Having spent the weeks of spring under lockdown, I am sure we are all looking forward to more freedom as the restrictions get gradually loosened. My lockdown reading list from three (seriously it has been that long) months ago was well received. Now with the summer just around the corner, I am sharing my books for the warmer months. I only hope everyone gets the chance to take some time off and get away from your work and homes.
I take your book recommendations seriously. Please keep them coming. As you know, I believe that a continuous learning mindset is vital for bringing about sustainable change in ourselves, our teams and broader communities and employers.
My top books to recommend for reading in the coming weeks, ones that will make you think, reflect and provoke you to do things differently are:
WHY CEOs FAIL - Dotlich/Cairo. A classic read. Brief and concise. Full of wisdom regarding why those at the top often lose their edge. It nicely ties in with the Hogan Development Survey (HDS). HDS is a psychometric tool, often called Hogan Dark Side, that I use with some executive coaching clients. It is often strengths that are overused in periods of stress or uncertainty that are the source of the problems.
AMERICAN ICON - Bryce Hoffman. Another classic. An insightful read into how Alan Mulally turned around Ford Motor Company. I put it alongside "Who said elephants can't dance?" by Louis Gerstner (IBM). Both books tell the story of how leadership teams and companies lost their way after long periods of success. Anyone interested in organisational culture and corporate values should read this book.
GIRL DECODED - Rana el Kaliouby. If you want to know the future of human / AI interaction is going to be like, then you could do worse than read this new book. Rana el Kaliouby introduces us to the world of Emotion AI and how it is already being used across multiple industries around the world. Here is her TED talk from five years ago.
MANAGING TRANSITIONS - William and Susan Bridges. The third classic book that I am recommending, well they aren't called classics for no reason! The wisdom that they contain stands the test of time. This book is a must-read, paraphrasing the opening paragraph:
"It isn't the changes that will do you in; it's the transitions. Change is situational. Transition, on the other hand, is psychological. When a change happens without people going through a transition, it is just a rearrangement of the chairs."
The ongoing pandemic is thrusting change on pretty much everyone in one form or another. It is, therefore, more important than ever that we understand the psychological impact it may be having on us, at home and at work.
And if you would like an early preview of the RYse Journal, a self-coaching/blankish notebook then check it out here: www.rysejournal.com
Please share your thoughts and comments on these books and let me know of your top book recommendations to read. I am always on the lookout for new suggestions and different authors and topics.
If you want to discover more of my book recommendations, check out:
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