Why I read it I read Ron Friedman’s Decoding Greatness a couple of years ago, and found it compelling. I applied many of the principles to my leadership and teaching; for example, the concept of reverse engineering to break down the key components of something successful. Check out my blog for more. I subscribe toContinue reading “The Best Place to Work, by Ron Friedman”
Category Archives: Leadership and Culture
Coaching the Team at Work, by David Clutterbuck. Part One: Teams
This is a Pocket Wisdom first! I bought this book to learn more about coaching, and team coaching. These topics unite my two professional passions: high-performing teams, and coaching for development. However, the book is so densely packed with research, theory, practical ideas, and Clutterbuck’s wisdom, that I had to split the post in two.Continue reading “Coaching the Team at Work, by David Clutterbuck. Part One: Teams”
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, by Patrick Lencioni
Why I read it I really enjoyed Patrick Lencioni’s The Advantage, and have since read some of his other works, and listened to interviews and podcasts featuring his words of wisdom. Since beginning my research project on teams, I had to check out The Five Dysfunctions of a Team – a unique take on teamworkContinue reading “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, by Patrick Lencioni”
Belonging, by Owen Eastwood
Why I read it: I recently connected with Rebecca Levett, a brilliant sports psychologist who also happens to be a distant relative, as we put together some thoughts for an event. During the conversation, Rebecca recommended Belonging; 3 minutes later, it was in my basket, and 48 hours later, it was perched atop my readingContinue reading “Belonging, by Owen Eastwood“
Thanks for the Feedback, by Douglas Stone and Sheila Heen
Why I read it: As part of the Thriving Teams research project that I am midway through, the importance of communication and constructive conflict keeps shining through in research and studies that I have read. After reading Radical Candor, which focuses on the art of giving feedback well in order to improve the performance ofContinue reading “Thanks for the Feedback, by Douglas Stone and Sheila Heen“
Radical Candor, by Kim Scott
Why I read it: This one had been on my reading pile for a couple of years. Kim Scott offers a direct title and even clearer subtitle: ‘How to get what you want by saying what you mean.’ This isn’t just about having ‘tough conversations’, though, it’s a principle for leading teams that puts relationships,Continue reading “Radical Candor, by Kim Scott”
Leadership: Being, Knowing, Doing – by Stephen Tierney
Why I read it After reading a series of books on teams, I wanted to return to core school leadership skills and knowledge. A coachee had generously given me a voucher for Christmas, and, being a fan of Stephen Tierney’s previous books, I decided to spend it on his new book on leadership. In summaryContinue reading “Leadership: Being, Knowing, Doing – by Stephen Tierney“
Thriving Teams #4: Team Debriefs
Watching footage of post-game team talks by football managers always fascinated me, on the rare occasions when the cameras were allowed into the changing room. Sometimes it was dominated by cheering and roaring champagne as a team progressed to the next round of a cup; other times, a Neil Warnock-esque manager would be snarling andContinue reading “Thriving Teams #4: Team Debriefs”
Thriving Teams #3: Psychological Safety
It can be difficult to define what makes someone feel confident or at ease within their team. Some argue that a happy team is a productive team, while others say the opposite is true. In my years’ long pursuit of staff wellbeing and satisfaction, I’ve often leant towards autonomy, trust, and opportunities to collaborate asContinue reading “Thriving Teams #3: Psychological Safety”
Thriving Teams #2: Purpose and Goals
Every organisation has a purpose: a sense of why it exists and what it serves through that existence. For schools, this is perhaps obvious. The school exists to serve its children: to keep them safe, to help them to learn, to gain the best qualifications possible, and to prepare them for the world (add othersContinue reading “Thriving Teams #2: Purpose and Goals“
Thriving Teams #1: What is a team?
Each of us belongs to a number of teams, depending on your definition. A family. A sports team. A volunteer group. And, at work, you could be a member of several teams. Each team has its own purpose, dynamic, and tasks; each team’s success may be measured differently. Some of our teams may be healthy,Continue reading “Thriving Teams #1: What is a team?”
Change, by Damon Centola
Why I read it I had a wonderful day at ResearchEd Surrey in October. I caught up with old colleagues from Farnham Heath End, Weydon, and beyond, met new colleagues from Twitter, and attended some enlightening talks. I even navigated Jade Pearce’s PowerPoint in her excellent session on evidence-informed teaching. Adam Robbins’ talk on behaviouralContinue reading “Change, by Damon Centola”
Team Genius, by Rich Karlgaard and Michael Malone
Why I read it I really enjoy leading teams and being part of teams. All of us have interacted within a group, be it at school, work, or in an activity such as a sports team. We’ve all been in some unhealthy, unproductive teams. And, hopefully, we’ve experienced the opposite, too. I’ve always been fascinatedContinue reading “Team Genius, by Rich Karlgaard and Michael Malone”
The Coach’s Guide to Teaching, by Doug Lemov
Why I read it I’ve read Teach Like a Champion many times, although for whatever reason haven’t written a blog post about its brilliance! Doug Lemov is an astute thinker, has invested thousands of hours into what he researches and writes about, and brings precision and clarity to his work. I was delighted to attendContinue reading “The Coach’s Guide to Teaching, by Doug Lemov”
The Fearless Organisation, by Amy C. Edmondson
Why I read it Ever since I ran a staff wellbeing research project, I’ve been on a journey to find evidence-informed strategies to help staff be the best versions of themselves. Often I’ve found that books go on a merry quest to countless high-performing organisations, in the pursuit of nirvana culture. However, I’d heard thatContinue reading “The Fearless Organisation, by Amy C. Edmondson”
Pocket Wisdom 