New Year Reading

Joe,

Happy New Year! Thanks for the great book recommendations. I too have a few books to recommend.

All good Talent Anarchists are on a journey of personal development and discovery. So, as we enter 2010, I thought I'd recommend some of the best books for developing yourself personally and professionally.

1. Fierce Conversations by Susan Scott.

For my money, this is the best and most complete book of professional development you can buy. Susan Scott tackles everything from leadership to communication. It's a book that is very engaging to read but also leaves you with hands on exercises to complete for those are really serious about their own development. I've read this book three times and I learn new things each time.

2. Boom! 7 Choices for Blowing the Doors off Business as Usual by Kevin and Jackie Freiberg.

The Friebergs offer up some important issues for us to think about in regards to our career and how we approach our work. I was skeptical when i originally picked up this book, but found that it provided me with a lot to think about. Among my favorite ideas in this book is their definition of congruence as it relates to our careers.

3. What Color is Your Parachute? 2010: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers by Richard N. Bolles

Last but not least is this classic book by Richard Bolles. I have recommended this book to dozens of people throughout my career. Besides being a good resource for those who are job hunting, it's the perfect handbook for those who find themselves stuck in a career that isn't lighting their fire. Year's ago, when I was at a transition point in my career, the process outlined in this book helped me find clarity in terms of what I wanted to do with my career. It is, hands down, the best career book on the market. If it's time for you or someone you know to make a change in their career, buy this book.

With that, I wish you a very Happy New Year and an awesome 2010.

Talk to you next year.

Jason

Recommended Reading

A little light reading for the talent anarchist...

As we approach the end of another year, a lot of people are producing lists, so I thought I would jump on the bandwagon. If you are looking for some good reading for the holidays or some books to keep in mind for your 2010 reading list, this list is for you. These are not books that came out this past year, but I think they are all very relevant and timely. I highly recommend each of these books.

The HALO Effect…and the Eight Other Business Delusions That Deceive Managers, by Phil Rosenzweig

If I had a must read list for anyone in management or Human Resource this book would definetly be on it and it might be at the very top. Rosenzweig does a great job of reality checking the consultants, speakers, authors and thought-leaders that run around claiming to have answers, solutions and facts. Don’t believe the hype. Read this book and share it with the people that you work with…it will increase your immunity to the consulting fad of the month.

The No Asshole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn't, by Robert Sutton

I love Bob Sutton, and recommend that you visit his blog as well. This book is an easy and even an entertaining read, but also packed full of good info and research. I don’t know about you, but I have worked in an organization that went out of its way to protect assholes simply because they were high performing…this book shows what a reckless and costly practice that is.

Hard Facts, Dangerous Half-Truths And Total Nonsense: Profiting From Evidence-Based Management, by Jeffrey Pfeffer and Robert Sutton

Another book that disproves much of what we think we know about organizations, people and performance. From the Amazon review:

The best organizations have the best talent. . . Financial incentives drive company performance. . . Firms must change or die. Popular axioms like these drive business decisions every day. Yet too much common management "wisdom" isn’t wise at all—but, instead, flawed knowledge based on "best practices" that are actually poor, incomplete, or outright obsolete. Worse, legions of managers use this dubious knowledge to make decisions that are hazardous to organizational health.

Jeffrey Pfeffer and Robert I. Sutton show how companies can bolster performance and trump the competition through evidence-based management, an approach to decision-making and action that is driven by hard facts rather than half-truths or hype. This book guides managers in using this approach to dismantle six widely held—but ultimately flawed—management beliefs in core areas including leadership, strategy, change, talent, financial incentives, and work-life balance. The authors show managers how to find and apply the best practices for their companies, rather than blindly copy what seems to have worked elsewhere.

Jason, any recommendations you would like to add here? Happy Holidays!

-joe