Here are recommended reads for you as a practicing leader.
The Fearless Organization by Amy Edmondson – a fearless organization is one where people feel psychologically safe – shielded from ridicule or penalty when they share their ideas and feedback. Edmondson successfully illustrates the overwhelmingly negative impact of what happens when people at all levels of the organization hold back and shows us the fundamental need to create an environment of openness, vulnerability and trust. Now there’s a leadership challenge for us all!
Creativity Inc. by Ed Catmull – written by the co-founder (along with Steve Jobs and John Lasseter) and President of Pixar Animation Studios (which has created such wonderful movies as Toy Story and A Bug’s Life). Creativity Inc. is an insightful instruction manual for instilling a creative and inspiration-filled organization. Among the lessons shared are:
- Great teams are more important than great ideas
- Mistakes are always made by teams, never by individuals. Everyone is equally responsible; and
- Let everyone design their workspace to keep boredom out of your office space
This book is filled with ideas and wisdom for creating and managing a creative culture.
Influence – The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini – this book gifts the reader with six well-crafted principles of psychology for why human beings say “yes”. Influence – The Psychology of Persuasion shares insights into how you may choose to apply techniques as well as practises to immunize yourself against someone using these techniques on you.
Why We Sleep byMatthew Walker – a comprehensive and at times frightening overview of the importance of 8 or more hours of sleep (plus up to 60 minutes of napping before late afternoon) illustrates how this basic necessity impacts our quality of health, life expectancy, safety and productivity, education and learning. According to Walker, “This silent sleep loss epidemic is the greatest public health challenge we face in the twenty-first century in developed nations.” A helpful summary of some of the very basic steps we can incorporate into our daily habits to yield a healthy and deep level of sleep is found at the end of the book.
21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari – a thought-provoking book which examines our capacity and options for dealing with the intersection of three threats never faced by our species before – nuclear war, ecological cataclysm and technology (AI and bioengineering). This book delivers an insightful (and at times frightening) look at varying aspects of our global challenge without claiming to be exhaustive. Practitioners of EI will find a number of helpful insights such as the ongoing need for a global vs. a nationalistic mindset to help mankind overcome current and evolving issues for our species and our planet earth.
Triggers by Marshall Goldsmith – a book recommended by a client and one that reminds us of the challenges and rewards associated with becoming the person we want to be. Goldsmith spotlights the importance of expected and unexpected environmental triggers. “We make plans, set goals, and stake our happiness on achieving these goals. But our environment constantly intervenes.” The writer goes to share – “Fate is the hand of cards we’ve been dealt. Choice is how we play the hand.” The challenge captured in this book is clear for us all – finding our way, based on self-awareness and self-management, to move closer to the person we want to be without regret.”
