It’s time for a fresh batch of books full of inspiration and practical tips we can apply while tackling complex transformation projects.
This year’s list is all about taking a hard look at what we’re building and our impact on the world, staying focused on the mission, and persisting through obstacles.
January
Unlearn: Let Go of Past Success to Achieve Extraordinary Results by Barry O’Reilly
What better way to start the year than by questioning everything you know and have done? This book promises to help us break free of past business habits and mindsets that no longer serve our mission so we can explore new paths forward.
February
Escaping the Build Trap: How Effective Product Management Creates Real Value by Melissa Perri
If you find that your organization is doing a lot of work building products and releasing code but not creating enough value for stakeholders, this book might be just what you’re looking for.
March
The Art of Insight in Science and Engineering: Mastering Complexity by Sanjoy Mahajan
When changing large, complex systems, we often need to do some back of the envelope calculations to make decisions. This book offers practical tips for approaching complex problems, breaking them down, and extracting insights.
April
This book promises advice on how to influence people to take action and solve important societal problems while having fun. I’m in.
May
Good Strategy/Bad Strategy: The difference and why it matters by Richard Rumelt
Does your enterprise or change effort have a strategy? Is it effective? Let’s fix that.
June
Launching and closing out initiatives can be fun, but the majority of time on transformation projects is spent in the long trek in between. This book offers advice on dealing with the grind and uncertainty during the middle of the journey.
July
For any venture, whether you’re an intrapreneur leading a team or a CTO guiding an enterprise, there are multiple ways to innovate. This book offers a systematic approach for identifying opportunities.
August
The Obstacle is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph by Ryan Holiday
If you have a bold vision for change, you’re likely going to run into external and internal obstacles along the way. What if they were springboards instead of hurdles?
September
Many products, services, and systems address our tangible needs. But what if we considered human values when designing them? This book (to be published in May 2019) will offer practical methods to incorporate into our design process.
October
Even the best strategies and plans can fizzle out if the workplace culture doesn’t foster the kinds of conversations that need to happen. Let’s address the cultural factors that can slow us down and we might be unwittingly contributing to.
November
How do we move from pitching the business value of sustainability projects to baking it into our business models? I think that this book will provide important insights for anyone looking to build an organization focused on betterness.
December
Uncertainty: Turning Fear and Doubt into Fuel for Brilliance by Jonathan Fields
Taking the leap and leading a complex transformation is not easy. Uncertainty, doubt, and criticism can become daily companions. I’m curious to see what tips we can apply to our own work, and how we can set up an environment where team members can thrive under the same conditions.
Looking for more books to add to your to-read pile? Check out the 2018, 2017, and 2016 reading lists. What else is on your reading list for 2019?