Mid-December 2018 Book Selection-Henry Cloud,THE POWER OF THE OTHER, Harper Business, 2016. To be an effective leader, you will need to develop good relationships with other people. There are four corners of connection—disconnected or no connection, bad connections, pseudo good connections and true connections. Cloud explores the need for leaders to have good connections. Many examples to support the author’s argument.
December 2018 Book Selection -Spencer Johnson, OUT OF THE MAZE, Putnam, 2018. Many questions have arisen about Johnson’s book WHO MOVED MY CHEESE? in his last book, Johnson tried to answer those question. Your beliefs often hold you back. You need to examine your beliefs in order to leave the maze and find your cheese. The book explores how we can change our beliefs. Leaders are going to miss Johnson’s sage advice for becoming a better leader. This short book is definitely a worthwhile read.
Mid-November 2018 Book Selection-Jon R. Katzenbach and Zia Khan, LEADING OUTSIDE THE LINES, Jossey-Bass, 2010. Leaders face the important task of understanding both the formal and informal aspects of an organization. Without this understanding, organizations and leaders may fail in their ability to succeed. The authors discuss the importance of an OQ(Organizational Quotient. Many detailed case studies are presented. Many practical approaches and techniques for bridging the formal and informal organization are presented. With today’s concerns about creating more effective teams, this book will be used extensively.
November 2018 Book Selection-Ronan Farrow, WAR ON PEACE, W.W. Norton, 2018. Our relationship to other countries is undergoing radical change. We are giving up on our global foreign policy approaches. Where we most often used diplomatic approaches in the past, it seems that a militaristic approach is now predominant. Farrow discusses the transition. Budget cuts are devastating our diplomatic corps. This book is important for American leaders to better understand the changes which are occurring as a result of these changes on American society.
Mid-October 2018 Book Selection-Bob Woodward, FEAR, Simon & Schuster, 2018. it is important for leaders to understand how the government of their country and the government of other countries work. Leaders function within the context of a interconnected world. As in all his other books, Woodward strives for truth and understanding. This book examines the authoritarian approaches of the Trump presidency. In many ways, the book leads the reader to major concerns about how this flawed administration is affecting our lives today and well into the future. Whether leaders are Republicans or Democrats, this book is important to read.
October 2018 Book Selection-Yuval Noah Harari, HOMO DEUS,Harper, 2017. As a follow-up to SAPIENS, the author looks to the future. Evolution is continuing. Homo Sapiens may not be the end of the evolutionary development of Earth. The book explores the potential development of technology on our lives. What will happen when jobs disappear due to technological and biological developments? Is God gone from our lives? Is our free will vanishing? This is a thought provoking book that all leaders need to read.
Mid-September 2018 Book Selection-John P. Kotter and Lorne A. Whitehead, BUY-IN, Harvard Business Review Press, 2010. over the course of our lives, we have many ideas and projected projects that often go nowhere. The authors explore the important issue of buy-in and how we gain acceptance for our ideas and projects. There always seem to be criticisms of all idea which fall into four categories–death by delay, confusion, fear mongering and character assassinations. The authors then present 24 attacks and responses to help leaders gain acceptance for their ideas and new projects. Keep this book on your desk. It is an excellent guidebook.
September 2018 Book Selection- Jon Gordon, THE POWER OF A POSITIVE TEAM, Wiley, 2018. Not all teams are successful. Gordon explores how teams that are positive have more successes than teams that are not positive. Teams should be about us and not just about me. Culture is a critical aspect of teams. Gordon explores the factors needed to be a successful leader and teammate. Great teams are caring and want all their teammates to be successful. I recommend this book for all leaders who work with teams. See PowerOfAPositiveTeam.com
Mid-August 2018 Book Selection- Michael Isikoff and David Corn, RUSSIAN ROULETTE, 12 Hatchette, 2018. It is hard to believe that this book is not fiction. This book addresses the Russian influence on our 2016 election. It demonstrates thee complexities of leadership in the age of social media. Authoritarian leadership on the parts of two destructive leaders in two countries in conflict is dissected in detail by the authors. Important questions are raised relative to how our own leadership will be affected by these international conflicts/ It is clearly a good read for my readers.
August 2018 Book Selection -Nick Craig, LEADING FROM PURPOSE, Hachette, 2018. Much has been written about the importance of a mission and vision for an organization. Craig argues that the leaders of an organization are more effective when they lead from a strong personal purpose. Finding your purpose is not an easy task. The author describes in detail all the factors that help define personal purpose. He directs you to an online self assessment( http://www.coreleader.com/survey ). He also uses many case studies of leaders and their personal purpose and how purpose guides them at work and at home.
Mid-July 2018 Book Selection- Madeline Albright, FASCISM: A WARNING, Harper-Collins, 2018. This is a frightening book. Albright discusses therise and fall of fascism in the 20th and 21st century. If the rise of fascst leaders and governments is over, this book would be interesting in itself. Insteas, the authors sees the seeds of a new crop of fascist leaders today. There is also concerns that fascism may be developing in the United States. The Trump era raises many new concerns. I strongly recommend this book to my readers . Leadership can go wrong as well as right.
