📚 Week #29 of 52 of reading in 2024.
- Dr. Sara Reed
- Jul 23, 2024
- 2 min read
This week my brain was clearly in "absorb from many places" mode, as I wrapped up a few more for the year. Two were recommended by friends and colleagues, one was recommended from a podcast I listened to. One I found on my own.
“None of This Is True” by Lisa Jewel, recommended by Megan Glide Villasenor.
I have a principle of seeking to leave space for surprise, which keeps us hold what we think we know more lightly. Fiction, thrillers like this keep my brain exercising these muscles. This one exercised those muscles well.
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"The Six Disciplines of Strategic Thinking: Leading Your Organization into the Future" By: Michael Watkins
Strategic thinking is important and can be difficult to grow. I appreciate how this book was broken into the many elements that create strong strategic thinking.
A few key points for me:
‼️ The language of “level shifting;” I’ve often used the metaphor of “balcony and dance floor” and appreciate a new way to frame this skill.
⭐️ The connection of systems thinking to strategic thinking.
🤯 The best strategic thinkers are skeptical about their intuitions and challenge everyone’s convictions (Note: Stay curious!)
🤔 How essential mental agility is & the ability to rethink what we think we know to be a great strategic thinker.
❓The best strategic thinkers move fluidly between levels of analysis.
✔️ Good consultation starts with posing focused, genuine questions and encouraging people to voice their real concerns.
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“The Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidt
As the parent of teens, this book felt like a must read & after hearing the author with Simon Sinek on his podcast, I knew I needed to learn more.
A few insights beyond the many phone reminders:
🤔 We need to protect our children less in the real world and more in the online world.
⭐️ There is no way to live in a world with others without conflict.
🩹Children can’t learn relationship repair online.
‼️ There is no one way to parent … no way to raise the perfect child.
‼️ It’s painful to be ignored at any age.
🤯 It is hard to craft a meaningful life on one’s own.
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“Outspoken” by Veronica Rueckert If I remember correctly, I picked up this book when I saw it recommended by Allison M. Vaillancourt, PhD.
So much in this book … from how girls and women are taught to moderate so many aspects of their voice to meet the expectations of others.
⭐️ The importance of our voice and for creating space for all voices.
👀 This advice: Watch carefully. What happens at your company when a woman speaks more loudly, more directly, or at greater length than other women or me? Is she rewarded or penalized? Does she get interrupted or ignored?
‼️ We must take our responsibility to listen seriously.
❤️ The diversity of experiences, lives, and perspectives will enrich our understanding of the world around us and help us mold a better, more inclusive future.
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