“What really knocks me out is a book that, when you’re all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it.”
― J.D. Salinger

If your experience during this time of covid-19 has been anything like mine, it is been chalk full of work – “work” work, kids’ school work(!), house work and the like. At the same time, not being able to leave your house to do…well, pretty much anything…creates capacity to fit in some time for reading and reflection. Here are some wonderful texts if you are looking for something inspiring and edifying. Better yet, call up a friend to read something with you and do a virtual book club.

“The Blueprint” by Douglas Conant with Amy Federman

Right off the bat, anything written by Doug Conant is bound to be profound and highly applicable.  I had the profound privilege of attending the launch party for this book at the private Manhattan townhouse of Faith Popcorn. To be honest, it was one of the last social things I did before NYC went into shelter-in-place mode for Covid-19. Hearing Doug talk about why he wrote this book was moving and inspirational. He wrote it for leaders like you and me, as an applicable text that we can use to continually raise the bar on the contribution we are making and the intentionality we bring to our leadership to drive highly ambitious results. I look forward to reading it alongside you! Stay tuned for my thoughts…

“Tiny Habits” by BJ Fogg

This is another book I currently have on my bedside table and am halfway through.  Coming highly recommended by Mette Norgaard, I’m excited to continue my way through it.  Mette described it as the most impactful book she’s read in memory – quite a statement. In a nutshell, it debunks the myth that our own inability to change is because “we aren’t motivated or disciplined enough” and turns to focus onto the design of the change in behavioral practice to truly make it stick.  What a relief!  

“Leaders Eat Last” by Simon Sinek

This book made its way onto the book list (and book pile) via my husband, who was incredibly inspired by this work by Simon Sinek.  In his work with various companies, Sinek noticed that some teams have achieved a level of trust so deep that they would put their lives on the line for each other. Other teams, however, no matter what incentives are offered, were doomed to discord, self-serving incentives and failure.  This book unpacks the “why” behind these team dynamics at opposite ends of the spectrum.

“Start with Why” by Simon Sinek

Simon Sinek’s “Start with Why” was an impactful book for me, focused on framing any leadership challenge or projects for your team with the “why”.  Not only is this motivating and compelling to your team, but it also allows them to come up with the “what” and the “how”. Driving accountability to those who have best information and insight not only empowers your leadership team, but it frees you up to focus on the big picture strategy work.  This book came recommended by Colonel Pilar Ryan, PhD of West Point at a leadership retreat I attended. It single-handedly changed the way I structured conversations with my direct reports. This is a compelling read for anyone who is a leader of a team.

“Five Dysfunctions of a Team” by Patrick Lencioni

“The Five Dysfunctions of a Team” is the book I assigned this past winter to my leadership team ahead of our offsite.  Written as a parable, the book creates the opportunity “to learn from others” and then apply those lessons learned to yourself and your leadership team.  Even for high-performing teams, symptoms of a dysfunction or two are bound to creep in – after all, the team is made up of wonderful, but imperfect people. It’s a super quick read, especially after you get past the character introduction. My team LOVED it. Having a shared framework for identifying and calling out the dysfunctions has been valuable to keep them at bay. The pyramid of dysfunctions, particularly the version with the “symptoms of” and appropriate “leadership response” to counteract is an image I keep pinned up by my desk.

What are you reading these days? Any recommendations to share with the community?

Wishing you continued good health and less housework in the near future!