Book Capsules, November 2022

Talent Tectonics

Steven T. Hunt

Wiley, $30, 320 pp.

Hunt, an industrial-organizational psychologist and the chief expert of work and technology at SAP, is trying to get companies to move away from using management practices that have existed since the Roman Empire. To prepare for the future, businesses must take into consideration the "twin ‘tectonic forces'" of digitalization and demographics that Hunt says are changing the nature and purpose of work. In this book, he details the changes that are reshaping work and workforce management and provides guidance on how to respond to those changes. Topics range from creating effective employee experiences and crafting jobs to fit employees to developing employee capabilities and engineering employee engagement.

The 6 Types of Working Genius

Patrick Lencioni

Matt Holt Books, $25, 240 pp.

Using the acronym WIDGET to classify the six components of his Working Genius framework, bestselling author Lencioni explains how individuals can benefit from identifying the type of work that brings them joy, energy, and passion—and what does not. In defining the six genius types—wonder, invention, discernment, galvanizing, enablement, and tenacity—Lencioni explains that each person has two genius types. To determine what they are, Lencioni directs readers to a 42-question online assessment. He then explains how to put insights from the results into practice. In addition to an overview of the model, Lencioni presents a fable that provides a fictional story around Working Genius and its application.