5 books I’m reading in the next 30 days – Progress Report
I’ve checked off three of the five books I plan to read in February.
Check off Powerful: Building a Culture of Freedom and Responsibility by Patty McCord, Chief Talent Officer at Netflix for 14 years.
Patty’s book made me think about metaphors for organizational life. She said that we should look at organizational life as a sports team. As a result of her book, I wrote, Organizations aren’t Families and Leaders aren’t Parents.
One person said the word “Community” is better than family or sports team metaphors when referring to organizational life.
Check off When: The Scientific Secret to Perfect Timing by Daniel Pink. I read everything Pink writes.
One of my takeaways from Pink’s book concerns the three phases of a project.
- At the beginning of a project, track how far you’ve come. Look back.
- Toward the end of a project, look forward. Look how far you have to go.
- In the middle of a project, if you’re a little behind, say, “Oh oh,” and set new goals.
Check off Talent Magnet: How to Attract and Keep the Best People by Mark Miller, Vice President of High Performance Leadership, Chick-fil-A Inc. I shared Mark’s formula for being a talent magnet with Merlin franchisees this week in Chicago. (Mark’s book will be available Feb. 27.)
Next on the list: Big Potential: How Transforming the Pursuit of Success Raises Our Achievement, Happiness, and Well-Being by Shawn Achor. Achor offers five strategies – the SEEDS of Big Potential- for lifting the ceiling on what we can achieve while returning happiness and meaning to our lives. (Release Jan. 30)
After Big Potential I’m reading The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups by Daniel Coyle. Daniel offers specific strategies that trigger learning, spark collaboration, build trust, and drive positive change. (Release on Jan. 30)
What have you recently read? Takeaways?
What’s on your reading list?
Just finished Leaders Made Here by Mark Miller – Need to buy 6 copies to share with my team! We have work to do…
Ahh yes! Good one! Mark is prolific.
The Power of Moments with Chip Heath and Dan Heath.Particularly loved the analogy of why we celebrate athletes National Signing Day but we don’t celebrate students graduating high school where they will go to college. Organizations would benefit from their own defining moment.
Yes! I thought The Power of Moments was wonderful. It really makes me aware of the opportunity to instill power into a moment.
I always enjoy your posts and check your book links, etc.. Your last link won’t work for regular people. Not everyone is part of the associates program.
Thanks Jim! I’m just landing in Philly. I’ll fix that ASAP. I appreciate the heads up.
I’d recommend reading ‘I, Steve: Steve Jobs In His Own Words’. Read it a few years ago, and found his whole life story quite touching.
Thanks for the recommendation, Robynne.
Love these recs!!! Though not new, “The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women: Why Capable People Suffer from the Impostor Syndrome and How to Thrive in Spite of It,” has become a staple in my office. My takeaway: Get out of your own way (and the book talks about how).
Thanks J. I haven’t read much on the Impostor syndrome. All I know is, I hope no one finds out that I’m a loser. 🙂
LOL Never; not even possible! 🙂
🙂
Just finished re-reading The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli. It truly is a great leadership book. Pity it’s gotten such a bad rap over the years.
Thanks Wisdom. Thanks for the recommendation. I haven’t read it, yet.
I’m reading “Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges” by Amy Cuddy. She addresses the things we tell ourselves, the imposter “experience,” and power vs. powerless. Quite interesting!
Thanks Elaine. I found Cuddy’s book surprisingly useful.