July 2018 Book Selection-Jon Gordon, THE POWER OF POSITIVE LEADERSHIP, Wiley, 2017. In this book, Gordon summarizes the principles of positive leadership which he has discussed in a number of books that he has written over the past several years. He also presents may examples of hoe leaders who have used his models have fared. His model is based on nine principles of positive leadership. Gordon is not a Pollyanna.. He believes that leaders who take a positive approach learn from their mistakes. How you respond to adversity is the key to success. I think leaders will find this book to be useful in both their work and family life.
Mid-June 2018 Book Selection-David McCullough, TRUMAN, Simon & Schuster, 1992, This is a wonderful book. It tells the life story of one of the best Presidents of the 20th century. In almost a thousand pages, the author covers the amazing life of Harry Truman. This is one biography that I recommend all leaders read. Many people questioned whether Truman would be a good leader. He surprised many people. It is one if not the best books by the author who is a brilliant historian and biographer
June 2018 Book Selection-James Comey, A HIGHER LOYALTY, Flatiron Books, 2018. This is an important book about leadership both good and bad today. The author tells the story of his experiences in leadership. There are many lessons to be learned. The conflicts between Comey and Trump are laid out in detail.. I strongly recommend this book to myreaders.
Mid-May 2018 Book Selection-Dan Ariely and Jeff Kreisler,DOLLARS AND SENSE, Harper Collins, 2017. We all struggle with money and either having too little or too much. This book explores money from the behavioral economics approach. The book is informative and presented with a sense of humor. There is much to learn here.
May 2018 B00k Selection-Robin Sharma, LITTLE BLACK BOOK FOR STUNNING SUCCESS +TOOLS FOR ACTION MASTERY, JAICO, 2017. In this book, the author builds on his advice to leaders about being successful. He presents 70 simple amd straight forward lessons with several recurring questions to get leaders to document their approaches to each of the lessons. As usual. Sharma blends Eastern and western approaches to action-oriented leadership.
Mid-April 2018 Book Selection-Chris Whipple,THE GATEKEEPERS,Broadway Books,2018. Not all leaders are at the top. This book presents historical information on all the Chiefs of Staff from President Nixon to Trump. The Chief of Staff is unique in that he runs the day to day operations of the White House. he is also unique in that he has to use both management and leadership skills to do the job well. The Chief is both and inside as well as an outside leader. He serves as the intermediator between the President and Congress. I strongly recommend this book for all leaders to better understand who really runs the organization.
April 2018 Book Selection-Mark Miller, TALENT MAGNET, Berrett- Koehler,2018, In this book, Miller answers the important question of why leaders have trouble hiring and keeping talented people in their employ. Keeping talent requires a better boss, brighter future, and a bigger vision. Leaders will find this book to be a good guide to getting and keeping talented employees.
Mid-March 2018 Book Selection-Richard H. Thaler and Cass R. Sunstein, NUDGE, Penguin, 2008. Most of us are resistant to change. Our belief in the status quo guides the way many of us live our lives. In many instances, all we need is a nudge to make a change. The authors explore how nudges work in many areas of our lives. This book is important for leaders who are the people who nudge us to action.
March 2018 Book Selection-Robin Sharma, THE GREATNESS GUIDE 2, JAICO, 2009, This sequel presents another 101 inspirational short essays which will provide leaders with many tidbits of useful information for their leadership work. I recommend this book as well as all of Sharma’s books which blend Eastern and Western thoughts.
Mid-February 2018 Book Selection-Chip Heath and Dan Heath, THE POWER OF MOMENTS, Simon and Schuster, 2017. Our lives can change in a moment. Leaders often confront these special moments throughout their careers.The authors explore these moments from the perspective of elevation, insight, pride, and connection.
February 2018 Book Selection-Chip R. Bell, SPRINKLES, Greenleaf, 2015. This is a fun little book about giving exceptional service. The author puts his discussion within the context of a great meal. what would the leadership reader like a plain cookie or a cookie with sprinkles.
Mid-January 2018 Book Selection-Jon Gordon, Dan Britton, and Jimmy Page, ONE WORD THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE,Wiley, 2014. We all know that new Year’s resolutions do not work. The authors have a new technique for guiding your life. Each year pick a word to guide your activities during that year. The authors argue and present successful experience with the one word approach. Try out the approach on yourself, your family, and your work environment. Check out the website developed for the book GetOneWord.com
January 2018 Book Selection-Hillary Rodham Clinton, WHAT HAPPENED, Simon ad Schuster, 2017. Despite the political nature of this book, it provides many insights into the 2016 presidential election and what external and internal issues can impact the results of an election. Many leadership and personal issues are explored. The leadership concerns of women in politics are also explored. I believe all leaders can learn from this book and how the best leaders may not win the prize.
Rowitz On Leadership 