Summer Light Reading List for Leaders

One benefit of summer was that each day we had more light to read by. – Jeannette Walls

Workplace productivity drops nearly 20% in the summer months and projects, on average, take 13% longer to complete. Attendance dips around 19% and employees report feeling 45% more distracted.

While it is important to keep work flows and pipelines pumping, it is equally important to allow the elective time for reflection.  As Peter Drucker said: “Follow effective action with quiet reflection. From the quiet reflection, will come even more effective action.”

Here are some of my personal recommendations for Summer Light Reading for Leaders …

1. “In every moment…we choose to see others either as people like ourselves or as objects. They either count like we do or they don’t.” The Anatomy of Peace
2. “The second difference between the introvert and the extrovert is how they experience external stimulation. Extroverts like to experience a lot, and introverts like to know a lot about what they experience.” The Intovert Advangage
3. “As usual, there aren’t enough last minutes.” Leadership and Self-Deception 
4. “The key to knowing joy is being easily pleased.” The Book of Awakening
5. “Leadership is about empathy. It is about having the ability to relate and to connect with people for the purpose of inspiring and empowering their lives.” A Whole New Mind

Perhaps in this high-tech, fast-paced day and age we no longer need the dipping light of summer to read by, but perhaps we need it more than ever.