McKinsey on Books : Author talks (3)

Linda

Global management consultancy McKinsey and Company offers a regular online series called Author Talks in which they present interviews with authors of newly published business books.

Through these interviews readers are able to gain more insight into the author’s experiences and knowledge on their topics.

In today’s blog we continue our series of linking some of these interviews with the books available in the Wellington City Libraries collection.

Click on these links to access earlier blogs : Author talks (1) and Author talks (2)

The inclusive organization : real solutions, impactful change, and meaningful diversity / Jenkins, Netta
“DEI is an 8-billion dollar industry that is not yet accessing its full potential through real solutions and results. However, through a powerful formula of policies and practices that motivate employees to be more socially and self-aware, The Inclusive Organization provides a revolutionary yet practical resource for individuals at any stage of their career. Employees across all levels and organizations are looking to drive actionable impact, but unfortunately lack the knowledge and support in doing so. This book will help any organization improve their DEI initiatives and create the sustainable and scalable change employees want to see within their workplace. Readers will be able to utilize worksheet examples and toolkits out of this book to build their own customized DEI roadmap. The Inclusive Organization is a must-read for any workplace committed to real and lasting change.”– Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)

Author Talks: Is there a seat at the table?
Aerodei CEO Netta Jenkins explains why shortfalls in inclusion efforts can impact your company’s bottom line, and what you can do to create a more inclusive workplace.

Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You’re Put on the Spot / Abrahams, Matt
“Stanford lecturer and host of the #1 business podcast Think Fast, Talk Smart, Matt Abrahams, reveals the secrets to finding the right words when it counts. Communication is crucial to success in life and business. However, it is not just big speeches that matter: it is also those critical, spur-of-the-moment situations for which we cannot prepare.” (Catalogue)   Also available as Ebook Libby

 

Read more : Author Talks: How to speak confidently when you’re put on the spot
If you dread public speaking, small talk, or delivering feedback, you’re not alone. Matt Abrahams shares tips for mastering communication in spontaneous situations.

The case for good jobs : how great companies bring dignity, pay & meaning to everyone’s work / Ton, Zeynep
“Imagine you are a leader in a large company, and you volunteer at a local soup kitchen, helping the needy who can’t afford warm meals. On your way out, the director stops you and says, “I just need you to know that many of the people visiting our services are actually your employees.” This really happened. The leader was shocked. He assumed that because the company paid market rate, the company was doing right by its employees. But market rate isn’t a living wage. Market rate doesn’t make good jobs. Many leaders want to provide good jobs. They want to pay more, provide dignity and meaning in people’s work, and give them opportunities for growth. But they don’t know how to start, or they don’t think it can be done without hurting the bottom line. Most want to win with customers but are hobbled by a host of service and operational problems largely driven by high employee turnover–and that is partly driven by the low pay. It is indeed a vicious cycle, and Zeynep Ton is here to show the way out: why good jobs combined with strong operations always lead to good outcomes for the business. And why, more than ever in a post-pandemic world, failing to provide good jobs will catch up with you and threaten your business. Ton, the preeminent voice of the good jobs strategy, lays out plainly what most companies and leaders are doing wrong–and how to get it right. She shows that by choosing good jobs, companies are positioning themselves for future success. Practical, prescriptive, and often provocative, Leading with Good Jobs is essential reading for leaders of any company that wants to-needs to-choose excellence”– Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)

Read more: Author Talks: Empower employees, reduce turnover
Zeynep Ton, professor at MIT Sloan, highlights an operating model that improves customer and employee retention, fosters resilience, and drives purpose.

