One of our axioms is “Keep learning, stewarding, and sharing.” We’re big believers in the power of books.
Sure, we’ve got a few good suspense and historical fiction novels on our bedside tables, but today we’d like to share a few non-fiction gems that have inspired us for work – and life.
Bruce Berglund
Undistracted by Bob Goff
A great read on how to live an undistracted personal and professional life.
(Seconded by Laura DeVries)
Glue: How Project Leaders Create Cohesive, Engaged, High-Performing Teams by Anh Dao Pham
Any leader can benefit from this book on how to create cohesive and engaged teams.
Jan Brogdon and Lauren DeSimone
The Power of Moments by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
The key takeaway for me (Jan) is found in the book’s foreword: “Most of the defining moments in our lives are the result of accident or luck, but why would we leave our most meaningful, memorable moments to chance when we can create them? This book shows us how to be the author of richer experiences.”
Richard Clegg
Hard Goals: The Secret to Getting From Where You Are to Where You Want To Be by Mark Murphy
We all know SMART goals. I was talking to a colleague who introduced me to HARD goals: heartfelt, animated, required, difficult. “In nearly all cases where greatness is achieved, it’s the goal that drives motivation and discipline—not the other way around.”
― Mark Murphy, Hard Goals.
Katrina Tamminga Crook
Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown
I find the simplicity with which she discusses each emotion easy to understand and easy to relate to my own personal and professional experiences. The point of this book is to better use language to create more deep connections, and I found it most meaningful when doing just that and discussing with others.
Lora Dow
The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right By Atul Gawande
In our complicated, digitized world, who would guess that a simple checklist can be a crucial innovation? Featuring riveting stories from a variety of fields including medicine, disaster recovery and more, this book will help you look at your own processes with fresh eyes.
Jason Fry
The Way of Integrity by Martha Beck
(from Jason) I always thought integrity meant doing the right thing even when no one's looking. But...what if you aren't clear on what the "right thing to do" is? This book has illuminated an approach that has helped me personally evaluate and better understand the patterns that show up in my life and how those can lead to positive outcomes - or not-so-positive outcomes. Beck used Dante's classic Inferno to map out a journey that all of us are on: How to face adversity within ourselves and navigate our way to a path of personal integrity.
Michele Goodrich (also a Working Genius Certified Facilitator!)
The 6 Types of Working Genius by Patrick Lencioni
In his latest book, Lencioni shares relatable stories that illustrate the power of learning more about what brings you and your team joy and energy at work and how to get more of that. It changed the way I understand myself and how I can support work teams that want to have more satisfaction and greater productivity in their working environment (and in their personal lives).
Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know by Adam Grant
I picked up this book because it is highly recommended by authors I admire. Such as this review from Brené Brown: “This is the right book for right now. Yes, learning requires focus. But, unlearning and relearning requires much more—it requires choosing courage over comfort. In Think Again, Adam Grant weaves together research and storytelling to help us build the intellectual and emotional muscle we need to stay curious enough about the world to actually change it. I’ve never felt so hopeful about what I don’t know.”
Kim Hinrichs
Life Worth Living: A Guide to What Matters Most by Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun, and Ryan McAnnally-Linz
Brian Keel
Our Better Angels by Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity
I love how this book frames empowerment as a virtue and how empowering others can be the most impactful thing we might ever do.
Mary Ramirez
Soundtracks by Jon Acuff
The author writes about how overthinking gets in the way of what you want, and the solution to overcoming it.
The Generosity Habit by Matthew Kelly
A great read about how daily giving can change your life and transform the world. The premise of the book is that you don’t need money or material possessions to give away in order to make a profound impact. The book takes you through 100 days' worth of ways you can give generously such as: give someone a day of care-free timelessness – time together with no agenda, encourage someone, compliment a stranger, stand up for someone who is being treated unjustly, forgive someone who has hurt you, etc.
Kali Righter
Bounce Back by Susan Kahn
This book looks at techniques that help you increase your resilience to not only survive the inevitable challenges that arise in work and life, but ultimately flourish.
Jon Simons
The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter
Hands down the best book on lifestyle health I’ve read.
(Seconded by Johnathan Teal: “The more we lean into uncomfortable situations and activities, the more we truly live full lives.”)
Johnathan Teal
The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness by Robert Waldinger, MD and Marc Schulz, PhD
“The secret to the good life is intentionally fostering healthy relationships.”
Kellie Wardman
The Year of Less: How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life Is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store by Cait Flanders
“More was never the answer. The answer, it turned out, was always less.”
The Way of the Bodhisattva: Revised Edition by Shantideva
Best line: “The thought never came to my mind…That I too am a brief and passing thing.”
Courtney Weiland
Switch by Chip Heath & Dan Heath
My favorite leadership book of all time. This book is all about change management.
“Shrink the change,” a core concept in this book, is about creating manageable and actionable change. My other favorite concept is that of the elephant and the rider. The Elephant (emotional side) and the Rider (rational side) is applicable in any situation, any relationship, anywhere. The two have to work in together or nothing happens.
The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter by Michael D. Watkins
What would happen if you could step outside your organization and assess it as if it were your first 90 days? What you see and what would do differently as an outsider looking in? One of the benefits of engaging outside experts is their ability to provide this perspective. While this book is about onboarding strategies, everything is grounded in culture first – a winning approach from my experience.
Have any books you’d like to share? Add your recommendation in the comments!
This Month's Focus
This month, DBD Group is looking at technologies, collaborations, and strategies that will help reinvigorate both your work and your motivation. Join us as we introduce ways to revitalize, modernize, and optimize.
