WB Reading List: Working Geniuses, Being a Giver, and Problem Employees

The 6 Types of Working Genius by Patrick Lencioni

This book is the fable and framework behind the 6 Types of Working Genius assessment. The goal of this assessment and work is to create fulfilling jobs for individuals and teams by giving people the work that gives them the most joy.

Takeaways: One of my favorite nuggets is “people paying dues is bullshit. Especially if it means doing things, they’re not good at in order to prove that they’re worthy of doing what they’re great at.” I agree with this 100%.

The most meaningful ways to success is to help others succeed by Adam Grant

One of my favorite thinkers, Adam Grant, reflects on his book Give and Take that was published 10 years ago. If he wrote it today, he would add 5 chapters and this article addresses what he thinks he missed back then.

Takeaways:

• Teaching kids to be kind better prepares them for long-term success.

• Women are in a double bind – they are asked for help more often than men are but less likely to get credit for it. While men are often celebrated for helping.

• We don’t need takers in the world in order to have givers.

How to talk to a problem employee about their poor job performance by Rachel Turner

A step-by-step approach to ready yourself to have conversations you know you must have but deeply want to avoid. This is how practical Turner gets – “Use clean language. Avoid words like “should,” “always,” and “never,” and the accusatory “you.” Start sentences with “I” and keep your tone neutral and calm.”

Takeaways: “Once you know how to get yourself into the right mindset to have a tough conversation, and how to structure what you say, these conversations aren’t tough at all.”