Scaling people : tactics for management and company building / Johnson, Claire Hughes
“A leader at both Google and Stripe from their early days, Claire Hughes Johnson has worked with founders and company builders to try to replicate their success. The most common questions she’s asked are not about business strategy—they’re about how to scale the operating structures and people systems of a rapidly growing startup. Scaling People is a practical and empathetic guide to being an effective leader and manager in a high-growth environment. The tactical information it puts forward—including guidance on crafting foundational documents, strategic and financial planning, hiring and team development, and feedback and performance mechanisms—can be applied to companies of any size, in any industry. Scaling People includes dozens of pages of worksheets, templates, exercises, and example documents to help founders, leaders, and company builders create scalable operating systems and lightweight processes that really work. Implementing effective leadership and management practices takes effort and discipline, but the reward is a sustainable, scalable company that’s set up for long-term success. Scaling People is a detailed roadmap for company builders to put the right operating systems and structures in place to scale the most important resource a company has: its people.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Read more: Author Talks: Scale your people, not just your company
A corporate officer explains the role that self-awareness and partnership play in driving performance.

Next! : the power of reinvention in life and work / Lipman, Joanne
“The profound disruptions of recent years have sparked a collective reckoning. We reprioritized our lives, and reordered how we envisioned the future. Businesses were forced to pivot, while leaders scrambled to rethink their roles. There has been an unprecedented global reset. But in truth, almost everyone goes through this kind of reappraisal at least once in their life—and probably more often than that. Whatever the catalyst, it prompts in us the urgent need to pivot, to ask the question: What’s next—and how do I get there? In Next!, bestselling author and journalist Joanne Lipman distills hundreds of personal interviews along with the latest scientific research to answer just this question. Through irresistible storytelling, she takes us inside successful career reinventions (ad executive to bestselling novelist; stay-at-home mom to CEO) and astonishing business transformations (wait until you hear what Play-Doh and Viagra have in common). From the laboratories of neuroscientists to the boardrooms of Fortune 500 companies, to the frontlines of the social justice movement, Lipman explores how and why these transformations succeed. At its heart, Next! offers a thrilling argument: by harnessing the science and understanding the process, we can better understand how to reinvent that new career, change the direction of our lives, or inspire innovation in our organizations. This book provides a toolkit that shows how to make meaningful transitions—large or small—and to figure out for ourselves what’s Next!” (Catalogue)
Available as EBook Libby and EAudiobook Libby

Read more: Author Talks: Create your ‘reinvention road map’ in four easy steps
In her latest book, Joanne Lipman dispels the myth of abrupt transformations and outlines a concrete path to reinvention.

The Art of Explanation: How To Communicate With Clarity And Confidence / Atkins, Ros
“Whether at work, school, university or home, we all benefit from being able to articulate ourselves clearly. Filled with practical examples, The Art of Explanation is a must-read for anyone who wants to sharpen their communication skills.” (Catalogue)

 

Read more:  Author Talks: Am I making myself clear?
Feeling misunderstood? A BBC journalist shares the communication blunders that keep you from getting your point across and what you can do to avoid them.

If you would like further information please contact the Prosearch team at the library. We can help you find information across a range of perspectives and resources. All enquiries are treated in confidence.

 

Managing Change

Linda

Two weekends past, the country went to the polls and the result has been a change in government for Aotearoa.

Change is part of life but not always easy.  Some people, by nature, embrace change and adapt easily.  For others it is harder.

via GIPHY

Our Prime Minister elect has been CEO of an organisation that has weathered change so should bring some understanding of the change management process to his new role.  

Companies often undergo change for many different and often complex reasons.  What matters is how it is handled by members of staff, but particularly by the leadership of the organisation.

via GIPHY

In this blog we’ve curated a list of resources that offer some guidance on how to manage workplace change.

 

Articles

‘To Implement Change, You Don’t Need to Convince Everyone at Once: Rather than trying to convince skeptics from the outset, start with a small group of enthusiastic people’,  Satell, G. (2023).  Harvard Business Review Digital Articles, pp. 1–7. 
Rather than trying to convince skeptics from the outset, start with a small group of enthusiastic people.

‘The Most Successful Approaches to Leading Organizational Change’, Rowland, D., Thorley, M. and Brauckmann, N. (2023)  Harvard Business Review Digital Articles, pp. 1–10. 
A closer look at four distinct ways to drive transformation.

