Do you have a little beach time coming up? Maybe a few flights scheduled? What a great time to catch up on your reading! With that in mind, we’ve got some fantastic suggestions for you from our diverse team of leaders and subject matter experts, including top notch business books, suspenseful novels and uplifting biographies. Check these out and let us know if you have other suggestions or thoughts about the ones below. Happy reading!
Carrie Driscoll, Eliassen Agile’s Director of Solutions Delivery
Joy, Inc.: How We Built a Workplace People Love by Richard Sheridan
Co-Active Leadership: Five Ways to Lead by Karen and Henry Kimsey-House
Inspired: How to Create Products Customers Love by Marty Cagan
“Each of these books helped me to become more self-aware of how my actions affect others, thus enabling me to grow my leadership skills from a purposeful perspective.”
Josh Tofteland, Director of Los Angeles Area
The Alliance: Managing Talent in the Networked Age by Reid Hoffman, Ben Casnocha and Chris Yeh“This book advocates for a more honest employee/employer relationship and more up-front expectations on how each side (employee and manager) will define success in the role and the criteria for advancement into the next role/'tour of duty.'”
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck
“Mindset advocates for introspection in order to view failures as opportunities for growth rather than as negative events.”
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
"Both are Pulitzer Prize Winners for Fiction, and are engaging with driving narratives and great writing.”
Dave MacKeen, CEO
What Got You Here Won't Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith
The Ideal Team Player by Patrick Lencioni
Mojo by Marshall Goldsmith
“Each of these books offers insights surrounding the themes of teamwork and change leadership. These are easy reads with actionable takeaways, and each one tells a story which makes you want to keep reading.”
Anne Finn, Corporate Recruiting Manager
Lunchmeat and Life Lessons: Sharing a Butcher's Wisdom by Mary B. Lucas“Mary Lucas spoke at Eliassen's kickoff in January and we all received her book, Lunchmeat and Life Lessons: Sharing a Butcher's Wisdom. A thought-provoking book that is about fostering the relationships we have - with our staff, our clients, and ourselves. Set against the backdrop of Mary's experience in the staffing industry, as well as at her father's butcher table, each chapter inspires.”
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth“Grit is similar in style to Malcolm Gladwell's works, so if you like his writing you will probably like this book. The overall theme is the author's development of a measure of perseverance scale that she calls Grit (you can take the assessment yourself to uncover how "gritty" you are). She asserts that it's unlikely that you know your own limits, and that the act of regularly striving against them can bring you to new personal and professional heights.”
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand“Unbroken is the story of Louis Zamperini and the incredible life he lived as a prize-winning athlete and a WWII POW survivor. It's a testament to pushing through difficult times to arrive on the other side. The vivid written details that teach about WWII are complemented by fantastic historical photography, offering a unique perspective on that era.”
Kaila Orn, Consultant Liaison
How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie“I read this book back in college. It points out seemingly obvious tools to build genuine relationships with those around you. It also clearly lays out which behaviors, body language and de-escalation techniques to which people generally respond well.”
The Defining Decade by Meg Jay, PhD“This is a great book for college grads to use to identify their priorities and what they want to accomplish in their 20s.”
I am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes
“This is a super suspenseful book that reads like a movie. It details the main character's backgrounds and gives you understanding for their actions. It keeps you on the edge of your seat as you root for the main character to save the Western world from a terrorist attack.”
Kurt Brokhoff, Recruiting Team Lead for Eliassen Group’s Creative Services
Getting Naked by Patrick Lencioni
“This book changed how I look at recruiting. It greatly improved my relationships with candidates, consultants, and my colleagues. I believe this is a must read for anyone in staffing or a 'people' business.”
