ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
by Steven J. Stein | John Wiley & Sons (US), © 2017
The EQ Leader provides an evidence-based model for exceptional leadership, and a four-pillar roadmap for real-world practice. Data collected from thousands of the world's best leaders—and their subordinates—reveals the keys to success: authenticity, coaching, insight, and innovation. This book shows you how to put these key factors to work in your own practice, with clear examples and concrete steps for improving skills and competencies.
AUTHENTIC LEADERSHIP: HBR SERIES ON EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
by Harvard Business Review | Gildan Media, © 2022
What does it mean to be yourself at work? As a leader, how do you strike the right balance between vulnerability and authority? This book explains the role of authenticity in emotionally intelligent leadership. You'll learn how to discover your authentic self, when emotional responses are appropriate, how conforming to specific standards can hurt you, and when you need to feel like a fake.
UNDERSTANDING EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE: STRATEGIES FOR BOOSTING YOUR EQ AND USING IT IN THE WORKPLACE
by Frances Kay and Neilson Kite | Kogan Page, © 2012
Emotional intelligence, more than IQ and technical knowhow, gives a valuable competitive edge to organizations and is crucial to the success of individuals. Understanding Emotional Intelligence shows readers how to use emotional intelligence in the workplace. It covers topics such as self-awareness, self-motivation, relationship management, how to assess and develop your emotional intelligence, habits of emotionally intelligent people, how to develop an emotionally aware organization, and how to use EQ as a management strategy.
EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE: A SIMPLE AND ACTIONABLE GUIDE TO INCREASING PERFORMANCE, ENGAGEMENT AND OWNERSHIP
by Amy Jacobson | Gildan Media, © 2021
As organizations around the world are putting more focus on the mindset and wellbeing of staff, the need to develop Emotional Intelligence (EI) has never been greater. Cutting through the hype and dispelling the myths about EI, this practical, easy-to-use resource provides clear guidance, powerful tools, and actionable steps for developing and implementing EI in the workplace for immediate results. Amy Jacobson, an experienced EI specialist, leadership trainer and coach, shares the tools, methodologies, concepts, and actions that increase EI in any situation.
EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE POCKETBOOK: LITTLE EXERCISES FOR AN INTUITIVE LIFE
by Gill Hasson | John Wiley & Sons (UK), © 2017
Did you know that the way you approach your own thoughts and feelings determines your happiness and success in every area of your life? Bestselling personal development author Gill Hasson is back with this guide to dealing with your emotions. Learn how to understand yourself and those around you with practical tips and tricks that will help you be more assertive, forge stronger relationships and manage anxiety. Your ability to manage your feelings, other people and your interactions with them are what makes all the difference.
Discussion Questions
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned to your own leadership?
- What new insights did you gather from Beyond Emotional Intelligence that have influenced your perspective?
- What was the most important, relevant thing you learned from reading the book?
Discussion Questions
- How has Emotional Intelligence 2.0 changed your perspective or built self-awareness?
- What lesson will you apply from reading this book? And how will you apply what you’ve learned?
- Was there a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
Discussion Questions
- Can you share a moment in the book that resonated with you and inspired you to pause and reflect?
- What are 3 key takeaways from Emotional Intelligence at Work that you can apply right away?
- What’s one thing the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
Discussion Questions
- Was there a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
- What was your favorite quote from the book? Why?
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned?
Discussion Questions
- What new insights did you gather from Authentic Leadership?
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned?
- What aspects of the book can you relate to, and why?
Discussion Questions
- Can you share a moment in the book that resonated with you and inspired you to pause and reflect?
- What are 3 key takeaways from Understanding Emotional Intelligence that you can apply right away?
- What’s one thing the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
Discussion Questions
- How has Emotional Intelligence changed your perspective or built self-awareness?
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
- What’s one thing that the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
Discussion Questions
- Can you share a moment in the book that resonated with you and inspired you to pause and reflect?
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
- What aspects of the book can you relate to, and why?
NATIONAL WELLNESS MONTH
Engage in Mental Health and Well-Being
by Catherine Wemette | Association for Talent Development © 2022
Starting conversations around mental health can be challenging. More often than not, simply asking a question and showing you genuinely care will be enough to start the conversation, even if not with the perfect words. In this issue of TD at Work, Catherine Wemette guides readers in helping others understand the importance of focusing on mental health in the workplace and how to do that.
The Self-Care Mindset: Rethinking How We Change and Grow, Harness Well-Being, and Reclaim Work-Life Quality
by Jeanette Bronee | John Wiley & Sons © 2022
In The Self-Care Mindset, celebrated well-being and mindset expert Jeanette Bronée delivers an actionable and groundbreaking approach that challenges us to rethink self-care at work so we no longer have to choose between being healthy and being successful. With Jeanette’s inclusive approach to self-care, you will receive the tools to protect and unlock our most important resource: our humanity. You’ll learn how to better manage stress, break free from living in survival mode, and navigate FUD (fear, uncertainty, and doubt) so you can harness change and grow by reclaiming agency and recovering what you care about.
The Ultimate Self-Care Book: Improve Your Wellbeing; Build Resilience and Confidence; Master Mindfulness
by Clara Seeger, Stephen Evans-Howe, and Patrick Forsyth | Hodder & Stoughton Ltd © 2021
From confidence and assertiveness to managing stress and mindfulness, The Ultimate Self Care Book is a dynamic collection of tools, techniques, and strategies for success. Discover the main themes and key ideas, and bring it all together with practical exercises.
The Healthy Mind Toolkit: Simple Strategies to Get Out of Your Own Way and Enjoy Your Life
by Alice Boyes | Brilliance Publishing © 2018
Whether we’re aware of it or not, most of us are guilty of self-sabotage. These behaviors can manifest in seemingly innocuous ways, but if left unchecked can create stress and cause problems in all areas of your life.
In The Healthy Mind Toolkit, Dr. Alice Boyes provides easy, practical solutions that will help you identify how you’re holding yourself back and how to reverse your self-sabotaging behaviors. Blending scientific research with techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy, this engaging book will take you through the steps to address this overarching problem.
Your Health at Work: An Indispensable Guide to Physical and Mental Wellbeing
by Becky Allen and Howard Fidderman | Kogan Page © 2019
Covering the full range of industries, Your Health at Work provides guidance for everyone. Both physical health (e.g. aches and strains, hazardous substances, accidents) and mental health (anxiety, depression, bullying) are comprehensively discussed to provide you with reliable help and advice on the full range of potential health problems at work. The stories of real workers who have encountered health issues at work are included to make sure that this book is fully representative of real life and gives practical, and sometimes inspirational, insights to support you and your health every day at work.
Yoga Classes for the Complete Beginner: 4 Yoga Classes Suitable for the Complete Beginner
by Sue Fuller | Blackstone Audio, Inc. © 2021
This audio set contains four different yoga classes suitable for the complete beginner. Each class gently and safely introduces different postures and techniques to help create an understanding and to develop a foundation in yoga and yoga practices. Yoga for the Complete Beginner introduces the concept of breathing slowly whilst moving the body through a series of preparatory postures. More Yoga for the Complete Beginner includes a different selection of postures, adding variety to your practice. Yoga Flow for the Complete Beginner introduces the concept of vinyasa flow and moves the body gently through different postures whilst synchronizing the breath and movement. Yoga Nidra for the Complete Beginner introduces the ancient practice of yoga nidra.
Your Brain on Exercise
by Gary L. Wenk | Publisher: Oxford University Press (US) © 2021
Decades of research demonstrate that regular modest levels of exercise improve heart and lung function and may relieve joint pain. Dr. Gary Wenk's goal is to provide a realistic perspective on what benefits your brain should expect to achieve from exercise. Your Brain on Exercise skillfully blends scholarship with illuminating insights and clarity. Without requiring any specialized knowledge about the brain, Your Brain on Exercise entertainingly illustrates the intersection between brain health, the consequences of exercise, and our need to eat in an entirely new light.
The Anxiety Getaway: How to Outsmart Your Brain's False Fear Messages and Claim Your Calm Using CBT Techniques
by Dr. Craig April | Blackstone Audio, Inc. © 2020
There are a lot of resources out there for managing anxiety. However, many of them are based on opinion rather than science. Dr. Craig April, founder of the April Center for Anxiety Attack Management, relies on the latter. By employing cognitive behavioral therapy, a research-proven method for anxiety treatment, listeners can find the breakthrough they desire.
Dr. April shares that, in most of its forms, anxiety is not a mental illness. For this reason, he takes a stripped-down approach to tackling anxiety that looks at the root: false fear messages.
Discussion Questions
- Can you share a moment in the book that resonated with you and inspired you to pause and reflect?
- How has Engage in Mental Health and Well-Being changed your perspective or built self-awareness?
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned to your own leadership?
Discussion Questions
- How has The Self-Care Mindset changed your perspective or built self-awareness?
- What new insights did you gather from The Self-Care Mindset?
- Can you share a moment in the book that resonated with you and inspired you to pause and reflect?
Discussion Questions
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
- Was there a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
Discussion Questions
- What are 3 key takeaways from The Healthy Mind Toolkit that you can apply right away?
- What was your favorite quote from the book? Why?
- What aspects of the book can you relate to, and why?
Discussion Questions
- What was the most important, relevant thing you learned from reading the book?
- Was there a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
- What’s one thing the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
Discussion Questions
- What was your favorite quote from the book? Why?
- What’s one thing that the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
- What was the most important, relevant thing you learned from reading the book?
Discussion Questions
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
- How has Your Brain on Exercise changed your perspective or built self-awareness?
- What was the most important, relevant thing you learned from reading the book?
Discussion Questions
- What lesson will you apply from reading this book? And how will you apply what you’ve learned?
- Was there a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
- What aspects of the book can you relate to, and why?
DEVELOPING YOUR TEAM MONTH
Everyone Wants to Work Here: Attract the Best Talent, Energize Your Team, and Be the Leader in Your Market
by Maura Nevel Thomas | Gildan Media © 2023
Building a productive work culture doesn't have to invite burnout and stress—Everyone Wants to Work Here empowers you and your team to build effective habits for accomplishing your goals. Exhaustion not required.
To achieve efficiency, productivity, and significant results, you need to make the best use of the resources available to you. Productivity expert Maura Thomas helps you nurture the crucial resource that is your work culture and build productive habits for yourself and your team, without letting work take over your life.
The Long-Distance Team: Designing Your Team for Everyone’s Success
by Wayne Turmell and Kevin Eikenberry | Berrett-Koehler Publishers © 2023
Team design and culture are often presented as separate concepts when they are in fact intertwined in the remote work setting. Using the 3C model of communication, collaboration, and cohesion, leaders will be given the tools to overcome challenges, such as proximity bias and deteriorating social connections, to create an environment where everyone can contribute and add value equally, regardless of location.
Beyond Team Building: How to Build High Performing Teams and the Culture to Support Them
by Gibb Dyer and Jeff Dyer | John Wiley & Sons © 2020
Beyond Team Building represents the latest in thinking about creating effective teams. The authors present a new “Five C” framework that focuses on the core aspects of team building. The book helps the reader assess how his/her team is performing on each of the 5Cs—context, composition, competencies, change, and collaborative leadership, and discusses options concerning how to improve team performance along each of these dimensions.
Building Top Performing Teams: A Practical Guide to Team Coaching to Improve Collaboration and Drive Organizational Success
by Paul J. Barbour and Lucy Widdowson | Kogan Page © 2021
Containing more than 40 tools which can be used in a virtual or in-person coaching environment, Building Top-Performing Teams is a practical guide for leaders, HR professionals, coaches, team coaches and anyone with management responsibility. It covers how to motivate, develop, engage and reward a team of employees with different levels of experience and priorities to achieve outstanding business success.
