5 Books You Should Read (and 5 we're going to read)

A few of our colleagues here at Delta Partners have recommended books that they read and loved in 2010.

And so, as many of us think about how we are going to improve ourselves in 2011, here is a list of our recommended reading:

Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard

Alcide DeGagne
CEO

Chip & Dan Heath’s take on managing change is a refreshing approach to the subject, and one that I believe can be very powerful for practicing managers and consultants alike. Rather than adopt the usual academic approach - or the overly simplistic ‘check list’ approach - the authors anchor their methodology in recent research in behavioural science, and illustrate these findings through insightful case studies. This is what makes the Switch approach both practical and powerful. For the first time in a long time, managers can easily grasp the basic concepts without the overwhelming stress that comes from believing that they have to become change management experts.

Next on my reading list:

Leadership by Rick Hillier

The Speed of Trust

Ian Jackson
Senior Consultant

The Speed of Trust by Stephen M.R. Covey makes an argument that is not revolutionary, yet at the same time it makes such good sense. When you start thinking of trust as an economic driver, as a top leadership competency, and as a learnable skill, you can't help but be swayed by Covey's discussion that "Trust" can make THE difference in the public service by increasing speed, energy, engagement, and joy - while decreasing costs.

"Nothing is as fast as the speed of trust...without trust, it takes you longer and costs you more."

Next on my reading list:

Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel Pink

The Checklist Manifesto

Debra Sunohara
Practice Leader, Project Management

The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande is an easy, engaging, and quick read.  Gawande nimbly guides us through his assessment of the 3 basic types of problems that exist; simple, complicated, and complex. Using practical examples of each from different industries and professions such as medicine, aviation, and construction, he is able to analyse how these problems are solved using checklists. The staggering statistics in reductions of surgery related deaths world-wide as a result of implementing a brief checklist alone make the case for this simple way to build in quality and practice continuous process improvement!

Next on my reading list:

The Other Side of Innovation: Solving the Execution Challenge by Vijay Govindarajanand Chris Trimble

Managing

Jim Taggart
Consultant

The master is back. Henry Mintzberg, the dean of management and leadership thinking, has written an outstanding book that draws on his 35-plus years of empirical research and teaching.  Managing is a clearly written, thought-provoking piece of work that arrives at a time when organizations and governments are desperate for effective managerial and leadership skills.

Next on my reading list:

The Next 100 Years by George Friedman

Good Boss, Bad Boss

Geoff Schaadt
Consultant

Bob Sutton might be the least-academic academic you will ever read.  A Professor of Management Science at Stanford University, he excels at taking the hype, the buzzwords, the mythology of the day, and submitting them to the lens of critical thought, published research, and common sense.  In Good Boss, Bad Boss he provides a clear description of the skills and personality traits of that person you’d really like to report to – and those you’d rather not run into.

Next on my reading list:

The Shibumi Strategy: A Powerful Way to Create Meaningful Change by Matthew E. May

And please - let us know what books we've missed that really should be included here!