I am trying to improve my habit this year of reading more. It is part of my goal to improve my Leader Standard work. Putting time aside to improve myself so I can be a better consultant and challenge my own thinking.
Here are a few favourites and surprising gems I have stumbled across during my reading sessions, one of them is a new discovery as well as a couple of perennial favourites.
The Checklist Manifesto - Atwul Gawande
Every so often you get a book and then after reading it you wondered how you lived without it! The Checklist Manifesto is this book. It is a fantastic introduction into the power and use of checklists. Using case studies on the impact of slowing down and focusing on quality elements at critical steps of a process. Who thought a simple checklist could be as powerful as a drug to impact medicine? This is just one insight into the power of the checklist and how it supports talented people to become more impactful in their roles.Fish!! A proven way to boost morale & improve results - Lundin, Paul & Christensen
Anyone who knows us really well will know how we actively try and live to the four philosophies of FISH! This is a true story of the Pike Fish Market in Seattle. It is over 20 years old but the message is probably more relevant than when it was first printed in 2000. How can ‘Be present, choose your attitude, make someone’s day and have fun’ transform the workplace? This book is a solid go-to when I am asked what teams can do to improve the ‘culture’ of their business. Such an easy read and you can watch the myriad of YouTube videos of the actual market and other businesses that have embraced FISH!Everything I know about Lean I learned in First Grade - Robert Martichenko
While not the most technical Lean book on my shelf, it is a great, lighthearted way to introduce some of the simple organisational elements of Lean Thinking. That is why it works - simplicity. I also like how it uses an unconventional setting - a school to demonstrate how Lean Thinking can be applied to any situation. At 102 pages, this is one of those books that can be shared around the team and then debrief on how it can be applied to your workplace.
Happy reading everyone!! Would love to hear your recommendations of a great book to cover!