Building and Managing High-Performance Distributed Teams: Navigating the Future of Work
by Alberto S. Silveira Jr. | Apress © 2021
The age of the distributed team is upon us. Teams can now operate and collaborate from locations other than a central office, and events surrounding the 2020 COVID pandemic have thrown its practicality into sharp relief. Managing a team whose members are distributed across several locations requires a different mindset and will remain a must-have for all areas of business from this point forward. Building and Managing High-Performance Distributed Teams explains what the distributed teams concept means to the future of your company.
Power Teams Beyond Borders: How to Work Remotely and Build Virtual Teams
by Peter Ivanov | Gildan Media © 2021
Power Teams Beyond Borders shows listeners how to unlock the potential of their remote and online teams. Full of actionable advice and concrete strategies, celebrated consultant and author Peter Ivanov offers virtual leaders practical guidance on how to create and sustain online engagement across multiple time zones and cultures.
The book includes step-by-step advice on areas like: how to build trust and clarity without meeting in person; how to establish structure in communications and avoid confusion; how to make the most of your team members' unique talents in a global setting; and how to use the technique of “over-communication” to ensure your team members remain fully informed.
The New Leader’s 100-Day Action Plan: Take Charge, Build Your Team, and Deliver Better Results Faster, 5th Edition
by John A. Lawler, Jayme A. Check, and George B. Bradt | John Wiley & Sons (US) © 2022
The New Leader’s 100-Day Action Plan has sold over 100,000 copies because it's so practical. The author team of accomplished private equity/M&A transition leaders explains in great detail, how to succeed in new leadership roles, build high-performance teams, execute winning strategies, and achieve organizational goals. The heavily revised 5th edition explains how to your due diligence before accepting a new role, and how to lead in remote or hybrid environments and how to leverage diversity, equity, and inclusion to meet team goals, drive growth and enhance any organization.
Stick Together: A Simple Lesson to Build a Stronger Team
by John Gordon and Kate Leavell | John Wiley & Sons © 2021
From bestselling author Jon Gordon and coauthor Kate Leavell, Stick Together delivers a crucial message about the power of belief, ownership, connection, love, inclusion, consistency, and hope. The authors guide individuals and teams on an inspiring journey to show them how to persevere through challenges, overcome obstacles, and create success together. Stick Together follows Coach David, a high school basketball coach looking to motivate his team for the new season. The team members are given sticks with words written on them and tasked with a number of
missions.
As the players work together to complete their tasks, they discover how to make their team stronger and create an unbreakable bond. Perfect for student athletes and teams in all industries including business, education, healthcare, and nonprofit, and for readers of all ages, Stick Together will resonate with anyone looking to improve their team performance and excel in a group environment.
discussion questions
- How has Everyone Wants to Work Here changed your perspective or built self-awareness?
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
- What’s one thing that the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
discussion questions
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned to your own leadership?
- What new insights did you gather from The Long-Distance Team that have influenced your perspective?
- What was the most important, relevant thing you learned from reading the book?
discussion questions
- How has Beyond Team Building changed your perspective or built self-awareness?
- What lesson will you apply from reading this book? And how will you apply what you’ve learned?
- Was there a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
discussion questions
- How has Building Top Performing Teams influenced your perspective and self-awareness?
- Can you share a moment in the book that resonated with you and inspired you to pause and reflect?
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
discussion questions
- What new insights did you gather from Building and Managing High-Performance Distributed Teams?
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned?
- What aspects of the book can you relate to, and why?
discussion questions
- Can you share a moment in the book that resonated with you and inspired you to pause and reflect?
- What are 3 key takeaways from Power Teams Beyond Borders that you can apply right away?
- What’s one thing the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
discussion questions
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
- Was there a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
- What was your favorite quote from the book? Why?
discussion questions
- Can you share a moment in the book that resonated with you and inspired you to pause and reflect?
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
- What aspects of the book can you relate to, and why?
LGBTQ+ Pride Month
Queer Career: Sexuality and Work in Modern America
by Margot Canaday | Princeton University Press, © 2023
Workplaces have traditionally been viewed as “straight spaces” in which queer people passed. As a result, historians have directed limited attention to the experiences of queer people on the job. Queer Career rectifies this, offering an expansive historical look at sexual minorities in the modern American workforce. Arguing that queer workers were more visible than hidden and, against the backdrop of state aggression, vulnerable to employer exploitation, Margot Canaday positions employment and fear of job loss as central to gay life in postwar America.
Be an Inclusion Ally: ABCs of LGBTQ+
by Lisa Koenecke | Lisa Koenecke, LLC, © 2021
Be an Inclusion Ally brilliantly illuminates the path to becoming the most supportive Ally you can be both personally and professionally. This book is the quintessential fast, funny, and ready resource for educating yourself and others about the LGBTQ+ community. With wit and wisdom woven throughout, it's a goldmine for individuals who have questions, but don't know whom to ask. This book celebrates YOU for being willing to learn more and create an inclusionary workplace or school. Be an Inclusion Ally: ABCs of LGBTQ is a practical guide to understanding and supporting family, friends, colleagues, or anyone in the LBGTQ+ community. Written in an easy to follow, friendly style, this guide will provide concrete steps to those seeking to become an ally or an Ally.
The Glass Closet: Why Coming Out is Good Business
by John Brown | HarperCollins, the © 2014
In The Glass Closet, Lord John Browne, former CEO of BP, seeks to unsettle business leaders by exposing the culture of homophobia that remains rampant in corporations around the world, and which prevents employees from showing their authentic selves. Drawing on his own experiences, and those of prominent members of the LGBT community around the world, as well as insights from well-known business leaders and celebrities, Lord Browne illustrates why, despite the risks involved, self-disclosure is best for employees—and for the businesses that support them. Above all, The Glass Closet offers inspiration and support for those who too often worry that coming out will hinder their chances of professional success.
The Queer Advantage: Conversations with LGBTQ+ Leaders on the Power of Identity
by Andrew Gelwicks | Hachette Go, © 2020
Meet the LGBTQ+ dealmakers, trailblazers, and glass-ceiling breakers in business, politics, and beyond. The people who are creating national public policy, running billion-dollar tech enterprises, and winning Olympic medals. Andrew Gelwicks interviews the leaders who have forged their own paths and changed the world, showing how you can too. From Troye Sivan to Margaret Cho, George Takei to Billie Jean King, Shangela to Adam Rippon, each person credits their queer identity with giving them an edge in their paths to success. Their stories brim with the hard-won lessons gained over their careers. Collecting incisive, deeply personal conversations with inspirational LGBTQ+ trailblazers about how they leveraged the challenges and insights they had as relative outsiders to succeed in the worlds of business, tech, politics, Hollywood, sports and beyond, The Queer Advantage celebrates the unique, supercharged power of queerness.
The Savvy Ally: A Guide to Becoming a Skilled LGBTQ+ Advocate
by Jeannie Gainsburg | Rowman & Littlefield, © 2020
In The Savvy Ally, Jeannie Gainsburg offers much-needed insight and pragmatic advice—especially for those who do not identify as being on the LGBTQ+ spectrum—on how to offer their support and advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community in a respectful and helpful manner. She delves into the language and identities relevant to the community, tools for navigating conversations, offers tips for taking action to create inclusive spaces, and discusses how to foster sustainable allyship.
LGBTQ+ Etiquette and Common Bloopers (Video)
by Jeannie Gainsburg
LGBTQ+ terms and identities are constantly changing. It is difficult to keep up. Many people feel intimidated by all the changes and are silenced by the fear that they will accidentally say something that will offend someone. This video helps relieve this anxiety by offering easy respectful language tips and suggestions for how to mess up properly.
How to be a Good LGBTQ+ Ally (Video)
by MyWorkplaceHealth
LGBTQ+ individuals experience discrimination and harassment; this directly and negatively impacts their mental health, and LGBTQ+ adults are more than twice as likely to experience mental health conditions and are at higher risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviour. So, here we are going to talk about how to be a good LGBTQ+ ally regardless of whether or not you have individuals in your workplace who are out as queer.
Discussion questions
- How has reading Queer Career raised your awareness?
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
- What’s one thing that the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
Discussion Questions
- What was the most important, relevant thing you learned from reading the book?
- What lesson did you learn from reading Be an Inclusion Ally? And how will you apply what you’ve learned?
- Were there any quotes, passages, or stories from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
Discussion Questions
- What’s one thing that the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
- What was the most important, relevant thing you learned from reading The Glass Closet?
Discussion Questions
- Can you share a moment in the book that resonated with you and inspired you to pause and reflect?
- How did the story in the book impact your perspective?
- Was there a particular quote in the book you found compelling? What was it, and why did it stand out?
Discussion Questions
- How has reading The Savvy Ally raised your awareness?
- What are 3 key takeaways from the book that you can apply right now?
- What’s one thing The Savvy Ally inspired you to do differently moving forward?
LGBTQ+ Etiquette and Common Bloopers
How to be a Good LGBTQ+ Ally
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION MONTH
Communication Intelligence: Leverage Your Strengths and Optimize Every Interaction to Work Best with Others
by Claude D’Val Morgan | McGraw Hill, © 2023
Now, more than ever, Communication Intelligence is essential for workers at all levels. The good news is that you can learn to develop and master this vital competency. If you’re interested in being your best through effective communication, that’s exactly what you will find in the pages of Communication Intelligence. With more than four decades of study, research, and coaching in the field, C.D. “Hoop” Morgan III has built on the original premise of The Forté Institute: That assessing an individual’s communication style should start with a focus on their strengths―not their weaknesses. Communication Intelligence guides you to identify your unique strengths based on the Forté Communication Style Profile.
What to Say When Things Get Tough: Business Communication Strategies for Winning People Over When They’re Angry, Worried and Suspicious of Everything You Say
by Leonard S. Greenberger | McGraw Hill-Ascent Audio, © 2022
What to Say When Things Get Tough is a comprehensive guide that combines theory and practical examples to help readers develop effective communication strategies. It provides real-world scenarios and dialogues that illustrate the application of the techniques discussed. By following the strategies outlined in the book, readers can enhance their communication skills and build stronger relationships even in challenging situations. This book serves as a valuable resource for professionals in various fields who encounter difficult conversations in their work. It equips readers with the tools and knowledge to handle tough situations with empathy, understanding, and confidence, ultimately leading to better outcomes and strengthened professional relationships.
Better Conversations Every Day: 4 Core Skills That Will Change the Way You Lead and Live Your Life
by Maggie Sass and Andre Keil | Center for Creative Leadership, © 2022
Authored by an expert in interpersonal communication, the book offers practical techniques and insights to improve interactions with others, whether in personal relationships, professional settings, or casual encounters. Better Conversations Every Day provides readers with a comprehensive roadmap to improving their communication skills and developing more rewarding relationships through conversation. By implementing the techniques and concepts outlined in the book, readers can enhance their ability to connect with others, foster understanding, and engage in more fulfilling conversations in their day-to-day lives.
Communication Essentials: The Tools You Need to Master Every Type of Professional Interaction
by Trey Guinn | Published by McGraw-Hill
No matter how great your knowledge, expertise or experience, poor communication skills undermine your ability to get your message across, achieve your objectives, and build crucial relationships. To advance your career—and succeed in other aspects of life, as well—building theses skills is essential. In Communication Essentials, expert Trey Guinn takes you step-by-step through the process of improvement, from understanding the importance of message clarity to specific, goal-based strategies to develop and maximize your skills.
Amplify Your Influence: Transform How You Communicate and Lead
by Rene Rodriguez | Gildan Media © 2022
In Amplify Your Influence: Transform How You Communicate and Lead, celebrated keynote speaker, trainer, and leadership coach Rene Rodriguez delivers an eye-opening roadmap to using applied neuroscience to improve listeners' communication ability, critical thinking, cultural awareness, and leadership skills.
