We all agree that September is the other January don’t we? The atmosphere seems to be full of possibilities and renewals. No space for holiday blues, only good vibes.
This “back-to-school” feeling is quite often the perfect time for self-evaluating and facing our will to learn something new and improve our daily life and work attitude.
Let’s face it, though: sometimes we need some help. That’s why we asked some Stylighters to help us finding the right approach to forget white beaches and palms and start the new season in the office with the best spirit. How to do it? With the perfect book, of course.
Happy reading!
Work Rules – Insights from inside Google, by Laszlo Bock
Give your work meaning, trust people, hire only people who are better than you. These are only 3 of the ways to make your workplace the best in the world, according to Google Head of People Operations Laszlo Bock. “…the book makes a better, unintentional argument that Google is like every other workplace. It has a product that people want and that it can sell. Bock, too close to the center of it all, thinks this isn’t because of the product; it’s because of the culture” wrote Will Leitch on Bloomberg.
Suggested by: Annabel, People & Organization Manager
What did it help you with: It helped me tremendously giving me ideas about leadership approaches, hierarchy and improvement of my daily work with little things. I just felt completely inspired to try out new stuff. I read this book with markers in my hands and a notepad beside it, to be able to jot ideas down. I even sent a summary of the ideas to my team.
You have to read it if… you are interested in what makes Google such an inspiring, employee-focused company, what specific way of thinking differentiates Google’s employees and makes it a great company, and how your own team can become just like that!
Take the Stairs. 7 Steps to Achieving True Success by Rory Vaden
How often did you think that you were procrastinating? Guess what, it might be that you were wrong. According to Rory Vaden, sometimes, when you think you’re procrastinating, what you’re really struggling with is how to prioritize the huge amount of tasks that cross your path each day. “Take the stairs” is #1 Wall St Journal, #1 USA Today, and #2 New York Times bestseller.
Suggested by: Michael, Head of Mobile Apps
What did it help you with: “Take the Stairs” is still helping me a lot to develop the self-discipline I need to do the hard things to move forward in life. I’m reviewing it every now and then to self reflect and check if I am still following the right path. Everyone has the “hard right” and “easy wrong” in life. The question is: how you are prioritising them? Thanks to the ideas and concepts of the book like the simple but powerful patterns “you think it, you speak it, you act it, it happens” or “double-time part time for full-time free time” I am getting better in doing the things I know are good for me even when I don’t feel like doing them.
You have to read it if… you are taking the escalator too often and feeling distracted instead of being on your way to achieve what you actually want. There will never be a perfect time, there will never be the perfect situation to start doing the things we need to get us where we want to go. Read the book to move on and achieve your goals or to figure out what you actually want in life.
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain
Susan Cain is an introvert in a world that, she thinks, “excessively and misguidedly respects extroverts”. Who better than her can give advice on how to better negotiate in a introvert-extrovert relationship? “Quiet” was translated into 40 languages, has been on the New York Times bestseller list for over four years, and was named the #1 best book of the year by Fast Company magazine.
Suggested by: Manuel, Agile Coach
What did it help you with: Understanding and appreciating my own introverted tendencies.
“You have to read it if…” you are an introvert yourself or you want to improve how you interact with introverts.
The Definitive Book of Body Language by Allan Pease and Barbara Pease
“It’s how you looked when you said it, not what you actually said.” The messages hidden behind a glance, a gesture, always reveal something about our thoughts and emotional state. It sounds quite clear how important it is to understand these messages in our daily work life. Let’s sharpen our perceptive skills!
Suggested by: Daniele, Lead Machine Learning
What did it help you with: It helped me to understand better the mood and the mindset of my colleagues during working meetings. I was able to focus, not only on the verbal content, but on the body language that often hides a significant part of the whole communication.
You have to read it if… … you want to have an understanding of the real meaning behind the verbal communication.
Running like a girl by Alexandra Heminsley
How many times did you think “I should start doing it but I need a goal”? Alexandra was a ‘Bridget Jones-like journalist’ (Washington Post definition) when she decided it was time to set this goal. “Importantly, it is not about running as a means to medals, popularity or skinny thighs, but about running for strength in body and mind” wrote Katy Guest about the book. Now, put your new trainers on and read this.
Suggested by: Lisette, Senior PR & Communications Manager
What did it help you with: It helped me with understanding my sadness after breaking my shoulder and not being able to run. It reminded me of why I love running (the highs and lows) and also helped me to actually go for my first ever run six weeks after breaking that shoulder (which was actually, as she describes such a great experience). Even if you’re not a runner (hate running) it will help anyone to remember that you can do anything, if you (really) want to. Yes that sounds cheesy but it’s true. If you read about Alexandra’s first marathon (tripping when trying to high five a kid) or the time she rushed into a pub to use the bathroom on one of her practice runs, you can’t help laughing and thinking that – sometimes – you just shouldn’t give up trying.
You have to read it if… 1) you are a coach potato 2) hate running 3) love running 4) thinking of doing your first run
Reinventing Organizations – A Guide to Creating Organizations Inspired by the Next Stage in Human Consciousness by Frederic Laloux
Have you ever heard of ‘teal organisations’? According to Frederic Laloux, the world needs more of them, because they are self-managing, agile and adaptive, and they deliver extraordinary results. To get more insights for his “Reinventing Organizations”, Laloux researched on 12 of them and analyzed their new ways to manage work and their employees.
Suggested by: Manuel, Agile Coach
What did it help you with: A clear structured model of modern organizations that enable agile, motivating, self-organized work in empowered autonomous teams.
You have to read it if… you want to unleash the full potential of the people in your organization.
|By Ilenia Sarman – Senior PR & Communications Manager Italy|
