Organizational Development & Engagement (ODE)

The Leadership Challenge (sixth edition)

This should be the first leadership book in any professional’s library. Amazon.com states the Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership^(R)--the model that Jim and Barry derived from studying personal-best leadership experiences--continues to prove its validity as a clear, evidence-based path to achieving the extraordinary for individuals, teams, organizations, and communities. Real-life examples of the behaviors that all leaders at all levels demonstrate when they are at their personal best are provided, and the book clearly shows that leadership is not about personality; it's about an observable and learnable set of skills and abilities. The Leadership Challenge, Sixth Edition, turns the abstract concept of leadership into easy-to-grasp actions and behaviors that can be learned by anyone willing to step up and accept the challenge to lead. 

Crucial Conversations: Tools for talking when stakes are high 

Difficult conversations occur in our professional lives as well as our personal lives. How we communicate during those conversations is critical to getting the message across as well as being heard.  This book provides tools to more effectively communicate during difficult conversations. 
 

Amazon: 

Crucial Conversations gives you the tools you need to step up to life's most difficult and important conversations, say what's on your mind, and achieve the positive resolutions you want. You'll learn how to: 

·       Prepare for high-impact situations with a six-minute mastery technique 

·       Make it safe to talk about almost anything 

·       Be persuasive, not abrasive 

·       Keep listening when others blow up or clam up 

·       Turn crucial conversations into the action and results you want 

The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace 

As we think about increasing engagement within our teams, we must put a strong emphasis on motivating our employees which can be a difficult task.  The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace can give you insight into individually recognizing your employees, thus contributing to a more engaged workforce. 

At work, people express and receive appreciation in different ways. If you try to express appreciation in ways that aren’t meaningful to your co-workers, they may not feel valued at all. This is because you and your co-workers are speaking different languages. In, Dr. Chapman and Dr. White will help you identify the five languages of appreciation in order to: 

1.     Express genuine appreciation to co-workers and staff — even on a tight budget. 

2.     Increase loyalty with the employees and volunteers in your organization. 

3.     Reduce cynicism and create a more positive work environment. 

4.     Improve your ability to show appreciation for difficult colleagues. 

5.     Convey the language of physical touch in appropriate ways. 

Change the Culture, Change the Game

ODE recommends Change the Culture, Change the Game (2012) by Connors and Smith.  This book is perfect for any organization that is seeking to change their culture in order to get different results. This book demonstrates how to implement a culture of accountability within your organization. You'll discover how to help encourage a shift in thinking to get the game-changing results you want and explore the steps and tools needed to sustain such changes.  
 

It easily applies to education and the concepts can be adopted by teams, departments or entire colleges who are seeking different results.  For example, Lone Star College-University Park in Houston, TX utilized the concepts from this book in their effort to increase student graduation rates. Individual teams can also adopt the concepts from the book to increase engagement and personal accountability.