Based in the author's proprietary AMPLIFII system and methodologies he has taught to over 100,000 participants around the world, the book offers practical tips, useful frameworks, guided practice, and simple application exercises to help listeners create new and lasting behaviors that effect change in their life and work.
Improve Your Communication Skills: How to Build Trust, Be Heard and Communicate with Confidence, 6th Edition
by Alan Barker | Kogan Page © 2022
This fully updated 6th edition now features a handy self-assessment tool to help you profile your own preferred communication style, even more practical exercises, useful checklists and top tips, as well as content on influencing others and managing difficult conversations. This book provides vital guidance on improving your conversations, building rapport, giving effective presentations, writing excellent reports and networking successfully. With the help of Improve Your Communication Skills, you will be able to get your message across—every time.
Communicate with Mastery: Speak With Conviction and Write for Impact
by Kara Levy, JD Schramm | John Wiley & Sons © 2020
Communicating with Mastery provides readers with a rich treasure trove of frameworks and tools for leadership communication as developed and taught over the past decade at Stanford's Graduate School of Business. Designed for the business leader on the go, it provides you quick access to helpful approaches to vexing communication problems leaders face today in speaking and writing to various audiences.
Projects often fail not because of the vision, but in the articulation of that vision. With the help of this book, you’ll learn how to ensure you get the results you desire as a leader and communicator.
Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High, 3rd Edition
by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler, Emily Gregory | Publisher: McGraw-Hill © 2021
The book that revolutionized business communications has been updated for today’s communication challenges. Crucial Conversations provides powerful skills to ensure every conversation―especially difficult ones―leads to the results you want. Written in an engaging and witty style, it teaches readers how to be persuasive rather than abrasive, how to get back to productive dialogue when others blow up or clam up, and it offers powerful skills for mastering high-stakes conversations, regardless of the topic or person.
Discussion questions
- What was the most important, relevant thing you learned from reading the book?
- What lesson did you learn from reading Communication Intelligence? And how will you apply what you’ve learned?
- Were there any quotes, passages, or stories from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
Discussion questions
- What aspects of the book can you relate to, and why?
- What are 3 key takeaways from What to Say When Things Get Tough that you can apply right away?
- What’s one thing that the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
Discussion Questions
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
- Can you share a moment in the book that caused you to pause and reflect?
- What’s your favorite quote from the book? Why?
Discussion Questions
- Can you share a moment in the book that resonated with you and inspired you to pause and reflect?
- How has Communication Essentials changed your perspective or built self-awareness?
- What lesson will you apply from reading this book? And how will you apply what you’ve learned?
Discussion Questions
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
- What new insights did you gather from Amplify Your Influence?
- Was there a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
Discussion Questions
- What lesson will you apply from reading this book? And how will you apply what you’ve learned?
- What aspects of the book can you relate to, and why?
- Can you share a moment in the book that resonated with you and inspired you to pause and reflect?
Discussion Questions
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
- What was the most important, relevant thing you learned from reading the book?
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
Discussion Questions
- What’s one thing that the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
- Was there a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
- How has Crucial Conversations influenced your perspective and self-awareness?
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
The Executive Warrior: 40 Powerful Questions to Develop Mental Toughness for Career Success
by Victor Ng | Marshall Cavendish, © 2018
Why are 87% of people not engaged at work, according to a Gallup global report? Among the biggest reasons are lack of purpose, loss of focus and inability to handle setbacks. To survive and thrive in today’s volatile workplace, you’ll need to be mentally tougher than ever. Many self-development books seem to have all the answers. This is one book that asks all the right questions and guides you to find your own answers – like how a personal coach would.
Mindfulness Based Leadership: The Art of Being A Leader – Not Becoming One
by Kathirasan K | Marshall Cavendish, © 2018
While mindfulness has often been perceived as a solitary activity, this book reveals how it is applicable on a wider scale—in groups, businesses and the wider community. Mindfulness-Based Leadership shows us how to balance self and organizational goals, to erase the real and imagined internal conflicts between what we believe in and what we do in reality.
Marbles, Mayhem and My Typewriter: The Unfadable Life of an Ordinary Man
by Mano Sabnani | Marshall Cavendish, © 2018
In a world where so many people believe that they cannot go far because they were not born gifted or with a silver spoon, Mano Sabnani’s story provides profound inspiration—showing how an ordinary man can achieve extraordinary things by following a very simple and ethical set of principles.
The Power to Become: How I Changed My Own Destiny
by Deepak Shrestha | Marshall Cavendish, © 2018
The Power to Become is an inspirational journey of personal transformation about a barefoot boy from Nepal who became a successful and committed businessman and philanthropist. This book is proof that anything is possible if you dare to go full throttle into life's great adventure.
How Asian Women Lead: Lessons for Global Corporations
by Jane Horan | Palgrave Macmillan, © 2014
How Asian Women Lead provides a vastly different picture than Western-focused leadership literature, highlighting obstacles Asian women face reaching the top, and looking beneath the corporate surface to show cultural and family perspectives. Through her research and the stories of four uniquely different women leaders from varying Asian economies and industries, Horan offers a new perspective to help business leaders and human capital professionals understand leadership diversity, build inclusive and engaged organizations, and sustain success.
Discussion Questions
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
- What lessons will you apply from reading this book?
- How has The Executive Warrior changed your perspective or built self-awareness?
Discussion Questions
- What new insights did you gather from Mindfulness Based Leadership that have impacted your perspective?
- Can you share a moment in the book that resonated with you and inspired you to pause and reflect?
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
Discussion Questions
- What’s one thing that the book will inspire you to do differently moving forward?
- What was your favorite quote from the book? Why?
- Can you share a moment in the book that resonated with you and inspired you to pause and reflect?
Discussion Questions
- What are 3 key takeaways from The Power to Become that you can apply in your life and your business endeavors?
- What was the most important, relevant thing you learned from reading The Power to Become?
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
Discussion Questions
- What lesson will you apply from reading this book? And how will you apply what you’ve learned?
- What aspects of the book can you relate to, and why?
- How has How Asian Women Lead changed your perspective or built self-awareness?
Leading Through Change Month
Leading Change: How Successful Leaders Approach Change Management
by Paul Lawrence | Brilliance Audio, © 2019
It is often claimed that 70% of organizational change efforts fail, despite the popularity of linear change models, such as Kotter's 8-step model. The reason few change efforts succeed as intended is because they are based on two implicit assumptions: that the leader or leadership team will come up with a vision and then succeed in persuading the rest of the organization to follow, and that people will happily embrace change without being afforded the opportunity to make their own meaning of that change. Leading Change offers an alternative. It provides a framework for change that opens opportunities for people within the organization to play a significant role in the process.
Change Fatigue Revisited: A New Framework for Leading Change
by Tahsin I. Alam, Richard Dool | Business Expert Press, © 2022
Leaders today must be able to embed resiliency into their organizations and to re-position change as a natural process. Being an effective change agent has become a critical leadership competency for 21st Century leaders. With these factors in mind, the authors propose a new approach to change in this book (the C6 Change Leadership Framework), as a means to mitigate “Change Fatigue” and to enhance a leader’s ability to positively affect change in their organizations. This book will enable leaders to manage change in a more proactive, tailored and engaged manner to increase the likelihood of achieving the expected outcomes of the change initiatives.
MIT Sloan Management Review Article on Leading Change Means Changing How You Lead
by MIT Sloan Management Review | MIT Sloan Management Review, © 2022
When a business is performing well on fit to purpose and relative advantage, the leader needs to recognize the twin dangers of complacency (believing that there’s no need for change) and hubris (overconfidence in the quality of one’s leadership). Contextually effective leaders combat complacency by continually striving for change, and they combat hubris by recognizing that their own opinion is less significant than the opinions of key stakeholders. Finally, the task of messaging is to maintain a focus on the ultimate priorities of the business rather than on concerns that are fleeting or disconnected from the company’s core strategy.
The Change Mindset: The Psychology of Leading and Thriving in an Uncertain World
by Andy Craggs | Kogan Page, © 2023
In The Change Mindset, leadership development expert Andy Craggs unpicks the main reasons why teams fail when it comes to dealing with change and navigating uncertainty. He defines the common traps that lead to failure; from not allowing yourself to reimagine the possible, mimicking the behaviour that your competition has shown when dealing with change, to doubting yourself and your team. Leading through change requires business leaders to be courageous and to show empathy, both for themselves and their people.
No Point B: Rules for Leading Change in the New Hyper-Connected, Radically Conscious Economy
by Caleb Gardner | Ascent Audio, © 2022
Our future depends on changing the way we change. But because technology has forever altered our relationship with what's coming next, the tomorrow we envisioned is too often totally different by the time it arrives. How can leaders manage disruption when disruption never stops coming? Drawing upon his vast experience in business leadership and social activism, author Caleb Gardner shows how the simple idea of embracing constant change as a core competency for living in a complex world could revolutionize our relationship with modernity and transform our approach to effective leadership.
The Secret Sauce for Leading Transformational Change
by Ian Ziskin and The Consortium for Change (C4C) | Recorded Books, © 2023
Most large-scale transformational change happens because of unanticipated, unaddressed, unplanned disruptions which raise questions about what it takes to lead, survive, and even thrive in periods of transformational change. This first-of-its-kind book offers a variety of lenses and perspectives, in the form of interviews, essays, and survey responses, with insights from business leaders, HR leaders, coaches, consultants, academics, thought leaders, and other transformational change experts. The compilation of practical tools provides listeners with a deep and diverse analysis of top-notch thinking and practices for leading transformational change. This work is fundamental to aspiring leaders who wish to learn the secret sauce for leading transformational change.
How to Future: Leading and Sense-Making in an Age of Hyperchange
by Scott Smith and Madeline Ashby | Kogan Page, © 2020
How to Future is a guidebook to futuring and arms you with tools, strategies and practices that illuminate new strategic pathways. Renowned futurists Scott Smith and Madeline Ashby teach you how to manage the daily flood of information and signals, and discern emergent patterns that have a direct impact on the direction of your business. How to Future isn't about the "one future" you expect. Instead, this book equips you with valuable tools and concepts, builds a future-focused mindset and enables you to envision, stress-test and prototype adaptable, informed and agile strategic visioning. These tools will empower you, your team and your organization to anticipate whatever futures emerge.
Discussion Questions
- What aspects of the book can you relate to, and why?
- What was a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you? Why?
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
Discussion Questions
- What new insights did you gather from Change Fatigue Revisited that have impacted your perspective?
- What lessons will you apply from reading this book?
- What was your favorite quote from the book? Why?
Discussion Questions
- How has Leading Change Means Changing How You Lead changed your perspective or built self-awareness?
- What’s one thing that the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
- What aspects of the book can you relate to, and why?
Discussion Questions
- What’s one thing that the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
- What aspects of the book can you relate to, and why?
- How has The Change Mindset changed your perspective and built self-awareness?
Discussion Questions
- What are the most relevant concepts you learned from No Point B?
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
- How has No Point B influenced your perspective and self-awareness?
Discussion Questions
- How did The Secret Sauce for Leading Transformational Change resonate with you, and why?
- What’s one thing that the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
- What new insights did you gather from the book that changed your perspective?
Discussion Questions
- What’s one thing that the book will inspire you to do differently moving forward?
- What was your favorite quote from How to Future? Why?
- Can you share a moment in the book that resonated with you and inspired you to pause and reflect?
National Stress Awareness Day
Listful Living: A List-Making Journey to a Less-Stressed You
by Paula Rizzo | Mango Publishing Group, © 2019
Make lists work for you with Listful Living. Anyone can make a list. But can that list make you a calmer, more mindful, super productive and less stressed version of yourself? It’s easy to become overwhelmed by to-do’s, bucket lists and goals. The secret to success is not just about what you put on your list but what you intentionally leave off. Less is more. Leading with intention and how you’d like your life to feel is key.
