Lauren recommends: Imagine it Forward by Paula Farris.

Author Beth Comstock's interview with Paula Farris began with her saying she's a self-proclaimed introvert who doesn't like change. Well, that got my attention right away. 

Comstock talks about getting comfortable with a level of 'maybe' in an uncertain world. She explains how to break through the comfort and challenges we face every day with innovation and creativity.

The importance of committing 10-20 percent of our time to be in discovery mode—walking down the street spotting trend patterns or reading about a new topic like philosophy—helps break us out of that mental comfort zone and react to change differently. 

In a year of so much change and uncertainty, I think this book sounds so relevant in fostering our ability to change and adapt.

From the author’s website: “The world will never be slower than it is right now. To thrive, everyone has to make change part of their job. In Imagine It Forward, Beth Comstock shows us how. In this candid and personal book, Beth shares lessons from her thirty-year career as a change maker navigating the space between the established and the unproven. She offers practical advice on finding the courage to defy convention (and company gatekeepers), the resilience to overcome failure and the creativity to reinvent what is possible.”

Karen recommends: Forgiving What You Can't Forget by Lysa TerKeurst

The book I’m most interested in actually hasn’t been published yet, but I’m keeping a close eye on the release date! 

Lysa TerKeurst’s presentation at GLS had a profound impact on me. I felt it on more of a personal than professional note, but it all works together to make us better leaders.

From the author's website: “Have you ever felt stuck in a cycle of unresolved pain, playing offenses over and over in your mind? You know you can't go on like this, but you don't know what to do next. Lysa TerKeurst has wrestled through this journey. But in surprising ways, she’s discovered how to let go of bound-up resentment and overcome the resistance to forgiving people who aren’t willing to make things right.”

Stefan and Lianna recommend: Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People by Vanessa Van Edwards

Vanessa Van Edwards’ book, Captivate, was a popular choice—both Stefan and Lianna are recommending it!

From Stefan: 

Vanessa's talk at GLS was both enlightening and practical. Her examples of in-person, non-verbal and written communications have opened my eyes up to how I can take my communication style to a deeper level, by being aware and intentional with my words and voice.

From Lianna:

Vanessa's presentation truly was captivating. She talked about how she's a recovering awkward person. She has studied behaviors and speech for years to understand how people perceive friendliness, trustworthiness and power.

The trick is striking a balance between these. Being on the client relations side of things, I was extremely interested to find out if my emails, body language, mannerisms and speech convey what I intend.

She even touches on how to convey being a warm, inviting person via Zoom. (Hint: Use your hands.) 

This book seems like a great way to deeper understand how to be an effective communicator with your words and body language.

From the author's website: “As a human behavior investigator, Vanessa Van Edwards studies the hidden forces that drive our behavior patterns in her lab—and she’s cracked the code. In Captivate she shares a wealth of valuable shortcuts, systems and behavior hacks for taking charge of their interactions at work, at home, and in any social situation. These aren’t the people skills you learned in school.”