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Reading Together
Have you ever let a book change you?
In the personal and professional growth category, it’s precisely the goal. We reach for these books to take matters into our own hands, and we do it with intention. Need to grow a backbone? There’s a book for that. Wish there was less red tape? There are volumes on streamlining operations for increased speed, better flow, and superior experiences for customers and workers.
When you let them in, books in this category are powerful and transformative. (At least the best ones are — and there’s a lot to sift through.) So what makes a great development book? And why are some books considered classics? Here's our criteria:
What Makes a Great
Development Book?
- It’s a resource you reach for often; long after having first read it. There’s timeless advice inside.
- It has high relevance, with anecdotal stories (or case studies) you relate to.
- It presents a unique point of view, and reading feels like discovery.
- It inspires you to act.
- It’s something you want to share with others.
8 Benefits of Sharing Books
With Your Team
- Assess the collective mindset and foster group harmony.
- Crack open tough topics and start conversations that matter (eg: toxic cultures, political obstacles, diversity, trust.)
- Address myths and diffuse conflicts.
- Increase awareness and inspire conscious change.
- Improve team dynamics and strengthen relationships.
- Increase engagement and inclusion.
- Support and cultivate a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
- Address and enhance specific performance competencies.
How to Share Books with your Team
There’s really no wrong way to share wisdom, so tap into your style and use your judgement when it comes to team preferences. If you’re concerned about people who aren’t avid readers, choose titles that have an audio version. Make space for team members who might feel pressure related to their workload. Be upfront about your expectations and allocate dedicated reading time during the workday. Here’s some more advice:
Give it at the right time.
Add context, meaning and show your support at key times -- for example, during onboarding, when someone is promoted, or preceding a strategy pivot.
Give it structure.
Plan group conversations in advance and give your team a schedule so they can prepare and participate. Make it interactive and experiential by partnering with an instructional designer for developmental activities.
Give it weight.
Tie key learnings from the book to the team's performance objectives & appraisals.
Revisit the Classics, Get Inspired, & Discover Something New with Six of our Favorites
Confession: It was hard to whittle down the list to only six, but we heard people hate to scroll. So here’s our tightly curated collection from thought leaders who are experts at their craft, and in their industry:
One Minute Manager - Ken Blanchard & Spencer Johnson
When managing humans has you snarled and stalled in confusion, you’ll reach for the simple and effective strategies in The One Minute Manager. It’s a refreshingly concise management crash-course for newly appointed leaders and seasoned pros alike. Blanchard and Johnson cover three essential techniques of an effective manager: one minute goals, one minute praise, and one minute re-directs (or reprimands, depending on the edition.) Each technique is fast, impactful in the moment, with lasting benefits. Discover Blanchard’s entire ‘One Minute’ series on his website.
Emotional Intelligence 2.0 - Bradberry & Greaves
There’s a misconception that people are naturally emotionally intelligent, and that it’s something you either have or you don’t. But with the practical strategies in Emotional Intelligence 2.0, it’s possible to navigate treacherous emotional terrain and build your skills. It breaks down emotional intelligence (EQ) so it’s easy to understand, and teaches how to measure EQ and then harness its power for harmonious relationships at work and at home. If it’s interactivity you’re after, this book is packed with more than 60 strategies, journaling prompts, and it comes with a powerful online assessment tool; so it’s an awesome pick for team reading. (We were so inspired we developed an ebook on how to transform your recruiting strategy by screening for EQ.)
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team - Patrick Lencioni
Can a book on leadership be enthralling? Thanks to powerful storytelling, Patrick Lencioni has birthed a classic that takes us inside the fascinating, complex world of teams. The female protagonist in this ‘leadership fable’ is facing a crisis; and as she summons courage and insight to unite her team, Lencioni exposes five dysfunctions that block real progress (absence of trust, fear of conflict, lack of commitment, avoidance of accountability, and inattention to results). He counters each of these dysfunctions with behaviors teams can supplement to rise above dysfunction and grow stronger with every challenge. The wildly popular behavioral model in
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team has inspired entire corporate training curriculums. Seek them out for maximum cultural impact.
Think Again - Adam Grant
This is a best-seller about unlearning and rethinking. It’s a mind-opener from organizational psychologist Adam Grant about having the courage to lean into discomfort so we can challenge our own deeply ingrained beliefs, opinions, and patterns. We don’t have to believe everything we think or internalize everything we feel, and we can shed viewpoints that don’t serve us anymore. Think Again reveals the joy of being wrong, the beauty of embracing the unknown, and the benefit of staying curious in a noisy world where we debate around the clock, and across the globe. “We think too much like preachers defending our sacred beliefs, prosecutors proving the other side wrong, and politicians campaigning for approval--and too little like scientists searching for truth.”
Dare to Lead - Brené Brown
In 'Dare To Lead', Brené Brown defines a leader as 'anyone who takes responsibility for finding the potential in people and processes and has the courage to develop that potential.’ Brené acknowledges the challenges that exist, particularly when the default culture is one of scarcity, fear, and uncertainty. "Daring leadership requires skill-building around traits that are deeply and uniquely human. The irony is that we’re choosing not to invest in developing the hearts and minds of leaders at the exact same time as we’re scrambling to figure out what we have to offer that machines and AI can’t do better and faster. What can we do better? Empathy, connection, and courage, to start." If you want to develop brave leaders who inspire a courageous culture, this is a book to connect with.
Good to Great - Jim Collins
Good to Great is the result of a five-year project to determine what it takes to transform a good company into a great one. Backed by statistics and real-world success stories, Collins makes the case that most prescriptions for creating large-scale corporate change are nothing but myths. There are no miracle moments, motivational stunts, or change programs that reliably guarantee results. Instead, this book offers tangible proof that greatness is largely a matter of conscious choice and having the discipline to remain consistent as you execute daily. Find out what really drives change (and what doesn’t) in this intelligent exploration on how to move the needle and achieve exceptional results.
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