Reading Recommendations for the Road
Whether you’re on vacation with the family or traveling for work and attending Meetups in other cities, hopefully you will have some free time this summer to relax and recharge. Take a moment to refocus on some management training for yourself, which can ultimately improve how you lead and communicate to Gen Y employees and prospects.
I would like to steer you to a few great books to bring along to the beach this summer and “work” at the same time. Each of these provides great insight that can be applied to your entire company, and you can parse out the themes that will apply to your Gen Y employees as well. I would also like to note that I’m a big fan of reading these types of books multiple times. I have five books on my shelf that I have read off and on throughout the years. After reading them again, I feel I pick up lessons I may have missed or forgotten the first time.
So, drumroll please… your management summer reading (without the office dress clothes):
Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh
In his newly released book, Zappos founder Hsieh reflects on the leadership lessons learned from his sales career that began with a worm farm at age nine — allowing “building from the ground up” to have a whole new meaning. Delivering Happiness is his effort to document a history of learning by mistakes and moving forward. “I decided to write this book to help people avoid making many of the same mistakes I’ve made,” Hsieh wrote. As you read it, you’ll feel that Hsieh was sitting there with you and a cup of coffee, making the read enjoyable and conversational.
Disclaimer: I just picked up the book and haven’t finished reading it yet, but I would love to discuss once I do!
Open Leadership by Charlene Li
Open Leadership, the follow-up to her co-authored book Groundswell, gives Li ground to tackle the issues of how to create a more transparent management style and utilize social technology to do so. One of the first concepts presents is the “Failure Imperative.” By becoming an open leader, one who learns and teaches how to effectively move past blunders that happen in our careers, Li asserts that you can build trust by leading through the hard times. “If initiative and innovation are key to your future success, then you need to take a long hard look at how you personally create trust and approach failure, because it will be reflected back in the culture that you create,” Li wrote.
Reputation by Marjorie Williams
As a journalist for the Washington Post, Williams saw the best and worst of power in the nation’s capitol. In Reputation, she is able to paint the pictures of some of the most famous Washington characters with, what New York Times columnist David Brooks called, “deep-drilling” political profiles that truly get to the heart of the person. Readers who live in D.C., will take delight in the many distinct references to life within the I-495 beltway through portraits of James Carville, Mary Matalin and Colin Powell. She also pulled in some great humor with Larry King’s profile.
Grab a cool drink and these books – enjoy!
About the Author
Amy Liz Martin is a PR professional whose work centers on social media, media relations, corporate relations, publicity and cause-related PR campaigns. Amy was a fundraiser and event communications chair for the American Cancer Society, ran small development and communications campaigns for the International Center for Journalists, and led social media publicity efforts for artists at EMI CMG Label Group. She earned her master's degree in mass communications/public relations at Louisiana State University and is a member of the Public Relations Society of America.