Stress Into Strength: Resilience Routines for Wimps, Warriors, and Everyone in Between
by Nick Arnett | HarperCollins Leadership, © 2021
Discovering and practicing your ideal rhythm of stress and renewal—physical, social, and spiritual—will enhance your health, strength, and resilience. Stress reactions are automatic, but to transform stress into strength, you need to become intentional about routines that activate your natural renewal systems. The proven tips throughout Stress Into Strength will help you do exactly that.
Emotional Brilliance: Living a Stress Less Fear Less Life
by Relly Nadler and Cathy L. Greenberg | Blackstone Publishing, © 2021
Emotional Brilliance is your most powerful tool to create and maintain your healthy internal balance. It is the foundation for ALL your external success in both your professional and personal life. Emotional Brilliance is your personal field guide to help you quickly establish habits to realize your best self during local or worldwide crisis and for your entire life.
Stressaholic: 5 Steps to Transform Your Relationship with Stress
by Heidi Hanna | Wiley, © 2014
Stress in and of itself is not bad and is actually utilized for growth when balanced with adequate recovery. The solution to stress addiction is to build in and prioritize optimal rest and relaxation on a holistic level—body, mind, and spirit—in order to consistently recharge and create a more resilient operating system. Stressaholic shows you how to win the war on stress without limiting progress by creating an optimal performance pulse of stress and recovery for life.
Extinguish Burnout: A Practical Guide to Prevention and Recovery
by Terri Brogue and Robert Brogue | Society for Human Resource Management, © 2019
Trapped. Stuck. Helpless. These are the words that people experiencing burnout use to describe their lives, but they don’t have to. Nearly everyone has experienced burnout. Some have escaped burnout’s grips, but at what cost, and after how long? When we find ourselves succumbing to the pressures of today that move us towards burnout, we need a clear path to get out and avoid it in the future. The words used after extinguishing burnout are hopeful, thriving, flourishing, and powerful.
GRATITUDE AFFIRMATIONS
Using affirmations is a proven method of reprogramming your brain and training it to consciously control what you think about. Gratitude Affirmations are a great way to express gratitude and amplify blessings for health, peace, and happiness.
DETOX AFFIRMATIONS
Using affirmations is a proven method of reprogramming your brain and training it to consciously control what you think about. Detox Affirmations help detox body and soul to reduce stress and increase the level of feel-good hormones leading to success and happiness.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- What’s one thing that the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
- What are 3 key takeaways from Listful Living that you can apply right now?
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- What new insights did you gather from reading Stress Into Strength that changed your perspective?
- Was there a particular lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned?
- What aspects of Emotional Brilliance can you relate to, and why?
- What was your favorite quote from the book? Why?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- Can you share a moment in the book that resonated with you and inspired you to pause and reflect?
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
- What lesson will you apply from reading this book? And how will you apply what you’ve learned?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- How has Extinguish Burnout changed your perspective or built self-awareness?
- What’s one thing the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
- What new insights did you gather from Extinguish Burnout that have influenced your perspective?
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World Creativity & Innovation Day
The Bold Ones: Innovate and Disrupt to Become Truly Indispensable
by Shawn Kanungo | McGraw Hill Ascent Audio, © 2022
Disruption for disruption's sake isn't a smart strategy when you're seeking ways to accelerate your career and become truly indispensable. In The Bold Ones, you'll discover it's more about being bold than disruptive: being simultaneously confident enough to challenge industries, yet practical enough to recreate them. In this playbook from internationally celebrated disruption strategist Shawn Kanungo, you'll learn where to start, what to do, and how to break through with your ideas. Distilling lessons learned from some of the world's most extraordinary disruptors, The Bold Ones presents eight unconventional pillars to success.
The New Art of Ideas: Unlock Your Creative Potential
by Robin Landa | Berrett-Koehler, © 2022
A great idea presents a well-formulated thought or plan of action that spurs growth, change, advancement, adaptation, or new insight. Worthwhile ideas move the needle; they change the playing field altogether. The New Art of Ideas is designed to help readers consistently produce worthwhile ideas by becoming nimble and imaginative thinkers better equipped to compete and produce in a global economy.
Find Your Red Thread: Make Your Big Ideas Irresistible
by Tamsen Webster | Tantor, © 2022
You have a terrific idea. It's so powerful that it could change a life, a market, or even the world. There's just one problem: others don't see its power—yet. If you truly value the possibility of your idea, then you're ready to find your Red Thread—the through line that connects your idea to your audience's hearts and minds. The best part is, the Red Thread already exists. It's the connection that makes the invisible link between your audience's problem and your solution tangible—and actionable. With the Red Thread, you'll inspire audiences to act and get the outcome you're both looking for.
How Creativity Rules the World: The Art and Business of Turning Your Ideas Into Gold
by Maria Brito | HarperCollins Leadership, © 2022
How Creativity Rules the World shows that, despite contrary beliefs, creativity can be taught and learned by anyone. Creativity is an inexhaustible resource that is the key to thriving in the business world and beyond. This timeless guide promises to make the creative process of successful seven-figure artists and billion-dollar entrepreneurs—as well as the author’s own—accessible and actionable for you to take the power of their ideas to the next level.
The Human Element: Overcoming the Resistance that Awaits New Ideas
by Peter Lerman, David Schonthal, and Loran Nordgren | Ascent Audio, © 2021
The Human Element is for anyone who wants to introduce a new idea or innovation into the world. Most marketers, innovators, executives, and activists operate on a deep assumption. It is the belief that the best way to convince people to embrace a new idea is to heighten the appeal of the idea itself. We instinctively believe that if we add enough value, people will eventually say "yes." This reflex leads us down a path of adding features and benefits to our ideas or increasing the sizzle of our messaging-all in the hope of getting others on board. We call this instinct the "Fuel-based mindset." The Fuel-based mindset explains so much of what we do, from adding countless trivial features to software, to bolting a sixth blade onto a shaving razor.
Innovation is Everybody’s Business: How to Ignite, Scale & Sustain Innovation for Competitive Edge
by Tamara Ghandour | Nicholas Brealey, © 2021
Innovation isn’t something you do after you get your work done. It’s how you do your work. Organizations all over the world are shedding jobs in record numbers. Yet today they are desperately in need of people with the abilities and skills to think ahead of the curve, delight customers, motivate colleagues, slash costs, and achieve unconventional results.
In this practical road map to becoming irreplaceable, global innovation guru and best-selling author Robert B. Tucker reveals why honing your I-Skills (Innovation Skills) may be the smartest career move you’ll make.
Discussion Questions
- How has The Bold Ones changed your perspective or built self-awareness?
- Was there a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
- What aspects of the book can you relate to, and why?
Discussion Questions
- What are 3 key takeaways from this book that you can apply in your organization?
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
- What new insights did you gather from The New Art of Ideas that have impacted your perspective?.
Discussion Questions
- What’s one thing that the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
- What are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned?
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
Discussion Questions
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned?
- What aspects of How Creativity Rules the World can you relate to, and why?
- What was your favorite quote from the book? Why?
Discussion Questions
- What are 3 key takeaways from this book that you can apply in your organization?
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
- What new insights did you gather from The Human Element that have impacted your perspective?
Discussion Questions
- How has Innovation is Everybody’s Business changed your perspective or built self-awareness?
- Was there a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
- What aspects of the book can you relate to, and why?
National Employee Appreciation Day
Employees First! Inspire, Engage, and Focus on the Heart of Your Organization
by Donna Cutting | Red Wheel/Weiser, © 2022
The world is changing and it’s time to reimagine and reshape your employee experience. Take care of the people who take care of your customers. Employees First! presents recognition strategies and appreciation techniques, but it goes deeper than that. You will learn how giving your team members a voice in your company, supporting them with knowledge and training, giving them purpose and equitable pay, translates into higher productivity and happier customers. Discover what real empowerment is, and why building a diverse culture of inclusion is beneficial to all involved.
The Power of Thanks: How Social Recognition Empowers Employees and Creates a Best Place to Work
by Eric Mosley, Derek Irvine | Recorded Books, © 2014
Building a fully engaged, energized workforce is the key to business success. The Power of Thanks reveals how leading companies like Intuit, JetBlue Airways, IHG, Symantec, ConAgra Foods, and The Hershey Company empower employees through social recognition, in which the practice of mutual appreciation and trust directs and rewards higher performance. Eric Mosley and Derek Irvine, executives at the world-renowned employee recognition firm Globoforce, explain why social recognition is so powerful and how you can apply it in your company.
Employee Experience: Develop a Happy, Productive and Supported Workforce for Exceptional Individual and Business Performance, 2nd Edition
by Ben Whitter | Kogan Page, © 2022
In a world of increasing stress and constant change, supporting and developing employees has never been more difficult. Employee Experience is an essential resource for improving experiences at work. To develop top-performing employees, HR professionals need to move beyond ad hoc engagement initiatives and instead to design and embed employee experience throughout an organization's processes and culture - from the moment an employee sees a job advert to the moment they leave the company.
Reward Management: A Practical Introduction, 3rd Edition
by Michael Rose | Kogan Page, © 2022
How can you fairly reward and recognize employees and align this with team and organizational performance? Reward Management is a practical guide for understanding how to develop successful reward strategies. It covers key areas including pay and grade structures, job evaluation, non-cash reward, pay reviews, bonus plans and tax issues. Featuring guidance, practical tools, and case studies throughout, this book provides the knowledge and skills needed to plan, implement and assess an effective reward strategy in any type of organization.
Recognizing and Engaging Employees for Dummies
by Bob Nelson | Recorded Books, © 2019
Recognizing and Engaging Employees for Dummies gives you the tools and information you need to improve morale, productivity, and personal achievement with a successful employee recognition program. Written by a world-leading authority in employee recognition, this book walks you step-by-step through the design and implementation process and describes the incentives that work, the behaviors to reward, and the mechanisms that must be in place for the program to be effective in the long term. You'll learn how to pinpoint the places where engagement and recognition could improve the bottom line, and how to structure the reward for optimal balance between motivational, financial, and organizational effectiveness. With clear explanations and a fun, friendly style, this book is your quick and easy guide to boosting productivity, profit, and customer satisfaction.
15 Employee Recognition And Appreciation Ideas (Part 1) | Ways to Recognize Employees
by The Virtual Hub Ltd
Employee recognition and appreciation can go a long way in boosting morale and showing your team that you value their hard work. Here are 15 ideas to show your employees some love!
Discussion Questions
- What new insights did you gather from Employees First!?
- What was the most important, relevant thing you learned from reading the book?
- What aspects of the book can you relate to, and why?
Discussion Questions
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
- What new insights did you gather from The Power of Thanks that have influenced your perspective?
- Was there a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
Discussion Questions
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
- Was there a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
- What was your favorite quote from the book? Why?
Discussion Questions
- What did you learn from the book that you didn’t know before?
- How has Reward Management changed your perspective or built self-awareness?
- What was the most important, relevant thing you learned from reading the book?
Discussion Questions
- What’s one thing this book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
- What were some quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned?
Watch Now
International Women’s Day
You, the Leader (HBR Women at Work)
by Harvard Business Review | ASCENT, © 2022
Women face a double bind, forced to choose whether to be liked or respected, while neither one alone is enough to secure a seat at the table. It is up to organizations to change, but until then, what's an aspiring female leader to do? You, the Leader tackles these obstacles and more as women chart their path to the top, from a lack of credit for their work to feeling invisible to unfair biases. This book will help you better understand how women can lead with authenticity and become valued leaders in their organizations.
