Five Business “Must Reads”

Have you read any good books lately? The following are five good business reads that hint at burgeoning trends within the workplace and new leadership tactics that are beginning to catch fire in organization after organization. You don’t want to miss these!

#5:  In Presentations, Kill Your Darlings via Harvard Business Review
“When in doubt, leave it out”. Experienced writers and speakers know how hard it is to eliminate fascinating, yet irrelevant information. This article explains why it’s necessary to know your audience and then present only the information your audience needs to know. I wonder how many drafts this article went through?!

#4: It’s All About Me via Fast Company
As a new generation comes to the forefront, the way you market, sell and
do business will inevitably change. And who better to know this than the beverage mogul, Coca Cola? This article outlines the shift from the Unique Selling Propositions and Emotional Selling Propositions to the Me Selling Propositions. If your organization hasn’t seen the light of the personal brandwagon, pass this article along.

#3: Don’t Send that Email. Pick Up the Phone via Harvard Business Review
How many minutes (OK…seconds) have passed since you sent a text message?
Chat, email, and smart phones dominate the workplace. They have drastically changed business models, the way we work and how long we work.  But what happens when interpersonal conflicts arise? Take 5 minutes and read this article to learn why live conversations are actually a good thing!

#2:  Distracted? It’s Time to Hit the Reset Button via New York Times
We all have paperwork that needs to get done, but why not double check the email inbox one more time? Maybe check your other email address while you’re at it? Maybe in another hour you’ll finally get around to
finishing (or maybe starting) that report. My favorite piece of advice – structure your distraction time. Embrace your need for distraction, anticipate it, plan for it. A breather every now and then is a good thing and may even help you refocus. With a new year in tow, who doesn’t need a little help refocusing?

#1:  The Innovation Catalysts via Harvard Business Review
If you’re trying to understand the process of transformation, this article lays it out by looking at a case study of Intuit. This article will become a HBR classic!

And as a bonus, Fast Company has compiled a fabulous Leadership Hall of Fame reading list. Have you read any of these books already? Have some favorites? What are they? Some titles that pop out for me include, Blue Ocean Strategy, Never Eat Alone, and Seth Godin’s Purple Cow.