Contributors to the January 2018 issue of TD magazine reveal what they’re reading.
Kevin Eikenberry
Theodore Roosevelt and the Making of American Leadership by Jon Knokey
By all accounts, Theodore Roosevelt is one of the United States’ best presidents; this book looks at his life through the lens of how he became the leader he was. Whether you know nothing about this man, or are a scholar about his life, this is a fascinating account. I learned from it, and found myself reflecting on my leadership journey too.
The Captain Class: The Hidden Force That Creates the World’s Greatest Teams by Sam Walker
If you are a leader and a sports fan, this must be your next read. This book presents a rigorous approach for identifying the best teams ever, then finds some surprising and relevant commonalities—ideas you can look for and apply on your teams.
The Leadership Genius of Julius Caesar: Modern Lessons from the Man Who Built an Empire by Phillip Barlag
Caesar is more than a historical figure in this short, interesting, and relevant read. Whether you are a student of history or not, reading this book will prove that we can all learn from great leaders in the past, even if they didn't have email or the modern challenges we face.
Sally Williamson
Rhythm: How to Achieve Breakthrough Execution and Accelerate Growth by Patrick Thean
I get a lot of reading ideas from clients, and this book came up in a recent coaching session. We were building a presentation about 2018 planning, and I asked about the planning process the company was using. Thean’s book was their starting point, and it became mine as well. It’s a great way to think about the intentional steps needed to balance strategy and execution in a firm, and it could be applicable for any department leader.
Steve Foreman
Flawless Consulting: A Guide to Getting Your Expertise Used, 3rd Edition, by Peter Block
This book offers valuable guidance on how to develop trust, agree to project scope, manage expectations and build productive working relationships with clients, both internal (as L&D works with its customers) and external (as in a consulting relationship).
Performance-Focused Smile Sheets: A Radical Rethinking of a Dangerous Art Form by Will Thalheimer
This book offers guidance on how to use end-of-course surveys strategically and how to ensure the results are actionable, which is a part of the puzzle on how to assemble evidence of business impact.
Write and Organize for Deeper Learning: 28 Evidence-Based and Easy-to-Apply Tactics That Will Make Your Instruction Better for Learning by Patti Shank
This book offers proven strategies rooted in science to help you design learning that connects and sticks.
Dana Robinson
Flawless Consulting: A Guide to Getting Your Expertise Used, 3rd Edition, by Peter Block
I read the first edition book when it was published in the mid-1980s, and it opened my eyes to the potential benefits that can result from effective consulting. And that consulting requires both content expertise and the ability to build deep, collaborative partnerships with clients.
Training Ain’t Performance by Harold Stolovitch and Erica Keeps
Consider me a fan of any books by Stolovitch and Keeps. In this book they use a straight-talk approach to describe the difference between building ability and delivering performance.
The Water Is Wide: A Memoir by Pat Conroy
It’s the (mostly) true story of Pat Conroy’s year teaching children ages 10 to 13 on a remote island off South Carolina’s coast, who had been largely forgotten by the educational system. This book shows the difference one person can make to ignite curiosity to learn inside people—whether children or adults.
Zach Posner
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg
This engrossing volume explores the science of habit and its ramifications for personal productivity, health, fitness, business, technology, and more.
The Talent Code: Greatness Isn’t Born. It’s Grown. Here’s How by Daniel Coyle
The central idea is that greatness isn’t born, it’s made. How? By understanding and optimizing brain mechanisms.
Elite Minds: How Winners Think Differently to Create a Competitive Edge and Maximize Success by Stan Beecham
Here’s a book about the psychology of elite performance, with applications across the boardroom and playing field. It’s life-changing and brimming with quotable wisdom.