‘Getting Employee Buy-In for Organizational Change’, Olson, A.B. (2023) Harvard Business Review Digital Articles, pp. 1–5. 
Offers six steps to creating a culture that embraces change.

LinkedIn Learning course

Change Management Foundations
46m
Beginner + Intermediate
The need to manage change successfully is more common and more important for a leader’s career than ever, and a specific roadmap for managing change is essential. In this course, instructor Scott Mautz gives you a playbook—a powerful, step-by-step approach to managing change, drawing from and building on key elements of change management models in practice today. Scott begins with a brief introduction to the field of change management and dives into the truths of leading change. He discusses how to conduct a change readiness assessment, then goes into the specific change management phases that follow. Scott details key steps and considerations of each phase, as well as what barriers to expect and overcome. He concludes with how to build a change action plan (CAP).

11m
General
Teams won’t buy into a change unless they understand why it’s necessary. And without buy-in from stakeholders, changes don’t last. This course offers a fast-paced introduction to change management—a structured approach to delivering and managing sustainable change within an organisation. Instructor Claudine Peet explains how to identify why a change needs to happen, communicate your vision, and involve the right people along the way. Claudine then details how these processes and tools can not only help changes stick, but also positively impact both your organization’s culture and bottom line. With these essential concepts in your tool kit, you’ll be better equipped to help your teams achieve lasting results.

Change Management: Roadmap to Execution
34m
General
Enabling new ways of working or doing is one of the most vital steps in a successful business transformation. But a failure to establish standards for change integrity could jeopardise this transition. Change advisor Christina Charenkova describes the practical steps and activities that need to happen during a change management execution effort. She explains the information captured with a change impact analysis, then shows you how to verify the business impacts and ensure that new impacts are documented and reviewed. She covers how to identify stakeholders opposing the change and define strategies to mitigate their resistance to change. Christina challenges you to identify further change activities, then shares a possible solution. Christina goes over ways you can ease pain points and make the transition easier, then discusses the need for developing a growth mindset when it comes to business transformation.

Book collection

Making sense of change management : a complete guide to the models, tools & techniques of organizational change / Cameron, Esther
“Making Sense of Change Management is the classic text in the field of change management. It is aimed at anyone who wants to understand why change happens, and what needs to be done to make change a welcome rather than a dreaded concept. However, this book is not a “one size fits all” simplistic panacea to all change, whatever the circumstances. Instead, it offers considered insights into the many frameworks, models and ways of approaching change and helps the reader to apply the right approach to each unique situation.”–BOOK JACKET.” (Catalogue)

On change management
“Most company’s change initiatives fail. Yours don’t have to. If you read nothing else on change, read these 10 articles. We’ve combed through hundreds of Harvard Business Review articles and selected the most important ones to help you spearhead change in your organization. HBR’s 10 Must Reads on Change will inspire you to: lead change through eight critical stages; establish a sense of urgency; overcome addiction to the status quo; mobilize commitment; silence naysayers; and concentrate resources.” (Catalogue)

Managing in times of change : 24 lessons for leading individuals and teams through change / Maginn, Michael D
“While change is essential to your organization’s survival, it can also breed instability, stress, and even anger in your workforce. Managing in Times of Change shows you how to help managers and employees understand the benefits of change and flourish within their new environment and responsibilities. Twenty-four workplace-proven leadership lessons and tools provide you with a uniquely personal look at the impact of organizational change.” “Employees required to change how, where, and with whom they work can have difficulty seeing the benefits of a new situation. Managing in Times of Change provides straight talk and actionable advice that will help managers, teams, and individuals understand and implement workplace change in order to strengthen themselves and the organization.”–BOOK JACKET.” (Catalogue)

