THE TALIS LIBRARY CORNER!

“The best way to hide something from black people is to put it in a book”. We dispel this notion. We know better!

Reading is an essential part of our Organizational culture and DNA. For Us, reading books is not only left to the CEO or the Executive Team but it’s for everyone across the entire Firm. And the lessons we learn from the books are greatly shaping our perspective on life and work.

Here’s a list of seven (7) amazing books - in no particular order of preference - we read last year 2023 and we hope you can find something you and your team will enjoy too. Please feel free to share some of your favorite recent reads in the comments section below.

1. WINNING, by Jack Welch

This is one of the best business classics you will ever find. In #Winning, the legendary former General Electric CEO, Jack Welch [and his wife Suzy Welch], takes you an astonishing journey of Organizational success. The book is a must-read Business Manual for every Manager and Leader that provides practical, hands-on advice on how to grow your Company and Career while beating your Competition. From his own experience, after running GE for 20-years, Jack provides a comprehensive guide to Leadership, People Management, Strategy and Crisis Management, among others.

?2. GOOD TO GREAT, by Jim Colins

Jim Collins ranks among the finest business authors alive: He has authored books such as Built to Last, How The Mighty Fall, and Great By Choice. Good to Great is a block-buster management book and another must-read. Having spent 5 years studying dozens of companies, Jim Collins explains Why Some Companies Make the Leap [and transition from being good to great companies] while Others Don't. The main theme of the book is DISCIPLINE: Disciplined People who engage in Disciplined Thought and who take Disciplined Action can give a mediocre entity the ability to evolve into a great company.

3. WHAT THEY DON’T TEACH YOU AT HAVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL, by Mark McCormack

Originally published in 1984, this Book provides insights and practical tips to succeed in the business world. It offers valuable lessons on negotiation, sales, and communication skills that are not taught in traditional business schools. It teaches us that succeeding in business has less to do with accumulated theoretical knowledge through schooling and exams, but more about people and communication. We highly recommend this book to graduates, yet-to-be graduates and early career professionals.

?4. OUR ICEBERG IS MELTING, by John Kotter & Holger Rathgeber

This is a book about Change and it’s written as a simple fable about penguins. In the fable, one penguin notices a melting iceberg and realizes that it could soon become a major problem for the whole colony, but the other penguins don't want to listen, and he must convince them to do something. The book describes Eight Steps that could be followed to produce change. It's a story that can be enjoyed by anyone while at the same time providing priceless lessons for leaders and teams in today’s dynamic world.

5. THE FIVE DYSFUNCTIONS OF A TEAM, by Patrick Lencioni

If you’re looking for a book or material on how to build winning teams in any sort of Organization, look no further than #TheFiveDysfunctionsofaTeam. The book is packed with rich practical information in an easy-to-read fable that examines why effective teams are so rare and the author reveals the five dysfunctions that can make even the best teams to struggle. He provides a powerful model for overcoming those dysfunctions. This book has sold more than 3 million copies, and helped countless teams globally.

6. HOW TO WIN FRIENDS AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE, By Dale Carnegie

This Book is one of the most influential, greatest and best-selling books of all-time- and it’s the best we have ever read. Written over 85 years ago by Dale Carnegie, this self-help classic book is a Life Manual. It imparts timeless lessons and principles that will teach you how to make people like you, how to win people to your way of thinking, and how to change people without arousing resentment. As relevant as ever before, the principles in this book endure, and will help you achieve your maximum potential in the complex modern world.

7. THE 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE, by Stephen R. Covey

This famous Book is a transformative guide to personal, team and organizational effectiveness. It provides a holistic approach to success, focusing on character development and interpersonal skills. It empowers us to cultivate habits that lead to lasting effectiveness and fulfillment. The book has played a key part in the transformation of millions of lives across all age groups and professions for over 30 years.

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