8.12.20 Boda Insights: Great Summer Reading for Leaders

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We hope you are enjoying the summer (even though that sounds like a strange thing to say during a global pandemic and economic downturn). At the very least, we hope you are finding moments to be outside, play, rest, and rejuvenate.
For many leaders, summer includes time to read, so we want to share some of our favorite books on leadership and teams that we think you will enjoy. Here are a few:

Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World by Vivek H Murthy, MD. Dr. Murthy was the US Surgeon General and he writes about the disease of loneliness–what causes it, why it’s a problem, negative physical and mental health consequences, and what we can do to address it in ourselves and others. It’s the perfect time to think and learn about this important topic, given the isolation so many people are experiencing right now–including many of our colleagues, clients, friends, and family members. 9780062913296
Helping People Change: Coaching with Compassion for Lifelong Learning and Growth by Richard Boyatzis, Melvin Smith, and Ellen Van Oosten. This is one of the best books we’ve read in a long time! As executive coaches, our core focus is helping people learn, grow, and change. The authors explain how adults change and how many of the approaches commonly used–including goal-setting–are ineffective at creating meaningful and lasting change. A must-read for anyone leading people or working in the HR/talent field and supporting people. 121686_source_1596019520
The Headspace Guide to Meditation and Mindfulness by Andy Puddicombe. Most of us know that meditation and mindfulness are good for us. The research is incontrovertible–meditation improves our physical, mental, and emotional health and is linked to better health outcomes. And yet, many of us don’t make time for it. Puddicombe is an expert meditator and multi-decade practitioner but his approach in the book is humble, straightforward, and often laugh-out-loud funny. It’s a quick, easy, and helpful read. 9781250014146
Unleashed: The Unapologetic Leader’s Guide to Empowering Everyone Around You by Frances Frei and Anne Morriss. Frei and Morriss think about leadership through the eyes of followers and make the case that as a leader it’s not about you, but rather, leaders should focus on their people–what they need, and how the leader is supporting, helping, and encouraging their people’s success. The authors make the case that the best leaders provide trust, love, and a sense of belonging to empower their people and create strong results. 127065_source_1592657257
The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz. Horowitz is a venture capitalist, serial entrepreneur, and experienced executive. In the book, he speaks directly to tech CEOs, but his ideas and life lessons are applicable to any leader. In his direct, blunt, sometimes brash, and always humble narrative, Horowitz shares the leadership lessons he has learned from decades of hard work, grit, multiple failures, and eventual successes. 18176747
Neuroscience for Coaches: How to Use the Latest Insights for the Benefit of Your Clients by Amy Brann. Although most of you reading this are not coaches, the science and research that Brann provides will be helpful to all leaders who want to understand how others think, feel, react, and respond. Talent and HR leaders will learn about the extensive neuroscience that serves as a foundation for experienced executive coaches and likely increase their understanding of when executive coaching is a useful approach for their leaders and how to select the right coaches for their leaders. xlarge_9780749480707
For more great learning, check out What Drives Us.

Happy reading!

The Boda team