Contributors to the March 2021 issue of TD magazine offer their book recommendations.
Michelle Braden
The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz
Reading this book changed my life because these agreements truly guide me in everything I do: 1. Don't take things personally. 2. Do not make assumptions. 3. Be impeccable with your word. 4. Always do your best.
The Winning Well: A Manager’s Guide to Getting Results—Without Losing Your Soul by Karin Hurt and David Dye
This easy-to-read book includes practical tips and techniques for leaders to manage “without losing your soul.” When I first read this book, my first thoughts were, “Oh, someone stole my idea!” But actually, Hurt and Dye did a much better job than I would have. It contains so many tactics, backed by management science, for leaders of any size team or organization to employ to get results. It has become a great quick reference guide for me—one that I wish I had early in my career. My teams and I have used this book and its content during the past few years to enhance our leadership development programs.
Danielle Wallace
Nine Lies About Work: A Freethinking Leader's Guide to the Real World by Marcus Buckingham and Ashley Goodall
This book sheds light into what actually drives employees and is designed to help any manager better lead their team. I appreciated how it tapped into the fallacies around employee potential, feedback, work-life balance, and more.
Growth IQ: Get Smarter About the Choices that Will Make or Break Your Business by Tiffani Bova
This highly readable book provides 10 different business strategies with examples. It’s useful to understand the growth strategy your organization is on (or should be on!).
Tricia Naddaff
Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm, and Confidence by Rick Hanson
Throughout the past year, most have been navigating through challenges ranging from small inconveniences to much greater, more serious challenges. All of these have reinforced the threat-sensitive nature of the brain. In this book, Hanson shares many strategies and exercises that help change the brain through neuroplasticity to yield more positively predisposed minds, resulting in brains that are calmer, happier, and more resilient.
Maria Brown
The Creative Curve: How to Develop the Right Idea at the Right Time by Allen Gannett
This book provides some practical, neuroscience-based insights for increasing creativity that anyone can apply. One interesting point from the book is that creative people don’t just spend time creating. They also spend a good amount of time consuming information and shifting their focus to other things.