Mastering turbulence : the essential capabilities of agile and resilient individuals, teams, and organizations / McCann, Joseph E
“The essential capabilities organizations need to master turbulent change.  Rapid and disruptive change threatens the adaptive capacity of organizations, along with the individuals and teams leading them. Based upon over a decade of global research and consulting, Joseph E. McCann and John W. Selsky outline five capabilities highly agile and resilient systems must possess. They must be: Purposeful, Aware, Action-Oriented, Resourceful, and Networked. In addition the authors illustrate how these capabilities can be assessed across four levels–individuals, teams, organizations, and their business ecosystems. The goal is to develop these capabilities in tandem so that the individual, team, organization and ecosystem have High AR–not just greater agility or resiliency, but both high agility and high resiliency. The authors outline balanced development strategies for creating High AR that can be used to master turbulent environments for competitive advantage and sustained performance Includes cutting-edge concepts and examples that take readers from the latest advances in neuro-science and executive wellness to global supply chains and innovation strategy. Contains illustrative examples and vignettes from leading organizations including Mayo Clinic, Microsoft, Starbucks, Southwest Airlines, TECO Energy, Shell Oil, Walmart, and others Most important, McCann, and Selsky deliver a unique and practical perspective that helps organization leaders make sense of the dynamic world in which they operate”– Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)

The influence agenda : a systematic approach to aligning stakeholders in times of change / Clayton, Mike
“This book sets out a systematic way to understand who you need to influence, how to evaluate the priority you give to each person, what tactics will work the best, and how to plan and execute your campaign. It provides powerful tools and processes which use the psychology of influence and grounds them in experience of managing projects and change.” (Catalogue)

 

The executive checklist : a guide for setting direction and managing change / Kerr, James M
“A guide for new executives that explores how to create an overarching, enterprise-wide transformative program. The book provides a best-practice checklist for 8 core areas: Strategy Setting, Technology Alignment, Business Renovation, Project Management, Communications Renewal, Employee Engagement, Staff Transformation, and Organizational Design.” (Catalogue)

 

Redesigning work : how to transform your organization and make hybrid work for everyone / Gratton, Lynda
“How companies can use the recent shifts in business norms and culture to reset work for the coming decade and beyond”– Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)

 

 

If you would like further information please contact the Prosearch team at the library. We can help you find information across a range of perspectives and resources. All enquiries are treated in confidence.

 

Becoming a more effective leader at work

Linda

via GIPHY

A headline in an email newsletter caught my eye recently :

These Books Can Help You Become a More Effective Leader at Work
Congrats on the promotion. Now it’s time to face everything you don’t know (yet).

The article then lists what it calls The best books on leadership recommending a list of eight titles to help readers get to grips with being a manager and leader.

Some months back we produced a blog piece called Stepping up : a guide for the new manager that provided a compilation of some of the many library resources we have to support your transition into a new, senior, role.

We can’t list everything the library holds relevant to a blog topic so this blog supplements the first.   All the recommended items on the list are to be found in the Wellington City Libraries collections. 

Whether you are new to a leadership role or struggling with making progress in a role you have been in for a while here’s the listing as outlined in the article and links to each item in the collection. 

Read on …

The making of a manager : what to do when everyone looks to you / Zhuo, Julie
“Leading a team for the first time is a daunting endeavour. When Julie Zhuo became a new manager at the age of twenty-five, she stared at a long list of logistics and faced a thousand questions and uncertainties. Now, having managed teams spanning tens to hundreds of people, Julie knows the most important lesson of all: great managers are made, not born. This guide is packed with everyday examples and insights that will help readers get the respect and results needed in managerial roles.” (Catalogue) 

Surrounded by idiots : the four types of human behavior and how to effectively communicate with each in business (and in life) / Erikson, Thomas
“Erikson explains that there are four key behavior types that define how we interact with and perceive the people around us. Reds are dominant and commanding, Yellows are social and optimistic, Greens are laid back and friendly, and Blues are analytical and precise. Understanding someone’s pattern of behavior is the key to successful communication. Erikson provides practical advice for interacting with people based on their color profiles. — adapted from jacket” (Catalogue)  Also available as EAudiobook Libby and as EBook Libby

