2020 has been a tough year in many ways, but we’ve also seen multiple opportunities for constructive change. Working from home and other flexible arrangements are here to stay. Widespread compliance with stay-at-home orders has shown us we can change atmospheric conditions in a short time. We will need leadership to face the challenges ahead, and there’s no better place to start than ourselves. Here’s a shortlist of books on leadership behaviors and attitudes that I’ve found very productive in my mentoring and business practice. Happy reading!
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People – Stephen R. Covey
The Seven Habits is the gold standard of self-improvement books, and it’s structured for access in different ways, depending on learner needs. I’ve had team members start at the beginning and work their way through the seven habits and others who benefited by diving into the habit that spoke to them at first glance. Each one is easy to remember, and the seven together are easy to memorize and use in practice to refocus ourselves and our teams.
The 8th Habit – Stephen R. Covey
This book is written for leaders and complements the Seven Habits by adding an easily recalled discipline focused on the engagement of head, hands, heart, and spirit. Much of the effort depends on how you respond to and treat others. There is a significant component of challenging our team members to take charge of their own lives and careers.
What Got You Here, Won’t Get You There – Marshall Goldsmith
I first heard Marshall Goldsmith in an ASQ presentation discussing how to manage the environmental and psychological triggers that keep us from being our best selves (see his book Triggers for details on his approach). This book can help you figure out what behaviors keep you from being successful in your career and life (these behaviors often appear as the result of triggers).
Getting More: How You Can Negotiate to Succeed in Work and Life – Stuart Diamond
One of the best books on negotiating I’ve read is a collaborative approach that works across ages and situations. Some of the most entertaining examples are those where Professor Diamond’s students are ‘getting more’ with their family members. While I found William Ury’s popular negotiating approach (described in Getting to Yes) helpful, just starting with the principle of how we can all get more from our interactions has changed how I look at every conversation with constructive results.
All The Leader You Can Be: The Science of Achieving Extraordinary Executive Presence – Suzanne Bates
Visualizing yourself in the role you want and adjusting your behavior is a proven way to help others see you in that role. When you don’t personally know many executives, it can be challenging to figure out what behaviors combine to make a person influential in that role. Ms. Bates presents a system you can use to measure your actions and update or supplement them with your team’s help.
Reach out to me if you want to know more or discuss your medical product development or business challenges.
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Text Copyright © 2020 Katrina Rogers
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