Professional Development Book List

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As we transition into spring, it’s the perfect time to refresh our reading lists and dive into new topics. In this edition of our Professional Development Newsletter, we’ve carefully gathered a selection of books that are sure to inspire and enhance your professional development. Let's dive in!??

Nan Pum, Director of Talent Development at LIFT Consulting, LLC, recommended The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencione. “Lencioni’s book provides some of the best advice that I’ve ever read in this genre, AND it is written in the form of a fable, which makes it much more enjoyable than other business reads. It is a leadership handbook, written in story form, about why even the best teams struggle and how to overcome those obstacles to create truly high-functioning, high-performing teams.”??

Caryn Stanley, Assistant Director at the UW-Platteville School of Business, recommended The Fifth Discipline?by Peter Senge; more specifically, the Fieldbook companion.?“This field guide is an oldie but a goodie when it comes to understanding systems thinking as applied to organizations.?The principles Senge presents are indispensable for leaders seeking to foster growth and learning within their organizations. There are newer books with more modern language and technology references, but I still find the foundational insights and practical tips, tricks, and tools in the Fieldbook?to be invaluable."?

Tenley Damrow, Senior Director and Alliance Marketing Leader at RSM US LLP, recommended Good Leaders Ask Great Questions by John C. Maxwell. “Leaders must ask questions to develop and grow. This holds true during your first leadership assignments as well as throughout your career. The more questions leaders ask, the more answers they receive. The more answers they receive, the better equipped they become to lead. Never worry about appearing foolish or ignorant when you ask a question. You may be surprised when everyone around you develops more respect for you, not less, because you did the one thing that most leaders are terrified to do: You admitted that you don’t know everything. Though many of us try to make ourselves look smart by giving clever answers, we would be much better off if we focused our attention on asking questions and LISTENING.”??

Tenley Damrow also recommended The Outward Mindset by The Arbinger Institute. “Unknowingly, too many of us operate from an inward mindset, narrow-minded focus on self-centered goals and objectives. When faced with personal ineffectiveness or lagging organizational performance, most of us instinctively look for quick-fix behavioral band-aids, not recognizing the underlying mindset at the heart of our most persistent challenges. Through true stories and simple yet profound guidance and tools,?The Outward Mindset?enables individuals and organizations to make the one change that most dramatically improves performance, sparks collaboration, and accelerates innovation-a shift to an outward mindset.”?

Beth Borgen, President of Lakeland College, recommended The Drama of Leadership by Patricia Pitcher. “This is an oldie but a goodie!? My mentor and former supervisor recommended this book as he prepared me for a leadership role.? The Drama of Leadership digs into the variety of dynamics and “characters” that come to shape within organizations.? The book examines popular myths about leadership, including that leadership and vision are qualities that can be taught in seminars.? Rather than a shortage of effective leaders, the author focuses on the ability to identify potential leadership whose talents often go unnoticed.? Pitcher identifies three types of leaders: Artists, Craftsmen, and Technocrats.? She also articulates the power struggles that are played out among these different types of leaders.? I found myself relating to the characters as if they were specific colleagues.? The book helps leaders understand the perspective and approach of colleagues in order to more effectively work together on organizational strategies.”

Here is a list of books recommended by some of our leaders at Chortek!??

Renee Luedke, Talent Manager, recommended...?

• Scale or Fail by Allison Maslan?
• Scrum Mastery + Agile Leadership by Jeff Cohn?
• Lead Now by John Parker Stweart and Daniel Stweart??
• Strategic Planning a Pragmatic Guide by John H. Dobbs and John F. Dobbs?
• Mindset by Carol Dweck?

Kyle Bedalov, Service Manager, recommended...?

• If You Want it done Right, you Don’t have to do it Yourself by Donna M. Genett?
• The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon?
• QBQ The Question Behind the Question by John G. Miller?
• Leaders eat Last by Simon Sinek?
• Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin?

Robin Brandt, Marketing Director, recommended...?

• Linchpin by Seth Godin?
• Daring Greatly by Brene Brown?

Mike Senkbeil, Managed IT Partner, recommended...?

• “The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It” by Michael Gerber?

• “Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity” by David Allen?

Mitch Jussila, Sr. Tax Manager, recommended...?

• 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey??