When I was little, I remember my mom telling me, “once you learn to read, you’ll never be bored.” After having to do plenty of assigned reading through schools and attempting to get through some dense textbooks, I was unsure if this statement fully rang true for me, but I have definitely come to understand her point! There is so much to learn, and there is a book for everything–sometimes it is just a matter of finding one that sparks your passion! 

Summer tends to be a great time to get through some books on my list (especially a summer in quarantine!) It is an excellent opportunity to put the obligatory reading down, whether its for work or school and truly enjoy the act of getting into a book! In one of our recent Instagram posts (@learnleadserve), our staff highlighted some of their favorite leadership books! Whether we are students, teachers, administrators, or supervisors, there is always more we can learn when it comes to leadership, and reading can be a great way to do so! Check-out some of our favorites:

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni describes the many pitfalls that teams face as they work and grow together.

Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Jean Greaves and Travis Bradberry details different aspects of emotional intelligence and explains how you can become more emotionally intelligent!

Radical Candor by Kim Scott is all about being an effective leader in the workplace, building effective teams, and loving the people you work with.

Quiet by Susan Cain argues that modern Western culture misunderstands and undervalues the traits and capabilities of introverted people in leadership positions. 

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is a fictional story about a Shepard boy who longs to travel the world in search of a great treasure, and all the people he meets along the way.

These are just a few of our favorites, but as I’m sure you have come to realize, there is no shortage of books when it comes to leadership or other areas of interest! So, enjoy your summer reading and let us know what your favorites are! 

*Leadership Lesson*

A great way to connect with others over reading is by starting a book club! It is a fun way for you for friends and family to connect over a meaningful topic. Here are some tips to get you started: 

• Create your group – Depending on your group, you can cater your book club accordingly. You could have just one person or up to as many as you’d like, but you’ll want to make sure that you have some common interest, focus, or desire. 
• Consider your purpose – Do you want to challenge yourself to learn about a new topic? Do you want to reconnect with old friends? Meet new people? 
• Define a schedule – Find a time where everyone can connect (Zoom and Facetime are great options for virtual spaces). Decide on a reading schedule. You can cater it to your group’s pace, so maybe it’s reading a book once a month or two books a year. There is no right or wrong way! 
• Co-create a reading list – Aim to find books that speak to people’s interests. Everyone could suggest their favorite book or reading reviews is a great way to discover new books. 
• Form some questions for when you meet – You can ask some questions such as: What did you enjoy about this book? What do you wish there was more of? What did you take away from this?

Ultimately, a book club can be as informal or as formal as you like! Make it your own and find what works best for you and your team!

*Meet the Author*

Caroline is going on her third year with Leadership Inspirations. She is currently pursuing a Masters in Leadership Development and holds B.A.’s in Psychology and Integrated Educational Studies.

Favorite Quote: “You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make” – Jane Goodall

Fun Facts: 1) I’m from Seattle 2) I LOVE Golden Retrievers 3) I have celebrated Holi in India