Cloud Cuckoo Land, Anthony Doerr
While probably a little denser than ideal for the beach, this is a beautiful story. Cloud Cuckoo Land follows five people – a soldier, a seamstress, a student, a librarian, and a child through thousands of years. Ultimately, this is a story about love and interconnectedness through the past, the future, and books. After a tough few years, it was lovely to see humanity come through in this story of stories.—Kencee Graves, Chief Medical Inpatient Officer
Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, Robert Caldani
I really enjoyed reading Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion. Robert Cialdini explains the psychology of why people say yes and how to apply these insights ethically in business and everyday settings. He uses memorable stories and relatable examples, making this crucially important subject surprisingly easy to grasp.—John Fang, Division Chief, Gastroenterology
Humbitious: The Power of Low-Ego, High-Drive Leadership, Amer Kaissi
Humbitious is a must read for every human—the learning is insightful and real. Using extensive research, personal stories, and fascinating historical examples of leadership done right (and wrong), Amer Kaissi reveals why the most effective, high-performing leaders aren’t those with the biggest egos, but those who possess humility, coupled with ambition and drive.
—Alison Flynn Gaffney, Chief Operating Officer
The Art of Fielding, Chad Harbach
I love baseball. Both of my kids play. There’s something charming about being outside and watching a long game that puts me at peace. While The Art of Fielding is a book about baseball, it’s also about much, much more. The story follows five people as they navigate major life changes and is beautifully written. This book provided a view of imperfect but loveable characters and feels like a great American Novel.—Kencee Graves, Chief Medical Inpatient Officer
Circe, Madeline Miller
The book Circe was a wonderful read about Greek mythology, and the powerful influence women had over the Titans and Olympians. Circe, daughter of god Helios and nymph Perse, became a witch known for her herbs and potions. She transformed good and evil in remarkable ways. In the end, it’s a beautiful story about love and perseverance!—Dayle Benson, Executive Director, UUMG
Drive, Daniel Pink
Drive by Daniel Pink. It feels like morale is down at the hospital. People are trying to recover from all things Covid. This book looks at motivating people (what works and what doesn’t). It uses research to back up the claims. Ultimately, it helped me see what drives me so I can be my best in my professional life.— Susan Clark, Manager, Risk Management
Moloka’i, Alan Brennert
The book I recently read and keep thinking about is Moloka’i by Alan Brennert. Rachel, a young Hawaiian girl, is sent to the leprosy settlement of Kalaupapa. It’s a lovely story with great characters, interwoven with Hawaiian history and evolving knowledge of a disease.—Jessi Van Der Volgen, Clinical Associate Librarian
The People Code, Taylor Hartman
I really enjoyed and have been engaged in Taylor Hartman’s book, The People Code. I first came upon it at an LDI back in 2007 that really stuck with me; it has helped shape my management style and how to work better with others. I continue to implement what I learned from that LDI and book to ask myself: What makes someone tick? What is their real motive? What is the right seat on the bus for them? How can I help them excel? The guidelines found in The People Code have been a valuable resource for me as I search for each person’s strengths, motives, and abilities in order to constantly improve our relationships and team workplace environment.—Winn Redd, Manager, ITS
The Happiness Advantage, Shawn Achor
The Happiness Advantage, by Shawn Achor. This book highlights a growing body of research on positive psychology and how it can impact our achievements at work. I enjoyed the book and consider it a low-stress read. I especially enjoyed learning more about the importance of social support circles while dealing with high levels of stress.—Tim Nelson, Project Manager
Accelerate Editorial Team
The Effective Communicator is here to answer your troublesome communication questions. This week: knowing your audience leads to better presentations.
The annual Operating Budget is a structured process that pairs frontline manager expertise with powerful financial forecasting tools to help the organization stay on track. The Central Finance Team’s Casey Moore and Robert Dickson demystify the process to help you navigate budget season.
Navigating budgets and finance can be a daily responsibility for managers, which is not always an easy task. Finance experts Casey Moore and Robert Dickson share the importance of and best practices for Management Reporting and how it can help you become a better leader.