Strong Women Lift Each Other Up
by Molly Galbraith | HarperCollins Leadership, © 2021
Women are ready to stop the vicious cycle of criticizing, judging, gossiping, and comparing themselves. We want to feel good in our own skin and know we’re enough, just as we are. Strong Women Lift Each Other Up is an evidence-based, actionable guide to creating a better life for yourself and a better world with more opportunity for women and girls.
Climbing the Spiral Staircase: How Women Can Navigate Their Careers and Accelerate Their Success
by Leanne Meyer | ForbesBooks, © 2022
Has your progress up the corporate ladder come to a grinding halt? Are your ambitions being held captive by your gender? Does it seem like the men around you are consistently progressing further and faster even though you are putting in the same effort? This book is a practical guide for women who are ready to be intentional about the next chapter in their careers. In Climbing the Spiral Staircase, Leanne Meyer examines the modern workplace, and the challenges women face as they navigate this complex environment.
Make Your Own Map: Career Success Strategy for Women
by Kathryn Bishop | Kogan Page, © 2021
There's no such thing as a pre-set path to career success. Following the footsteps of others can only get you so far—and for women, there are often additional obstacles. But what if you could design your own path to your career goals? What if you could Make Your Own Map? Based on material from the popular Women Transforming Leadership course from Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, Make Your Own Map will help you develop a resilient and aspirational strategy for your career—whatever your starting point.
Arrive and Thrive: 7 Impactful Practices for Women Navigating Leadership
by Janet Foutty, Susan Mackenty Brady, and Lynn Perry Wooten | McGraw Hill, © 2022
Women who arrive at the top should be able to thrive at the top. Instead, they’re judged lucky to survive―even more so with pandemic-era pressures overwhelming their already busy family and professional lives. What if there was a way you could flourish in a senior leadership role as your best self, inspire excellence in your team channeling your own wellbeing and, at the same time, lead a highly fulfilled life? There is―and Arrive and Thrive shows you how.
One Bold Move a Day: Meaningful Actions Women Can Take to Fulfill Their Leadership and Career Potential
by Shanna A. Hocking | McGraw Hill, © 2023
Even after being rejected 100 times right out of college, Shanna Hocking never strayed from her dream career and now, in One Bold Move a Day, you’ll will benefit from lessons learned, and discover new, life-changing ways to build the confidence you need to succeed on your own terms. In One Bold Move a Day, Hocking shows how a single, measurable act each day provides the daily challenge that will help you truly grow. With insight gleaned from years in multi-billion-dollar nonprofits and running a business to support women leaders, Hocking offers actionable advice and useful tools to facilitate your personal journey.
Discussion Questions
- What’s one thing this book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
- What were some quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned to your own leadership?
Discussion Questions
- What was a story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
- How has Strong Women Lift Each Other Up changed your perspective or increased your self-awareness?
- What moment in the book caused you to pause and reflect?
Discussion Questions
- What new insights did you gather from Climbing the Spiral Staircase?
- What was the most important, relevant thing you learned from reading the book?
- What aspects of the book can you relate to, and why?
Discussion Questions
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
- What’s one thing the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
- What lesson will you apply from reading this book? And how will you apply what you’ve learned?
Discussion Questions
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned?
- What was the most important, relevant thing you learned from reading the book?
- What was your favorite quote from the book, and why?
Discussion Questions
- What are 3 key takeaways from One Bold Move a Day that you can apply right away?
- What quotes or passages from the book did you find particularly compelling? Why?
- How will you apply the principles you’ve learned?
National Reading Month
All In: How Obsessive Leaders Achieve the Extraordinary
by Robert Bruce Shaw | HarperCollins Leadership, © 2020
Extraordinary leaders share a passionate commitment to achieving their vision that borders and sometimes crosses the line into obsession. All In shows why obsession, if properly focused and managed, is both necessary and productive. Advances in any endeavor almost always depend on a small group of individuals who are completely consumed by the goal they're pursuing. When these leaders and teams are successful, everyone benefits from their obsessive nature. All In explores the three obsessions underlying the achievements of the greatest leaders: delighting customers, building great products and creating an enduring company.
What Would Steve Jobs Do? How the Steve Jobs Way Can inspire Anyone to Think Differently and Win
by Peter Sander | Recorded Books, © 2022
What Would Steve Jobs Do? presents the six-part business model Jobs applied to make Apple the most valuable publicly traded manufacturing corporation in the world and the global model for business excellence. While the results of this model can be profound, each step is something you can easily focus on with clarity and purpose. This book will show you how to transform your organization, recast your future, and do your part to redefine our world using the wisdom and foresight of the greatest business sage in generations.
Bet on Yourself: Recognize, Own, and Implement Breakthrough Opportunities
by Ann Hiatt | HarperCollins Leadership, © 2021
Take charge of your career and create a life full of learning, adventure, joy, and success utilizing these never-before-shared leadership principles Ann Hiatt learned working alongside the world’s top tech CEOs—Google’s Eric Schmidt, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, and Yahoo!'s Marissa Mayer. Whether you’re stuck in your current job, starting your first job and wondering how you can use it as a steppingstone towards your dream career, or mid-career and wanting to finally be recognized for promotion or a leadership role, this book is for you.
Fast-Track Your Leadership Career
by Rashim Mogha | Women Lead Publishing, © 2018
While American women hold 52 percent of all professional-level jobs, only 20 percent hold executive, senior leadership, and management positions in U.S. high-tech industries. As a woman of color, Rashim Mogha knows the frustration and devastation of being passed over for a leadership position. She realized that just exceeding her performance goals would not land her a leadership role. So, she created an integrated strategy for career advancement. Fast-Track Your Leadership Career provides a template for creating that integrated strategy. You’ll get concrete examples on how to identify your superpower, build your brand, invest in yourself, navigate work politics, and build a support system that will propel you along the road to your success.
Fast-Track Your Leadership Career: A Guided Journal
by Rashim Mogha | Rashim Mogha, © 2019
Based on Rashim Mogha's best-selling book, Fast-Track Your Leadership Career, this journal includes thought provoking questions that guide you towards discovering what success means to you, how to align your superpower to your success and to own your narrative—Your Story that is unique to YOU. This journal holds your opportunity to truly discover who you are through your own story and to feel empowered to take the next steps in your success journey—to thrive.
Jeff Bezos: In His Own Words
by Helena Hunt | Agate Publishing, © 2018
Jeff Bezos: In His Own Words offers a unique look into the mind of one of the world's most successful entrepreneurs by collecting more than 500 of Bezos's quotes on business, technology, customer service, e-commerce, innovation, entrepreneurship, and more. Meticulously curated from interviews, speeches, shareholder letters, press releases, and other sources, this book creates a comprehensive picture of Jeff Bezos, his obsessions, and what makes his ventures thrive. Jeff Bezos: In His Own Words reveals in detail a man who wants to push the future forward―and will inspire readers to do the same.
Nerve: Lessons on Leadership from Two Women Who Went First
by Martha Piper and Indira Samarasekera | Recorded Books, © 2021
Martha Piper and Indira Samarasekera had vastly different career paths on their way to becoming the first (and so far only) female presidents of two of Canada’s largest and most respected research universities and directors of some of the nation’s largest market cap companies, but what they had in common was their gender, their willingness to take risks when leadership opportunities presented themselves, and a work ethic second to none. It was not always easy, pretty, or fair, but it was always the result of choosing to answer the call to lead. A call that in the authors’ view, too many women still turn away from. In Nerve: Lessons on Leadership from Two Women Who Went First, Piper and Samarasekera share their personal and professional stories, offering guidance for women leaders of every age and at every stage of their career. Nerve is a must-read for any woman who is leading today, considering leading, or thinking about life after leading.
The Leader’s Mind: How Great Leaders Prepare, Perform, and Prevail
by Jim Afremow with Phil White | HarperCollins Leadership, © 2021
The Leader's Mind taps into the same tips and techniques honed by top-tier athletes, such as how to get in a "zone," thrive on a team, and stay humble, to become a champion at work and the ultimate team player at home. Stop struggling with the expectations you face at work and at home by fundamentally changing the way you process what’s happening in your life. The mental edge that sets elite athletes apart outlined in this book will help you become the champion leader you want to be.
Discussion Questions
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
- What new insights did you gather from All In that have influenced your perspective?
- Was there a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
Discussion Questions
- What did you learn from the book that you didn’t know before?
- How has What Would Steve Jobs Do? changed your perspective or built self-awareness?
- What was the most important, relevant thing you learned from reading the book?
Discussion Questions
- Was there a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
- What’s one thing the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
Discussion Questions
- What was a story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
- How has Fast-Track Your Leadership Career changed your perspective or increased your self-awareness?
- What moment in the book caused you to pause and reflect?
Discussion Questions
- Can you share a moment in the book that resonated with you and inspired you to pause and reflect?
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
- What new insights have you gathered from the Guided Journal?
Discussion Questions
- Can you share a moment in the book that resonated with you and inspired you to pause and reflect?
- What are 3 key takeaways from Jeff Bezos: In His Own Words that you can apply right away?
- What’s one thing that the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
Discussion Questions
- What was a story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
- How has Nerve changed your perspective or increased your self-awareness?
- What moment in the book caused you to pause and reflect?
Discussion Questions
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
- What’s one thing the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
- What lesson will you apply from reading this book? And how will you apply what you’ve learned?
Black History Month
Successful Black Entrepreneurs: Hidden Histories, Inspirational Stories, and Extraordinary Business Achievements
by Steven S. Rogers | Wiley, © 2022
Successful Black Entrepreneurs is an insightful collection of Harvard Business School case studies about Black entrepreneurs succeeding in a variety of industries and through different routes, including start-ups, franchising, and acquisitions. The book also recognizes and celebrates Black entrepreneurial excellence, as it takes the reader through the stages of entrepreneurship, including ideation, raising capital, growing the company, and taking it public.
Choosing to Prosper: Triumphing Over Adversity, Breaking Out of Comfort Zones, Achieving Your Life and Money Dreams
by Bola Sokunbi | Wiley, © 2022
In Choosing to Prosper, celebrated company founder and finance leader Bola Sokunbi delivers an uplifting and practical message of success and resilience in the face of formidable obstacles. The book challenges readers to examine their own financial and personal dreams and find the strength and resilience they need to achieve them. The author provides the tools readers need to build confidence, find their voice, and realize personal growth. Imposter syndrome, mental health challenges, and common familial obstacles are all explored in the context of the author’s incredible and inspirational life experiences.
Black Faces in High Places: 10 Strategic Actions for Black Professionals to Reach the Top and Stay There
by Randal D. Pinkett and Jeffrey A. Robinson | HarperCollins Leadership, © 2022
Black Faces in High Places is the essential guide for Black professionals who are moving up through their organizations or industries but need a roadmap for how to get to the top and stay there. It highlights the experiences of other Black faces in high places who were able to navigate various crossroads, reach the top, and stay there, including insights from President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Cathy Hughes, Bob Johnson, Ursula Burns, David Steward, Angela Glover Blackwell, Ken Chenault, Senator Cory Booker, Geoffrey Canada, and others.
The Gumbo Coalition: Ten Leadership Lessons That Help You Inspire, Unite, and Achieve
by Marc Morial | HarperCollins Leadership, © 2020
Marc Morial knew his calling from a young age was to be a leader in the fight for meaningful change. Growing up in the segregated South and helping his father realize an incredible victory as the first African American mayor of New Orleans, Morial was shown that significant change is possible. Less than two decades later in his own mayoral race in New Orleans, Morial built what he christened the “Gumbo Coalition,” an incredible mixture of all of New Orleans’s ingredients—African Americans, Whites, Latinos, Asians, business leaders, grassroots community activists, business leaders, clergy, and more. Each ingredient brought its own flavor, creating a dish that was able to reduce crime and rebuild New Orleans’s reputation with such power that the city successfully attracted an NBA franchise, multiple Super Bowls, and the Essence Festival, the largest African American event in the nation.