How to lead when you’re not in charge : leveraging influence when you lack authority / Scroggins, Clay
In How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge, author and pastor Clay Scroggins explains what is needed to be a great leader—even when you answer to someone else. Drawing from biblical principles and his experience as a megachurch pastor, Clay will help you nurture your vision and cultivate influence, even when you lack authority in your organization. Every leader, young or old, resonates with the dead-end feeling of not being in charge. Too often the lack of authority paralyzes leaders, leaving them believing they must wait to be in charge until they can lead. One of the greatest myths of leadership is that you must be in charge in order to lead. Great leaders don’t buy it. Great leaders lead with or without the authority to lead. Because every road of leadership forks at the intersection of authority and influence, learning to cultivate influence without authority is foundational to navigating culture today.” (Catalogue) Note only available through EAudiobook Libby.

Dare to lead : brave work, tough conversations, whole hearts / Brown, Brené
“Leadership is not about titles, status, and wielding power. A leader is anyone who takes responsibility for recognizing the potential in people and ideas, and has the courage to develop that potential. When we dare to lead, we don’t pretend to have the right answers. We stay curious and ask the right questions. We don’t see power as finite and hoard it. We know that power becomes infinite when we share it with others. We don’t avoid difficult conversations and situations. We lean into vulnerability when it’s necessary to do good work. But daring leadership in a culture defined by scarcity, fear, and uncertainty requires skill-building around traits that are deeply and uniquely human. The irony is that we’re choosing not to invest in developing the hearts and minds of leaders at the exact same time as we’re scrambling to figure out what we have to offer that machines and artificial intelligence can’t do better and faster. What can we do better? Empathy, connection, and courage, to start. Brené Brown has spent the past two decades studying the emotions and experiences that give meaning to our lives, and the past seven years working with transformative leaders and teams spanning the globe. She found that leaders in organizations ranging from small entrepreneurial startups and family-owned businesses to nonprofits, civic organizations, and Fortune 50 companies all ask the same question: How do you cultivate braver, more daring leaders, and how do you embed the value of courage in your culture?” (Catalogue)  Also available as EBook Libby and EAudiobook Libby

Do the work! : overcome resistance and get out of your own way / Pressfield, Steven
Could you be getting in your way of producing great work? Have you started a project but never finished? Would you like to do work that matters, but don’t know where to start? The answer is Do the Work, a manifesto by bestselling author Steven Pressfield, that will show you that it’s not about better ideas, it’s about actually doing the work. Do the Work is a weapon against Resistance–a tool that will help you take action and successfully ship projects out the door. Picking up where The War of Art and Turning Pro left off, Do the Work takes the reader from the start to the finish of any long-form project–novel, screenplay, album, software piece, you name it. Do the Work identifies the predictable Resistance Points along the way and walks you through each of them.  No, you are not crazy. No, you are not alone. No, you are not the first person to “hit the wall” in Act Two. Do the Work charts the territory. It’s the stage-by-stage road map for taking your project from Page One to THE END.” (Catalogue)

Think again : the power of knowing what you don’t know / Grant, Adam M.
Intelligence is usually seen as the ability to think and learn, but in a rapidly changing world, the most crucial skill may be the ability to rethink and unlearn. Recent global and political changes have forced many of us to re-evaluate our opinions and decisions. Yet we often still favour the comfort of conviction over the discomfort of doubt, and prefer opinions that make us feel good, instead of ideas that make us think hard. Intelligence is no cure, and can even be a curse. The brighter we are, the blinder we can become to our own limitations. Adam Grant offers bold ideas and rigorous evidence to show how we can embrace the joy of being wrong, encourage others to rethink topics as wide-ranging as abortion and climate change, and build schools, workplaces, and communities of lifelong learners. You’ll learn how an international debate champion wins arguments, a Black musician persuades white supremacists to abandon hate, and how a vaccine whisperer convinces anti-vaxxers to immunize their children. Think Again is an invitation to let go of stale opinions and prize mental flexibility, humility, and curiosity over foolish consistency. If knowledge is power, knowing what you don’t know is wisdom.” (Adapted from Catalogue) Available as EAudiobook Borrowbox and also EBook Libby

