[27]

Host a Book/Article Club

WE KNOW, this tip does not sound all that new and energizing. However, we struggle to find leaders who do this one correctly. When done well, these discussions are a great way to promote continuous development and growth among your team members. They can take place at a breakfast meeting or perhaps a brown bag lunch; the important thing is that those around you are continually challenged to think in new and creative ways. You may find that those interested in taking part tend to be the people willing to go above and beyond their normal responsibilities. In our opinion, the articles and books should be user-friendly and a relatively “quick read”—we all have seen book clubs crumble because no one had the time to get through a lengthy book.

In our opinion, an insightful blog post or an article from Fast Company or Harvard Business Review should be enough to stimulate conversation. Complex or cumbersome articles and books simply are not realistic when you take into account your team members’ busy schedules and demands away from work. The most important aspect of this tip is the discussion that follows the reading. This should be done in a location free of distractions and at a time that does not force participants to stay after or start before their regular work hours. Learning will happen through discussion, because diverse points of view challenge all of us to widen our frames of reference.

The conversation can be started by simply asking, “How does this article (or book) relate to the work of our department?” From there, the discussion will likely flow—unless you hog the conversation and use this time as your personal soapbox. Don’t! Keep in mind the 90/10 rule: You should listen 90 percent of the time and speak 10 percent of the time. The first couple of meetings may be a bit awkward, but once people get used to the idea and feel more comfortable speaking, conversation will be rich and free-flowing. You may even ask participants to come prepared with discussion questions, or ask different individuals to lead the discussion each week. But remember the 90/10 rule. Your active listening will help you better understand how your team members view their work and provide you with opportunities to make real links and connections to your area.

In one instance, we witnessed how a book club started a cultural revolution in the organization. The book club not only fostered personal growth, but the activity took its leaders to new levels. As a result, the organization took a look in the mirror and realized that it needed to change. Perhaps most notable about the activity was that the executive director led the discussion with her staff. She was an active participant and, through the discussions, she became excited about future possibilities, as well. The organization embarked on a change initiative and, in the process, developed a number of values-based programs, raised millions of dollars, and started to better live its mission.