The Wealth Choice: Success Secrets of Black Millionaires
by Dennis Kimbro | Gildan Media, © 2013
Based on a seven-year study of 1,000 of the wealthiest African Americans, The Wealth Choice offers a trove of sound and surprising advice about climbing the economic ladder, even when the odds seem stacked against you. Readers will learn about how business leaders, entrepreneurs, and celebrities like Bob Johnson, Spike Lee, L.A. Reid, Herman Cain, T.D. Jakes and Tyrese Gibson found their paths to wealth; what they did or didn’t learn about money early on; what they had to sacrifice to get to the top; and the role of discipline in managing their success.
A Blessing: Women of Color Teaming Up to Lead, Empower and Thrive
by Bonita C. Stewart and Jacqueline Adams | Gildan Media, © 2021
A Blessing presents a fresh, bold analysis of African American female leadership. An unapologetic look at our often-overlooked role in America's social, political, psychological and economic history, it is armed with data that should be empowering for today's "unicorns". The book offers a "playbook" to help Black unicorns "team up" and find innovative ways to support one another as they climb, what research shows, are lonely, stressful, jagged yet ultimately rewarding ladders of opportunity.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned?
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
- What’s one thing that the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- How has Choosing to Prosper changed your perspective or built self-awareness?
- Was there a particular lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
- What aspects of the book can you relate to, and why?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- What are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned?
- Can you share a moment in the book that resonated with you and inspired you to pause and reflect?
- How has Black Faces in High Places changed your perspective or built self-awareness?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
- Was there a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
- What was your favorite quote from the book? Why?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- Can you share a moment in the book that resonated with you and inspired you to pause and reflect?
- What are 3 key takeaways from The Wealth Choice that you can apply right away?
- What’s one thing that the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned?
- What was your favorite quote from the book? Why?
- What’s the most relevant thing you learned from A Blessing?
National Time Management Month
Successful Time Management: How to be Organized, Productive, and Get Things Done, Sixth Edition
by Patrick Forsyth | Kogan Page, © 2022
Successful Time Management includes great time-saving ideas, practical solutions and checklists, plus advice on: controlling paperwork; organizing your emails; delegating and working with others; prioritizing to focus on key issues; and getting and staying organized. This fully updated 6th edition features even more practical exercises, useful templates and top tips to help you minimize time-wasting and interruptions and focus on the priorities that will lead to success in your job and career. Successful Time Management will give you the tools to become more efficient and effective.
No Nonsense: Time Management: 50 Tips to Hack Your Time and Get Everything Done
by Keith Bailey and Karen Tiber Leland | Career Press, © 2020
In today’s hurly-burly work environment, many businesspeople find it challenging to avoid distraction, stay focused, use their time and energy to maximum benefit, and gain ground on important goals and outcomes. In short, we are overloaded. No Nonsense: Time Management helps you overcome this feeling of overload and avoid the traps that lead to an unproductive relationship with time. The book offers smart solutions, powerful habits, and proven time hacks for improving everyday work situations.
Managing Time
by Harvard Business Review Press | Gildan Media, © 2022
Does it seem like you never have enough time to get everything done? Keeping on top of your tasks, deadlines, and work schedule can be daunting. Managing Time quickly walks you through the basics. You'll learn to assess how you spend your time now, prioritize your tasks, plan the right time to work on each one, and avoid procrastination and interruptions.
Time Management Ninja: 21 Tips for More Time and Less Stress in Your Life
by Craig Jarrow | Mango Media, © 2019
You want more time to spend with family, to achieve big goals, and to simply enjoy life. Yet, there seem to be more and more things competing for your time, and more distractions interrupting your day. Time Management Ninja offers 21 rules that will show you an easier and more effective way to take control of your time and manage your busy life. Follow these simple principles and get more done with less effort. It’s no-stress, uncomplicated time management that works.
The 1 Day Refund: Take Back Time, Spend it Wisely
by Donna McGeorge | Ascent Audio, © 2022
Are you constantly juggling multiple tasks and operating at 100 per cent or more? Do you feel you are permanently on the treadmill and can’t get off? If you needed extra capacity for something urgent, could you find it? In The 1-Day Refund, best-selling author and time management expert Donna McGeorge shows you how to recover an extra 15 percent of your time—10 minutes per hour, 1 hour per day or a full day each week—to think, breathe, live and work. By creating more space, you’ll discover a new ability to focus on what’s truly important to you.
How to Organize Yourself: Simple Ways to Take Control, Save Time and Work More Efficiently, 7th Edition
by John Caunt | Kogan Page, © 2022
Dramatically improve the way you work with great tips on how to determine goals, prioritize tasks, overcome distractions; build positive work habits and adjusting to working at home. This fully updated 7th edition now features even more practical exercises, useful templates and top tips to help you get organized, as well as content on how to deal with the ubiquitous presence of smartphones and adapt to the ever-increasing scope for interruption and procrastination in our 24/7 lives. How to Organize Yourself will enable you to take control of your workload, reduce stress and fatigue, and free up time for the things that really matter.
Get it Done Now! Own Your Time, Take Back Your Life, Second Edition
by Brian Tracy | G&D Media, © 2020
We live in the most technologically advanced period of history in the most technologically advanced world. With the advent of mobile phones, killer apps, internet speeds that stagger the imagination, and nearly any bit of information, products, and solutions only one click away, how can it be that remaining optimally productive is such a challenge for so many? In a word: DISTRACTION. Many of us spend precious time focusing on the incessant emails, texts, notifications, ads, etc. that seem important-even urgent-to our success and happiness, but, in reality, only complicate our lives and take us even further from our goals. In Get It Done Now! Brian addresses this challenge of distraction in its many forms and shows you how to focus on your most important task so you can get it done now!
Two Awesome Hours: Science-Based Strategies to Harness Your Best Time and Get Your Most Important Work Done
by Josh Davis | Tantor Audio, © 2020
Drawing on cutting-edge neuroscience, Josh Davis, director of research at the NeuroLeadership Institute explains clearly that our brains and bodies operate according to complex biological needs that, when leveraged intelligently, can make us incredibly effective. From what and when we eat, to when we tackle tasks or disengage—how we plan our activities has a huge impact on performance. Davis shows us how we can create the conditions for two awesome hours of effective mental performance.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- How has Successful Time Management changed your perspective or built self-awareness?
- What’s one thing that the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- How will you apply the principles you’ve learned from No Nonsense: Time Management?
- What was the most important, relevant thing you learned from reading the book?
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- How has Managing Time changed your perspective or built self-awareness?
- What are some ways you’ll apply the strategies from the book?
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- What was your biggest takeaway from Time Management Ninja?
- Were there any quotes or passages you found particularly compelling?
- Do you have a new perspective as a result of reading the book?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- Did you learn something from The 1 Day Refund that you didn’t know before?
- How will you apply what you’ve learned from the book?
- What’s one thing the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- What new insights did you gather from How to Organize Yourselfthat you’ll put into practice?
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling?
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- What lesson will you apply from reading this book? And how will you apply what you’ve learned?
- How has this book raised your self-awareness?
- What’s the single most relevant thing you learned from reading Get it Done Now!?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- Do you have a different perspective as a result of reading this book?
- Did the book inspire you to do anything differently moving forward?
- What are some ways you can apply the principles and lessons you learned from Two Awesome Hours?
Goal Setting Month
Supercharged Goal Setting
by Warren Gfabiareshes | Gildan Media, © 2019
When you know what your dreams are, what you’re trying to achieve, you have a sense of what you’re working for. Haven’t you noticed how that commitment of achievement lights a fire under you? How it makes you willing to do whatever it takes to succeed? This exciting book will explain how to turn your dreams into goals that you want to strive for and commit to achieving.
Get Momentum: How to Start When You’re Stuck
by Jason W. Womack and Jodi Womack | Wiley, © 2016
Do you sometimes feel stuck, despite real efforts to gain momentum on goals you’ve set? Momentum means you’re doing more than simply getting things done. It’s that feeling of satisfaction, the belief that you can achieve big goals and complete important projects that fulfill you both personally and professionally. Get Momentum coaches you in the mindset, skill set, and toolkit required to make progress on the items you have on your life and work goals faster and easier, while living a less stressful, more meaningful life.
The 4 Disciplines of Execution: Achieving Your Wildly Important Goals
by Jim Huling, Sean Covey, Chris McChesney | Franklin Covey, © 2012
The 4 Disciplines of Execution (4DX) is a simple, repeatable, and proven formula for executing your most important strategic priorities in the midst of the whirlwind. By following the 4 Disciplines—Focus on the Wildly Important; Act on Lead Measures; Keep a Compelling Scoreboard; Create a Cadence of Accountability—leaders can produce breakthrough results, even when executing the strategy requires a significant change in behavior from their teams.
Goal Setting
by Skillsoft
Effective Goal Setting
by Dorie Clark
The Importance of Setting Goals
by Simon Sinek
Discussion Questions
- What lessons did you learn from the book that you can apply right away?
- What lessons will take longer to put into practice?
- How does what you learned fit in with what you know? How is it new or different?
Discussion Questions
- What’s one thing the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
- How did Get Momentum change your perspective?
- What aspects of the book can you relate to, and why?
Discussion Questions
- Can you share a moment in the book that resonated with you?
- What new insights did you gather from The 4 Disciplines of Execution?
- What are some ways you can apply what you’ve learned?
WATCH NOW
Goal Setting video
WATCH NOW
Effective Goal Setting video
WATCH NOW
National Mentoring Month
Master Mentors: 30 Transformative Insights From Our Greatest Minds
by Scott Jeffrey Miller | HarperCollins Leadership, © 2021
For busy professionals and lifelong learners seeking practical strategies for reaching new heights, Master Mentors distills 30 essential learnings from Seth Godin, Susan Cain, Trent Shelton, General Stanley McChrystal, and other top business minds and thought leaders of our time.
9 Powerful Practices of Really Great Mentors: How to Inspire and Motivate Anyone
by Stephen E. Kohn and Vincent D. O’Connell | Career Press, © 2015
The support of a mentor is an integral part of any effort to maximize someone’s full potential. A mentor-protégé relationship has many unique features, which both sides of the relationship need to understand and appreciate. 9 Powerful Practices of Really Great Mentors features a set of proven techniques for those who serve as mentors in a variety of contexts, but particularly in the workplace.
The Mentor’s Guide: Facilitating Effective Learning Relationships, 3rd Edition
by Lois J. Zachary and Lisa Z. Fain | Wiley, © 2022
In the newly revised Third Edition of The Mentor’s Guide: Facilitating Effective Learning Relationships, veteran mentoring experts Lois J. Zachary and Lisa Z. Fain deliver a thoughtful and rich exploration of the critical process of mentoring. The book offers practical tools for facilitating the mentoring experience from beginning to end.
Mentoring Programs That Work
by Jennifer Labin | ATD, © 2017
A stellar mentor can change the trajectory of a career. And an enduring mentoring program can become an organization’s most powerful talent development tool. But fixing a “broken” mentoring program or developing a new program from scratch requires a unique process, not a standard training methodology. Mentoring Programs That Work will help your organization succeed by building mentoring programs that connect people and inspire learning transfer.
Starting Strong: A Mentoring Fable: Stories for Success Within the First 90 Days
by Lois J. Zachary and Lory A. Fischler | Wiley, © 2014
In Starting Strong, mentoring experts Lois J. Zachary and Lory A. Fischler weave a compelling tale that exemplifies the concepts, highlights the dynamics, and outlines the issues involved in mentoring relationships. The authors use the form of a fable to tell the story of a budding mentoring relationship filled with possibilities, problems, and triumphs. As organizations face the transition of departing Boomers and arriving Millennials, Starting Strong offers a hands-on and readable guide to create effective mentoring relationships that will ensure the success of that transition.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- What’s one thing the book inspired you to do differently going forward?
