📚 Week #3 of 52 in adventures in reading …

Dr. Sara Reed
Jan 22
3 min read

My 2025 goal is to pay more attention to where and to how I read ... a few adventures happened while reading these books.

How the Future Works: Leading Flexible Teams to do the Best Work of Their Lives by Brian Elliott,Sheela Subramanian & Helen Lee Kupp

I’ve been reading this one for a while & wrapped it up on the way to a family skiing afternoon.

Love a book I can read on the way to a fun afternoon ....

‼️ There are a whole set of norms that most of us follow at work, but how often have we stopped to ask why, or if they even make sense?

💯 Important reminders about leading change & creating the workplace for today & the future:

1️⃣ Always lead with the why;

2️⃣ Don’t just talk to people, engage them.

3️⃣ Transparency & humility

‼️ There is no “done” when creating a better way of working.

😣 Trust, clarity & potential are undermined if team members are suffering from burnout.

⭐️ There is a deeply human desire in all of us to find out just what we’re capable of & to really do our best work.

My 2️⃣ favorite thoughts:

😳 Too often leaders resist talking about something that’s a work-in-progress & avoid admitting when they don’t have all the answers.

⁉️ As a leader, it’s on you to deliberately design an environment that levels inequities & invites people to contribute

Buy the Book: https://amzn.to/3Wwmz2l

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Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin

I haven’t read this type of historical book in awhile but decided to try it, knowing it was by Doris Kearns Goodwin & having grown up in the professional development of the United States Air Force, history matters.

Things that stuck out …

☺️ The continued reference to how Lincoln stepped back & didn’t speak in anger towards people.

⭐️ How Lincoln listened and also remained tied to his values.

‼️ There will always be people who are working personal agendas, no matter how well led they are.

⏸️ Lincoln modeled the power of the pause in leadership.

⭐️ Lincoln was able to see beyond disagreements to acknowledge strengths of others for a greater good.

❤️ His indomitable sense of purpose had sustained him.

Buy the book: https://amzn.to/4h5DEZp

——-

Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara

I thought of Allie Scott - and the unique salon experience she visioned & created. I thought about Joey Sutorius who made buying our home in Utah extra special. I thought of my mother-in-law, Nancy, who takes hospitality to a level unlike anyone I know.