5 Books You Need To Read in 2022

I started 2021 with a goal to consume a lot of information at a fast clip. I've been busy reading, researching, interviewing, and observing with the intent to learn what information is already available that can support my mission for Rising Tide:

Rising Tide is on a mission to transform the business world by bringing a balance of power between men and women to create environments that foster diversity of thought, collaboration, and evoke creativity.

Out of all the books I read this year, 5 of them stand out as books that belong on your absolute, must-read list. These books are best read in the order I've listed below. Collectively, they provide you with a foundation and a toolset to transform today's work environment.

Today's workplace is not built for humans. It's built for the "ideal employee". It fosters an overworked, overwhelmed, and under valued environment instead of one that fosters creativity, collaboration, and openness to diverse perspectives and opinions. Most of us do not have a psychologically safe working environment. To change that, it begins with you and me. And it will take a dose of defiance.

So if you're ready, here's your reading list.

Think Again by Adam Grant

Synopsis: It's easy to favor comfort of conviction rather than discomfort of doubt. As a result, we favor opinions similar to ours and disagreements are threats to our ego. We hold onto beliefs even if we don't know why we hold them. Adam Grant shares research from two decades ago done by Phil Tetlock. Tetlock found three mindsets that surface when we think and talk; The preacher, prosecutor, and politician. In this book, Adam Grant suggests a fourth mindset - The scientist.

Why you need to read this book: Beliefs are powerful. This book provides research showing the benefit of challenging beliefs we hold and being willing to revise them as we gain new information. To conquer the challenge before us, we have to be willing to rethink long-held and commons beliefs. This book gives us a toolset to do this.

If you'd prefer to listen instead of read, listen to Adam Grant on this episode of Armchair Expert.

Infinite Game by Simon Sinek

Synopsis: Simon Sinek explores the gaming theory discovered by James P. Carse that there are two types of games, Finite and Infinite. Finite has known players, rules, timelines, winners and losers. Infinite however is merely about staying in the game as long as possible. Players and rules can change at any time and there is no "end". Simon Sinek realized that gaming theory was all around us, including in a corporate environment. He explores the negative implications of a finite strategy in an infinite game, he shares examples of the leaders with infinite mindsets and the impact it's had and key elements to execute an infinite strategy in your company.

Why you need to read this book: This book will help you understand why you have felt tension at work or why people have loved working with/for you. And it will give you strategies to transform the work environment. If you only read one of these books, this is it.

If you'd prefer to listen instead of read, listen to Simon discuss this with Brene Brown on this episode of Dare To Lead.

Burnout by Emily and Amelia Nagoski

Synopsis: Amelia Nagoski found herself in a hospital with severe abdominal pain. The cause...stress. This extreme manifestation of stress led Amelia and her twin Emily Nagoski to write about what it really means to experience burnout. The unique angle with this book is they not only unpack how burnout manifests, how stress is a biological response to stressors, and equipping you with strategies to complete the stress cycle but they provide the context of why women experience burnout differently and more frequently than men.

Why you need to read this book: This book is critical to ensure you understand what burnout is and how it manifests so that you can easily recognize the symptoms and show yourself compassion. Because you can't change the world on empty. It teaches you how to stop gaslighting yourself when you find yourself burned out, acknowledge the reality, and decide what it means for you. While this is not the best written book the content is incredibly valuable to ensure you have the foundation to effectively deal with stress (and burnout) so you can focus your energy on thriving not surviving

If you'd prefer to listen/watch instead of read, watch her interview with TED here.

Lead from the Outside by Stacey Abrams

Synopsis: Stacey Abrams became a household name after the 2018 Gubernatorial Election in Georgia. Not because she became the first black woman Governor in the United States but instead for shedding light on how the system was rigged. Rather than allow the heartbreak and injustice of this defeat to deflate her, Stacey became a role model of what happens when you combine your strengths, effort, and creativity to make meaningful change. This book is not about politics. In fact, what political party you identify with is irrelevant. Stacey shares the secret behind her success as a divergent leader with practical exercises to help readers harness their strengths and succeed.

Why you need to read this book: This book is powerful because Stacey's mindset and advice is a role model of how to do power differently. Power, as we see it today's work environment, needs a shake up. She acknowledges the adversity that is faced by minority groups and instead focuses on how these groups can use their superpowers to come up with creative ways to change the game. "The best hack is to know this is the case, accept it, and move on, prepared to take full advantage." Each chapter has exercises for readers including the ambition exercise, fighting fears and otherness, and more.

Atomic Habits by James Clear

Synopsis: "You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems." James Clear takes ideas from biology, psychology, and neuroscience to provide a framework that helps you get 1% better each day. Complete with tools and techniques this book is intended to help you transform your habits so you can achieve lasting success

Why you need to read this book: Changing behavior is hard. There is a reason most New Year resolutions are abandoned before the end of January. Growth and success never happen overnight. This books is the lynchpin that provides practical tools and techniques that help you make meaningful change.

If you'd prefer to listen instead of read, watch listen to this and this episode of Dare To Lead.