- What are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned to your own coaching?
- Whose advice resonated with you the most, and why?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
- What was your favorite quote from the book? Why?
- What aspects of the book can you relate to, and why?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- Can you share a moment in the book that resonated with you?
- Did you learn anything in The Mentor’s Guide that changed your perspective?
- What was the most important, relevant thing you learned from reading the book?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- What lesson will you apply from reading the book? And how will you apply what you’ve learned?
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
- What are some ways you can apply the principles you’ve learned?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- What are 3 key takeaways from Starting Strong that you can apply right away?
- Was there a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
Universal Human Rights Month
MIT SLOAN MANAGEMENT REVIEW ARTICLE ON SIX WAYS COMPANIES CAN PROMOTE AND PROTECT HUMAN RIGHTS
by MIT Sloan Management Review | MIT Sloan Management Review, © 2020
The extent to which corporations should react to human rights abuses by governments in their host and home countries has become one of the most dynamic and interdisciplinary discussions in the field of corporate responsibility. Corporations are increasingly expected to become more proactive in protecting human rights as private and public responsibilities blur and companies become more conscious of the expectations of a more socially aware investor base and workforce. And we believe that speaking out against human rights violations is the right thing to do on its own merits.
ALL ARE WELCOME: HOW TO BUILD A REAL WORKPLACE CULTURE OF INCLUSION THAT DELIVERS RESULTS
by Cynthia Owyoung | McGraw Hill, © 2022
In All Are Welcome, Owyoung explains what DEIB is and why it matters, and she delivers the information and insights you need to make DEIB a key element of your company culture. With All Are Welcome, you have everything you need to build a workforce and a company designed to compete in the twenty-first century while doing your part to make the world a better place to live―and work.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF EQUALITY
by Thomas Piketty | Blackstone Publishing, © 2022
It is easy to be pessimistic about inequality. We know it has increased dramatically in many parts of the world over the past two generations. No one has done more to reveal the problem than Thomas Piketty. Now, in this surprising and powerful new work, Piketty reminds us that the grand sweep of history gives us reasons to be optimistic. Over the centuries, he shows, we have been moving toward greater equality. We know we can do better, Piketty concludes. The past shows us how. The future is up to us.
LEADING EQUITY: BECOMING AN ADVOCATE FOR ALL STUDENTS
by Sheldon L. Eakins | Wiley, © 2022
The fact that the typical modern classroom lacks equity will come as no surprise to many educators. But few resources explain how to remedy that situation in the here and now. Leading Equity delivers an eye-opening and actionable discussion of how to transform a classroom or school into a more equitable place.
ALLIES AND ADVOCATES: CREATING AN INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE CULTURE
by Amber Cabral | Gildan Media, © 2021
Allies and Advocates delivers a powerful and useful message about inclusion and diversity in everyday life. Author Amber Cabral, a celebrated inclusion strategist, speaker, and writer, shows listeners how to move away from discriminatory/unjust behaviors and support and build meaningful connections with people across our diverse backgrounds and identities.
MIT SLOAN BUSINESS REVIEW ARTICLE ON DOES YOUR BUSINESS NEED A HUMAN RIGHTS STRATEGY?
by MIT Sloan Management Review | MIT Sloan Management Review, © 2021
Companies must be prepared to meet their moral and business obligations when operations bump up against labor abuses—or worse. Swedish fashion giant H&M’s commitment to “operating with respect to human rights across the value chain” recently cost the company $74 million and the wrath of its third biggest—and fastest-growing—market. Read this article to assess whether your business should have a human rights strategy in place.
EQUITY: HOW TO DESIGN ORGANIZATIONS WHERE EVERYONE THRIVES
by Minal Bopaiah | Berrett-Koehler, © 2021
Even the most passionate advocates for diversity, equity, and inclusion have been known to treat equity as the middle child—the concept they skip over to get to the warm, fuzzy feelings of inclusion. But Minal Bopaiah shows throughout this book that equity is critical if organizations really want to leverage differences for greater impact. Equity is a guidebook for change, answering the question of how that so many leaders are asking today.
DEFINING EQUITY
by Elisa Vincent | Skillsoft, © 2021
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- After reading the article, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned to your own leadership?
- What aspects of the article can you relate to, and why?
- What was a quote or passage you found particularly compelling?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- What lesson will you apply from reading All Are Welcome? And how will you apply what you’ve learned?
- Can you share a moment in the book that resonated with you and inspired you to pause and reflect?
- How has All Are Welcome raised your self-awareness?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- What are 3 key takeaways from A Brief History of Equality that you can apply right away?
- What’s one thing that the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
- What was your favorite quote from the book, and why?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- Can you share a moment in the book that resonated with you and inspired you to pause and reflect?
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
- What aspects of the book can you relate to, and why?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- What new insights did you gather from Allies and Advocates that have changed your perspective?
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned?
- What was the most important, relevant thing you learned from reading the book?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
- What lesson will you apply from reading this article? And how will you apply what you’ve learned?
- How did the article change your perspective?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- What new insights did you gather from Equity that changed your perspective?
- What’s one thing that the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
- What are 3 key takeaways from Equity that you can apply right away?
WATCH NOW
Veterans Day
The Program: Lessons from Elite Military Units for Creating and Sustaining High Performance Leaders and Teams
by Jake MacDonald and Eric Kapitulik | Wiley, © 2019
The Program offers a hands-on guide to the winning techniques and tactics of The Program, the acclaimed team building and leadership development company. Drawing on the actual experiences of The Program’s instructors from their personal combat stories to working with world-class athletic teams and successful corporations, the book clearly shows how The Program’s training operations can help to achieve life goals and ambitions.
GUTS—Greatness Under Tremendous Stress: A Navy SEAL's System for Turning Fear into Accomplishment
by Brian E. Hiner | McGraw Hill, © 2021
What does it take to set a goal or have a dream, and then actually achieve it? What does it take to turn fear and stress into foresight, motivation, and action? It takes GUTS. No one knows this better than decorated Navy SEAL veteran Brian “Iron Ed” Hiner. During more than 20 years of service, Hiner witnessed the paralyzing power of fear firsthand―not just on the battlefield but in every aspect of his life. He also learned that it’s possible to overcome those fears and turn negative self-doubt into positive accomplishments. Even more, he knows that anyone can do it―if you have GUTS.
A Higher Standard: Leadership Strategies from America’s First Female Four-Star General
by Ann Dunwoody with Tomago Collins | Gildan Media, © 2015
On June 23, 2008, President George W. Bush nominated Ann Dunwoody as a four-star general in the US Army—the first time a woman had ever achieved that rank. The news generated excitement around the world. Now retired after nearly four decades in the Army, Dunwoody shares what she learned along the way, from her first command leading 100 soldiers to her final assignment, in which she led a $60 billion enterprise of over 69,000 employees, including the Army's global supply chain in support of Iraq and Afghanistan. In A Higher Standard, Dunwoody details her evolution as a soldier and reveals the core leadership principles that helped her achieve her historic appointment.
The Grit Factor: Courage, Resilience, and Leadership in the Most Male-Dominated Organization in the World
by Shannon Huffman Polson | Gildan Media, © 2020
At age 19, Shannon Huffman Polson became the youngest woman ever to climb Denali, the highest mountain in North America. She went on to reach the summits of Mt. Rainier and Mt. Kilimanjaro and spent more than a decade traveling the world. Yet it was during her experience serving as one of the Army's first female attack helicopter pilots, and eventually leading an Apache flight platoon on deployment to Bosnia-Herzegovina, that she learned the lessons of leadership that forever changed her life.
See Shannon Huffman Polson’s Keynote on The Grit Factor for Skillsoft here
Elite: High Performance Lessons and Habits from a Former Navy SEAL
by Nick Hays | Wiley, © 2019
Elite is a practical, no-nonsense guide to elevate your leadership skills and drive your team to their maximum potential. Before you can push your team to the max, you must push yourself—elite teams require elite leaders. This invaluable guide supplies the tools you need to develop effective strategies to motivate, adapt, and overcome. Author Nick Hays combines military training with Harvard education to present a comprehensive program that will unlock the potential in yourself and your team.
Leading from the Front: No-Excuse Leadership Tactics for Women
by Courtney Lynch and Angie Morgan | McGraw Hill, © 2017
Angie Morgan and Courtney Lynch weren’t born leaders—they became leaders during their years in the US Marine Corps, enduring some of the toughest training on earth. Now they pass those field-tested strategies and hard-fought insights to you. They deliver 10 key practices to becoming a powerful leader. Now more than ever, women are stepping up, leaning in, and taking charge in leadership positions of every stripe. Channel your strengths, maximize your resources, and motivate your team to achieve any goal you set by Leading from the Front.
Mission Transition: Navigating the Opportunities and Obstacles to Your Post-Military Career
by Matthew J. Louis | HarperCollins Leadership, © 2019
Every year, about a quarter of a million veterans leave the military—most of whom are grossly unprepared for the transition. These servicemembers have developed incredible leadership, problem-solving, and practical skills that are underutilized once they reach the civilian world, a detriment to both themselves and society. Mission Transition
guides military personnel through the entire process of making a successful move into civilian professional life.
Aim High: Chart Your Course and Find Success
by Deborah Lee James | Recorded Books, © 2019
As the 23rd Secretary and the "CEO" of the male-dominated US Air Force (only the second woman to lead a U.S. military service), Secretary Deborah Lee James led a force of 660,000 people and managed a $139 billion budget—larger than the GDP of more than 120 countries. In Aim High, she shares her personal and professional challenges, outcomes, strategies for success, and the problem-solving principles she used to overcome the daunting pressures, threats, and challenges that come with rising to the top of the US Armed Forces.
discussion questions
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
- Can you share a moment in The Program that resonated with you and inspired you to pause and reflect?
- What lesson will you apply from reading this book? And how will you apply what you’ve learned?
discussion questions
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
- What aspects of GUTS can you relate to, and why?
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned?
discussion questions
- What are 3 key takeaways from A Higher Standard that you can apply right away?
- What new insights did you gather that has influenced your perspective?
- Was there a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you? Why?
discussion questions
- What aspects of The Grit Factor can you relate to, and why?
- What’s one thing the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
- What was your favorite quote from the book? Why?
discussion questions
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
- What’s one thing Elite inspired you to do differently moving forward?
- Can you share a moment in the book that resonated with you and inspired you to pause and reflect?
discussion questions
- How has Leading from the Front raised your self-awareness?
- What are some ways you can apply what you’ve learned from the book?
- What was the most important, relevant thing you learned from reading the book?
discussion questions
- How has Mission Transition influenced your perspective?
- What lesson will you apply from reading the book? And how will you apply what you’ve learned?
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling?
discussion questions
- What aspects of Aim High can you related to, and why?
- Was there a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you? Why?
- Can you share a moment in the book that resonated with you and inspired you to pause and reflect?
Monthly Selections
coming soon
The Breakthrough Manifesto: 10 Principles to Spark Transformative Innovation
by Kim Christfort and Suzanne Vickberg | John Wiley & Sons (US) © 2023
Innovation is a process by which new ideas, services, and sources of value are brought to life. Transformative innovation requires something else. Not just methodologies, but mindsets. Not just focusing on known challenges, but on unknown opportunities. Not just hoping for breakthrough by default, but realizing breakthrough by design. In The Breakthrough Manifesto, a renowned business innovation leader teams up with a social-personality psychologist to offer that something else—a collection of 10 visionary principles to obliterate barriers to change and ignite a whole new level of creative problem-solving. Drawing upon decades of experience working with the world’s best-known organizations and their teams, the authors provide practical advice that goes beyond “business as usual” for successfully tackling intractable challenges.
