– The Inner Game of Tennis by Timothy Gallwey
Executive Summary: This book is NOT really about tennis, it’s about the inner game of performance.
When seeking to grow and elevate our performance, to improve at a task, we are often simultaneously our own worst enemy and our own best friend.
Gallwey adroitly and wisely teaches us how to get out of our own way so we can break through.
The principles will make you a better coach, a better parent, a better leader, and a better tennis player (or golf, or basketball, or …..)
I’ve given this book away as much as any book I own.
– The Healing Organization by Raj Sisodia & Michael J. Gelb
Executive Summary: Raj Sisodia, who wrote and helped to establish Conscious Capitalism, has written another gem. In it, he shares story after story about organizations that are choosing to put people first, and are thriving as a result.
This is NOT about fluffy externals like more bean bags and barbecues. And it’s not about running lousy businesses where people just feel good all the time.
He tells how famed New York restauranteur Danny Meyer and his team had to make an incredibly difficult decision to close down one of their restaurants for the first time in the history of the company. ‘
You won’t believe what happened next, and the refreshing way they went about closing this restaurant in a way where everyone involved flourished.
This is about moving from “business as usual” to business as an opportunity for human flourishing. The stories will inspire you to build your own healthy and creative organization where people come alive to their gifts and potential.
– No Rules, Rules by Reed Hastings & Erin Meyer
Executive Summary: Netflix has been consistently ranked the best publicly-traded company to work for in the U.S.
Here’s what’s surprising: Netflix has no employee rule book. That’s right, they’ve done away with rules.
I found this shocking and had to learn more, which is why I read the book.
The founder, Reed Hastings and organizational psychologist Erin Meyer document how Netflix did away with rules, what they’ve learned along the way, and the ways that this has unlocked human creative potential on their team.
Disclaimer: I’m not endorsing doing away with your employee handbook, however this book does make you realize there is more than one way to build a thriving culture and the path you take should be determined by your context and goals.
