WB Reading List: Why growth can be bad for business and how to de-silo your organization

This week’s list is some of the best old and new offerings from some of the brightest minds in America.

Company of One: Why Staying Small is the Next Big Thing by Paul Jarvis

It is easy a new business owner to get carried away with the potential for more and bigger. This book is a great gut check on the risks of growth and a path forward for entrepreneurs focused on using your business to create the lifestyle you want.

Takeaway: “It is a model for using the power of you to be more self-reliant and more responsible for your own career path.”

How Great Leaders Communication by Carmine Gallo

Great advice and suggested tactics on how to improve your leadership communication skills.

Takeaways: “Leaders who reach the top do not simply pay lip service to the importance of effective communication. Instead, they study the art in all its forms — writing, speaking, presenting — and constantly strive to improve on those skills.”

Cross Silo Leadership by Amy C. Edmondson, Sujin Jang, and Tiziana Casciaro

Nearly every client I work with struggles with siloed operations. Departments fail to communication and often become territorial about their area. This behavior is very human, it is also a significant barrier to organizational success and culture.

Takeaways: “The value of horizontal teamwork is widely recognized. Employees who can reach outside their silos to find colleagues with complementary expertise learn more, sell more, and gain skills faster.”

Offers 4 practices that enable effective horizontal collaboration.

Practice Empathy as a Team by Christine Porath and Adrienne Boissy

An absolute must read for every leader, especially those who say things like “I am not empathetic.” It is the data, science, and practical exercises to create a more caring and employee-centric workplace.

Takeaways: “It makes sense that caring cultures matter. Receiving praise releases dopamine, which is associated with well-being and joy, while gratitude gives the giver and receiver a mood boost. With an increase in people feeling disconnected and lonely, recognition is both harder to come by and more necessary because it helps build relationships.”