March 2024
Lead Through Anything: Harness Purpose, Vitality, and Agility to Thrive in the Face of Unrelenting Change
by Dustin Seale and Ed Manfre | McGraw Hill, © 2023
In today’s world of near-constant disruption, every leader faces a slew of conflicting demands involving employees of different generations, cultures, and age groups; one of history’s tightest labor markets; and never-ending geopolitical, climate, financial, and health challenges. Lead Through Anything focuses on a wide variety of skills, such as aligning people and energy to a common cause, building effective teams and helping them work together more selflessly, establishing positive confidence more often in oneself and others, increasing engagement and retaining top talent, and shaping a positive, impact-driven organizational culture.
February 2024
The New Nimble: Leading in the Age of Change
by Jay Sullivan | Wiley, © 2023
In The New Nimble: Leading in the Age of Change, accomplished author, professor, and consultant Jay Sullivan delivers a clear, tangible, and actionable guide to implementing flexibility and creativity in your enterprise. Through interviews with senior leaders from a variety of industries and disciplines, the author shows you the trends and behaviors that allowed successful companies to navigate the changing realities and complexities that have defined recent years, including the COVID-19 crisis, the increasing awareness of racial injustice in society, and the January 6th insurrection.
The New Nimble demonstrates how organizations can internalize and institutionalize lessons from recent paradigm shifts in thinking and learn how to apply those lessons to their everyday operations and to prepare for the next major challenge.
January 2024
Humble Leadership: The Power of Relationships, Openness, and Trust, 2nd Edition
by Peter A. Schein and Edgar Schein | Berrett-Koehler, 2023
Legendary organizational scholar Edgar Schein and former Silicon Valley executive Peter Schein say leadership today requires that people transcend their hierarchical roles and relate to each other as human beings-what they call humble leadership. In such relationships new ideas can flow freely, mistakes can come to light immediately, and course corrections can be made in real time rather than by committee or by order of the lone heroic CEO. Illustrated with examples from healthcare, government, the military, tech, and more, this is a compact, accessible guide to a leadership paradigm far better suited to a world that demands fast, nimble response to change, and a workplace hungry for mutual respect and trust.
DECEMBER 2023
Being Present: Commanding Attention at Work (and at Home) by Managing Your Social Presence
by Jeanine W. Turner | Tantor Audio, © 2022
As our ability to pay attention in a world of distractions vanishes, it's no wonder that our ability to be heard and understood ― to convey our messages ― is also threatened. Drawing from fifteen years of research, interviews, and experience from teaching students and executives, Jeanine W. Turner offers a framework to navigate social presence at work and at home. By exploring four primary communication choices ― budgeted, entitled, competitive, and invitational ― Turner shows when and where to employ each strategy to most effectively allocate our attention and command the attention of others.
NOVEMBER 2023
Leading with Questions: How Leaders Discover Powerful Answers by Knowing How and What to Ask, Third Edition
by Michael J. Marquardt and Bob Tiede | Wiley, © 2023
In this newly revised third edition of Leading with Questions, renowned global leadership consultants Michael Marquardt and Bob Tiede describe how to ask powerful questions that generate short-term and long-term results and success. They show you how effective leaders use questions to encourage participation and teamwork, foster creative thinking, empower others, create relationships with customers, and solve problems. The authors offer step-by-step guidance on the process of learning the art of questioning and techniques―like active listening and follow-ups – you can use in myriad situations with individuals, teams, and entire organizations.
october 2023
Communication Intelligence: Leverage Your Strengths and Optimize Every Interaction to Work Best with Others
by Claude D’Val Morgan | McGraw Hill, © 2023
Now, more than ever, “communication intelligence” is essential for workers at all levels. The good news is that you can learn to develop and master this vital competency. If you’re interested in being your best through effective communication, that’s exactly what you will find in the pages of Communication Intelligence. With more than four decades of study, research, and coaching in the field, C.D. “Hoop” Morgan III has built on the original premise of The Forté Institute: That assessing an individual’s communication style should start with a focus on their strengths―not their weaknesses.
SEPTEMBER 2023
The Empathy Advantage: Leading the Empowered Workforce
by Heather E. McGowan and Chris Shipley | Wiley, © 2023
In The Empathy Advantage: Leading the Empowered Workforce, Heather E. McGowan and Chris Shipley team up again to deliver a guidebook for leaders navigating the uncertainty of a post pandemic world in a sequel to their successful book The Adaptation Advantage. Leaders today must acknowledge and respond to the fundamental shifts that lay the foundation for effective leadership: From managing people to enabling success, from viewing peers as competitors to seeing them as collaborators, from applying extrinsic pressure on workers to unlocking intrinsic motivation, and from driving productivity with unquestioned authority to inspiring value creation by leading with empathy.
August 2023
Radically Human: How Technology is Transforming Business and Shaping Our Future
by Paul Daugherty, H. James Wilson, and Jonathan Yen | Gildan Media, © 2022
Technology advances are making tech more...human, changing everything you thought you knew about innovation and strategy. In their groundbreaking book Human + Machine, Accenture technology leaders Paul Daugherty and H. James Wilson showed how leading organizations use the power of human-machine collaboration to transform their businesses and their bottom lines. Now those companies and other pioneers across industries are reshaping the very nature of innovation. In Radically Human, Daugherty and Wilson show this profound shift—how artificial intelligence is becoming less artificial and more intelligent. How, instead of data-hungry approaches to AI, innovators are pursuing data-efficient approaches that enable machines to learn as humans do. And how, instead of replacing workers with machines, they are unleashing human expertise to create human-centered AI.
July 2023
Office Shock: Creating Better Futures for Working and Living
by Christine Bullen, Joseph Press, and Bob Johansen | Berrett-Koehler, © 2023
Most people have experienced “office shock” during the past two years, with the pandemic disrupting where and how they work. It's clear that we can't go back to the office the way it was. This book reimagines the office and shows how we can plan for more sustainable ways of working. Instead of just focusing on the present moment, Office Shock includes a FutureBack perspective, which refers to thinking back from the future and allows us to anticipate directions of change. We're in a decisive decade, and this book offers a way forward that is based on adaptability and agility.
June 2023
Evergreen Talent: A Guide to Hiring and Cultivating a Sustainable Workplace
by Roberta Chinsky Matuson | Career Press, © 2020
Evergreen Talent will show you how to attract, find, and keep employees for the long-term. What many organization leaders fail to understand is that you can’t simply transplant a competitor’s talent strategy and achieve the same results―just as you can’t take plants suited to a warm climate and expect them to thrive in chillier locales. The conditions are too different. But a company that takes the time to examine its own environment, select talent accordingly, and nurture its people will stand tall, regardless of economic conditions. In Evergreen Talent Roberta Matuson, aka the Talent Maximizer, challenges leaders to think differently about their approach to growing a sustainable workforce―one that will regenerate regularly, with minimal effort on their part.
May 2023
Superpower: An Inspiring Story to Overcome Self-Doubt and Unleash Your Authentic Greatness
by Kate Leavell | Wiley, © 2022
In Superpower, bestselling author Kate Leavell delivers a compelling story of self-love, appreciation, and the power of sharing and connecting with those around us through vulnerability and understanding. In the book, a soccer coach tells his players about the adventures of "the new kid" at school who's afraid of being teased and bullied. Through the help of a special teacher, he and his classmates learn to overcome challenges and harness the power of seeking to understand new perspectives and viewpoints. The class experiences the power of connection inside the activities during puzzle week, and along with their new student, finds the confidence to embrace their unique traits and appreciate and celebrate the uniqueness in each other. An eye-opening and thought-provoking journey through difference, self-acceptance, and understanding, Superpower shows us how to impact the world for good using our very own, built-in superpowers.
April 2023
The Art of Conscious Conversations: Transforming How We Talk, Listen, and Interact
by Chuck Wisner | Berrett-Koehler, © 2022
We live in conversations like fish live in water—we’re in them all the time, so we don’t think about them much. As a result, we often find ourselves stuck in cyclical patterns of unproductive behaviors. We listen half-heartedly, react emotionally, and respond habitually, like we're on autopilot. This book is a practical guide for thoughtfully reflecting on conversations so we can avoid the common pitfalls that cause our relationships and work to go sideways. Chuck Wisner identifies four universal types of conversations and offers specific advice on maximizing the effectiveness of each.
March 2023
Leading with Joy: Practices for Uncertain Times
by Akaya Windwood and Rajasvini Bhansali | Berrett-Koehler, © 2022
In a time of increasing disconnection and uncertainty, Leading with Joy shows how leaders can reclaim their purpose and embrace joy in service of social transformation. Leadership that connects people and centers compassion and trust instead of competition and disconnection is needed more than ever before. There are plenty of manuals that show people how to manage organizations, but what is really needed in this moment is a book that shows us how to include kindness and inspiration within leadership. Leading with Joy promotes a courageous and compassionate approach to leadership that can sustain purposeful action and social change.
FEBRUARY 2023
The New Art of Ideas: Unlock Your Creative Potential
Robin Landa | Berrett-Koehler, © 2022
In a world with a surplus of ideas, what separates a good idea from a bad one? Learn how to cultivate a mindset that produces the kind of ideas people can't turn down. Most professionals cannot generate a solid idea. They either offer up tired or reused ones, or they generate lots of ideas but none that are worth pursuing.
A great idea presents a well-formulated thought or plan of action that spurs growth, change, advancement, adaptation, or new insight. Worthwhile ideas move the needle; they change the playing field altogether. The New Art of Ideas is designed to help readers consistently produce worthwhile ideas by becoming nimble and imaginative thinkers better equipped to compete and produce in a global economy.
discussion questions
- What was the most important, relevant thing you learned from reading the book?
- Can you share a moment in the book that resonated with you and inspired you to pause and reflect?
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
Discussion Questions
- What was the most important, relevant thing you learned from reading the book?
- What new insights did you gather from The New Nimble?
- What’s one thing the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
Discussion Questions
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned?
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
- Who could you ‘tell’ about the book or share your thoughts about it with? Who would care and/or benefit the most?
discussion questions
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned?
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
- Who could you ‘tell’ about the book or share your thoughts about it with? Who would care and/or benefit the most?
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
- How has Leading with Questions influenced your perspective and self-awareness?
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
discussion questions
- How has Leading with Questions changed your perspective or built self-awareness?
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
- What’s one thing that the book inspired you to do differently moving forward?
Discussion Questions
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned to your own leadership?
- What new insights did you gather from The Empathy Advantage that have influenced your perspective?
- What was the most important, relevant thing you learned from reading the book?
Discussion Questions
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned?
- What new insights did you gather from Radically Human?
- Was there a particular story or lesson from the book that resonated with you, and why?
discussion questions
- Can you share a moment in the book that resonated with you and inspired you to pause and reflect?
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
- What aspects of the book can you relate to, and why?
discussion questions
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned?
- How has Evergreen Talent influenced your perspective and self-awareness?
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- What are 3 key takeaways from Superpower that you can apply in your life and your business endeavors?
- What was the most important, relevant thing you learned from reading Superpower?
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
Discussion Questions
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned?
- How has The Art of Conscious Conversations influenced your perspective and self-awareness?
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
Discussion Questions
- What was the most important, relevant thing you learned from reading the book?
- After reading the book, what are some ways you can implement the principles you’ve learned?
- How does what you learned fit in with what you already know? How is it new or different?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- Can you share a moment in the book that resonated with you and inspired you to pause and reflect?
- Were there any quotes or passages from the book you found particularly compelling? Why?
- What aspects of the book can you relate to, and why?