Category Archives: Book Reviews

We like to think of ourselves as grateful and empathetic people. But the fact of the matter is that gratitude is a skill that takes conscious effort. What is more, gratitude, effectively cultivated and practiced, can have a huge impact on motivating your staff and boosting performance. In Leading with Gratitude, authors Adrian Gostick andContinue reading “Gratitude, empathy, and leadership”

Success stories, whether they involve sports, entertainment, or business, tend to stress the role played by the leader. The “great man theory” of leadership certainly captures the imagination by fixing it on a single dynamic personality. But focusing too much on the leaders means that the role of contributors tends to be understudied. In ImpactContinue reading “How to make an impact”

Influence is the most dynamic and central force in human relationships. How we get people to agree with us or resolve disputes or sell some product or idea—all of this and more is built on the concepts of influence and persuasion. But how does this actually work? And how do you learn to be onContinue reading “The powers of persuasion”

The most important resource for any company or team is the people. Having a team of top performers covers a multitude of deficiencies in material resources. Talented employees and managers are the gift that keeps on giving, as they produce more and more value through creativity and resourcefulness. But building a team like this isContinue reading “From upgrading to topgrading”

In all our work, games, and striving, regardless of the external differences, there is a singular interior struggle at play. This is the contest between our conscious, intellectual self and our unconscious, embodied self. This is the thesis put forward by Timothy Gallwey in his classic book, The Inner Game of Tennis. In it, heContinue reading “Winning the inner game”

Life is messy and complicated. When pursuing our goals and dreams, it can feel as if a high degree of stress and emotional turmoil is baked in. Anxiety, clouded thinking—these are just a natural part of the all-important daily grind. But it doesn’t have to be this way. In Chop Wood, Carry Water, author JoshuaContinue reading “Purpose and greatness”

Culture is an essential part of any business, but there are innumerable pitfalls and mistakes that get in the way of creating a welcoming and fair work environment. In her 2021 book, Just Work: How to Root Out Bias, Prejudice, and Bullying to Build a Kick-Ass Culture of Inclusivity, author and consultant Kim Scott tacklesContinue reading “Just Work book review”

Success rests on a multiplicity of factors. There is no single trait that in itself sufficiently predicts success. While most self-help books stress productivity, efficiency, getting things done, there is more to living a fully actualized life than raw power. Emotional intelligence, or EQ, also plays a surprisingly important role. EQ is a term thatContinue reading “The measure of your emotions”

Non-fiction books can start to blend together after awhile. Growth mindset. Stretch goals. Getting things done. And acronyms. So many acronyms. Now, mindset is certainly a critical component to business and personal success. A few acronyms are real game changers. But books that actually lay out the practical steps to understanding and growing your business?Continue reading “Unlocking the potential in your ideas”

The aesthetic of the 21st century can be oppressively corporatist. Spontaneity, joy, and delight are smothered in never ending rat-race of pursuing wealth and success, climbing the corporate ladder, and being ultimately productive. While all of this has its place, people are not productivity machines. We need to play and relax as well. Play: HowContinue reading ““Humans are the biggest players of all””