What are you reading? 2023

I recently started heading back to the office on a more regular basis. I missed people, I was bored of spending all day and night at home, and I needed to shake myself up a little.

Choice is a privilege and I work for a company in a position where I can decide where I spend my time. I know how lucky I am.

I'll admit I was full of dread, how will I fit all those meetings in, I'm going to miss helping myself to the kids snacks and who wants to get out of their pyjamas to go to work!

Not being on calls from 7 am used to be normal, starting work in an office after breakfast used to be normal, sitting down with colleagues at lunch used to be normal. I needed more normal and reclaimed that time by blocking out my calendar. I also went back to my booklist of 2022 and decided to use the commute as personal learning time.

I use audiobooks a lot, they have transformed my life, we all learn differently and for me listening is best.

I have added this last note as to why I listen, not read, because after posting my last book list I received a number of messages criticizing the format and my use of it over the hardcopy. We are all different, I am dyslexic, it is a curse sometimes but if anyone is reading this and they are dyslexic or knows a child that is, tell them it's all okay, they will be whatever they want to be in the world, even a Director at Microsoft if they really want ?? and audiobooks are just fine! (Take that teacher that called me an animal) 

Here is what I have turned my commute into, what are you reading (listening too) and why?

1. The five dysfunctions of a team by Patrick Lencioni: A leadership classic that had been recommended to me so often I decided to jump in. So much to learn from this book, a great reminder how important trust is in a high-performance team.
2. Dare to lead by Brené Brown: I started listening to this and the opening words talked about being able to consume on one flight across the country. I started this on a Sunday before the work week and did indeed finish it without a break. I've been rumbling in the arena with my team every day since.
3. Emotional Intelligence, why it can matter more than IQ by Daniel Goleman: Deep dive on a subject that gets talked of a lot especially when building teams, but I knew nothing about. Brings a great level of understanding.
4. Drive the surprising truth about what motivates us by Daniel H. Pink. Work towards goals, give people space and stive for mastery. A great read learnt a lot.
5. The DevOps Handbook, how to create world-class agility, reliability & security in technology organisations by Gene Kim, Patrick Debois, John Willis and Nicole Forsgren: Technology is everywhere, what separates the good from the bad those that succeed from those that fail is templated in this book. No topic sits still and having a technical advantage through a high functioning team will always be an advantage.
6. Simple habits for complex times, powerful practises for leaders by Keith Johnston and Jennifer Garvey Berger: Helped me to understand complexity, gave me conviction to embrace uncertainty with the team and set direction when I did not know what was to come.
7. The new one-minute manager by Spencer Johnson and Kenneth Blanchard: Invest a minute in your people, make coaching constant and set expectations, it does not take long.
8. Grit the power of passion and perseverance by Angela Duckworth: This booked made me more determined to get back up again to dust off the week and setbacks and find solutions. Practice with purpose and focus on the outcome.
9. Wolfpack by Abby Wambach: If you are going to get better it's important to learn and understand. This book was very different for me but I liked the way it was written, the passion and the calling.
10. Good to great, why some companies make the leap... and others don't by Jim Collins: Although written in 2001 and the research dates from before that time it's a super relevant read and covers good concepts to move forward. Stop looking for that miracle moment, get doing!
11. Thinking in bets making smarter decisions when you don't have all the facts by Annie Duke: I really liked this read. Taught me to look back on the decision made and review the strategy at that time, if its good don't deviate accept the result. And diversity matters! Check those decisions with a diverse set of thinkers.
12. Daring Greatly, how the courage to be vulnerable transforms the way we live, love, parent and lead by Brené Brown: I'm fully onboard the Brene Brown train, most at work know and can tell. Fantastic listen.