Written by Kate Morris
180DC Executive Team recommends their favourite books to stimulate fresh thinking for 2021. Enjoy these inspiring reads over the university break.
Dare to Lead by Brené Brown
Leadership is not about titles, status and the power one exerts over people. Brené Brown’s book Dare to Lead explains that brave leadership is about the willingness to step up, put yourself out there, and lean into courage over comfort. The world is desperate for brave leaders who will make a difference.
Purple Cow by Seth Godin
You are either a Purple Cow or you are not. You are either remarkable or invisible. Make your choice! Seth Godin - the global marketing guru - encourages you to put a Purple Cow into everything you build and do, to create noticeable and unique value. This manifesto is for anyone who wants to create products and services that are worth marketing and to stand out of the crowd.
Stories for Work by Gabrielle Dolan
This is the essential guide to business storytelling for everyone. Gabrielle Dolan draws on her extensive experience as a former consultant to leading companies worldwide. This fantastic read helps you to understand why storytelling grabs attention and how to get your message across. Interesting point: people tend to remember how you made them feel, rather than every word or number you spoke.
Start with Why by Simon Sinek
How great leaders inspire! This book explores how leaders who have had the greatest influence in the world all think, act and communicate - and it is the opposite of what everyone else does. He calls this idea, the Golden Circle. Simon Sinek’s Ted Talk on how great leaders inspire action is also super interesting and definitely worth a watch.
Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
This is a thought-provoking read for all disciplines. Kahneman will take you on a groundbreaking journey of the mind to explain the two systems that drive the way we think. He also exposes some extraordinary abilities, biases and faults within these systems that you should know about when thinking about yourself, others and how best to engage with your customers. Worth a read!
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
Have you ever wondered: “what makes extraordinary high-achievers different from me?” Malcolm Gladwell’s book Outliers will take you on an intellectual journey through the world of outliers - the best and the brightest, the most famous and the most success. It all comes down to a simple point: we pay too much attention to what successful people are like and too little attention to where they are from. Get ready, to change your perspective!
Measure What Matters by John Doerr
Want to become a better manager? Then this book is for you. It is the revolutionary movement behind the explosive growth of multinational companies like Amazon and Uber. Measure What Matters is all about using Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) to approach goal-setting in order to make some tough but necessary choices in business. This book will help your team aim higher, move faster and excel beyond your expectations!
That's a wrap for now. Enjoy your summer reads!