The World's Best Book Summaries
Looking for an overview of Sprint? What is Jake Knapp’s Design Sprint process? What are the book’s key takeaways? Jake Knapp developed the Design Sprint while working at Google Ventures, the investment arm of Google’s parent company. His process allows you and your team to build and test a prototype in just a five-day work week. Keep reading for an overview of Jake Knapp’s book Sprint and the Design Sprint process.
What was Abraham Lincoln like as a person? What character traits distinguished Lincoln from his rivals? Abraham Lincoln is well-known for his big heart and ethical conduct—the qualities that stood him apart from his political rivals. He was even dubbed “Honest Abe” for his unyielding commitment to always telling the truth. Donald Phillips highlights two major lessons modern-day leaders can draw from Abraham Lincoln’s philosophy and ethics.
What should you do before your first sprint planning meeting? How does Jake Knapp suggest you prepare? With the help of John Zeratsky and Brian Kowitz, Jake Knapp ran hundreds of successful sprints at Google and other companies like Lego, Airbnb, and Slack. According to Knapp’s book Sprint, there are four important steps you should take in preparing for your first sprint planning meeting. Keep reading to learn how to prepare for your first sprint planning meeting, based on Knapp’s four steps.
What are specialized workers? Why should businesses embrace specialization? In A World Without Email, Cal Newport argues that employees are unhappy at work because they have too much on their plates. To fix this and increase productivity, he suggests practicing specialization at work. Let’s look at what specialized workers do and why they’re important for employee happiness.
Does your workplace have a culture of feedback? Are you skilled at giving and receiving feedback? Effective feedback in the workplace is important. Whether it’s delivered in a formal evaluation or a frustrated outburst, feedback is vital information that can lead to positive changes in you and your organization. We’ve assembled some best practices for giving, receiving, soliciting, and incorporating feedback, as well as some tips regarding feedback in other cultures. Keep reading for insights on effective feedback in the workplace.
What’s the Red Queen effect? What are some ways to thrive in the midst of competitors? In The Great Mental Models Volume 2, authors Rhiannon Beaubien and Shane Parrish introduce two evolutionary models—the Red Queen effect and adaptation. They use them to explain the importance of keeping up with our competition and the mechanisms by which we can do so. Continue reading to learn how to apply these models to your life and work.
What’s emotional intelligence? How important is emotional intelligence in leadership? How can you create an emotionally-intelligent team and organization? Business leaders are usually the biggest believers in cutting emotions out of business. But, it’s not only possible to lead with both your head and your heart, it’s vital. Fortunately, there are practical ways to increase your emotional intelligence and create an emotionally-intelligent team. Keep reading for a comprehensive look at emotional intelligence in leadership.
Can your team members freely share feedback and ideas? Do they believe that you care about them personally and professionally? Team trust is essential if you want effective and happy employees. It’s important to understand what trust is, why it’s important, and how you can cultivate trust in three directions: from leader to team, from team to leader, and among team members. Read more to learn the importance of trust in the workplace and practical ways to foster it.
Why is change hard? How is momentum both a help and a hindrance to change? How can understanding friction help you remove barriers to progress? In The Great Mental Models Volume 2, Rhiannon Beaubien and Shane Parrish argue that the laws of motion and thermodynamics can help us understand why change is hard. They discuss how the principles of inertia, momentum, and friction play a role in our lives. Continue reading to see how these lessons of physics can help us understand resistance to change.
How can employers help with workers going back to the office? What are the best tips for easing the transition? As the pandemic draws to a close, businesses are eager to bring employees back into the office. Most employers recognize, however, that hybrid models are likely here to stay in some capacity. Read on for three practical tips for employers facing a transition period as workers begin going back to the office.