Great at work : how top performers do less, work better, and achieve more / Hansen, Morten T
“Why do some people perform better at work than others? This deceptively simple question continues to confound professionals in all sectors of the workforce. Now, after a unique, five-year study of more than 5,000 managers and employees, Morten Hansen reveals the answers in his “Seven Work Smarter Practices” that can be applied by anyone looking to maximize their time and performance. Each of Hansen’s seven practices is highlighted by inspiring stories from individuals in his comprehensive study… Each chapter contains questions and key insights to allow you to assess your own performance and figure out your work strengths, as well as your weaknesses. Once you understand your individual style, there are mini-quizzes, questionnaires, and clear tips to assist you focus on a strategy to become a more productive worker. Extensive, accessible, and friendly, Great at Work will help you achieve more by working less, backed by unprecedented statistical analysis” — From Amazon.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

What got you here won’t get you there : how successful people become even more successful / Goldsmith, Marshall
“What’s holding you back? Your hard work is paying off, you are doing well–but there is something standing between you and the next level of achievement. Perhaps one small flaw–a behavior you barely even recognize–is the only thing that’s keeping you from where you want to be. Here, executive coach Goldsmith discusses not only the key beliefs of successful leaders, but also the behaviors that hold them back. He addresses the fundamental problems that often come with success, and offers ways to attack them. He outlines twenty habits commonly found in the corporate environment and provides a systematic approach to helping you achieve a positive change in behavior.–From publisher description.” (Catalogue)

If you need more information please contact the Prosearch team at the library.  We can help you find information across a range of perspectives and resources.  All enquiries are treated in confidence.

 

Navigating Trans inclusion in New Zealand workplaces. Guest blog

Linda

You’re an employer of a small team of people. One day a staff member comes to you and tells you they are transgender.  What do you need to know to make your workplace inclusive and your team member feel safe?

In today’s blog, Ben Sarten, Co-founder, Every Gender outlines a roadmap for employers and colleagues to successfully include transgender employees and colleagues.

Navigating Trans inclusion in New Zealand workplaces


 Adam Rohe (he/they), co-founder of Every Gender,  facilitating a Gender and Gender Expression workshop.  Image supplied courtesy of Every Gender

Imagine you are a small business owner or people leader at a local company in Aotearoa, and one of your dedicated employees chooses a quiet moment during the workday to share a deeply personal aspect of their life with you. “I’m transgender,” she says. “I’d appreciate it if you could use she/her pronouns for me now, and my new name is Emma.”

In this moment, you are presented with a unique opportunity – one that may be unfamiliar territory for you or your organisation. There’s no ready-made playbook for such situations. However, your response holds the power to strengthen your team, elevate your company’s reputation, and show respect for all of your employees.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives can yield significant advantages, but they require ongoing commitment and a willingness to learn and adapt. While it may initially seem daunting, the rewards are substantial, not just for the individual but for your entire organisation.

Transitioning at Work

As Emma begins to share her authentic self with your team, it’s essential to recognize that this might be her first time being out as a transgender person in a workplace setting. This experience can be confusing and emotionally charged. The process of coming out, selecting a new name, and requesting specific pronouns involves a deep level of self-discovery and vulnerability.

Most of your colleagues may show support and be willing to use her correct name and pronouns, which is a positive start, but it’s important to remember that this could also be your team’s first experience working alongside a transgender person. 

Curiosity is natural, but it’s vital to create a space where Emma can focus on her work without feeling like an informal trans educator within your workspace.

Expecting Emma to shoulder the responsibility of educating her colleagues about transgender issues can impact her well-being and ability to perform her job effectively. This can lead to burnout, decreased opportunities for advancement, and – as a result – major income disparities; all issues that persist throughout New Zealand. (A 2018 survey of transgender health and wellbeing outcomes found the median income for the transgender population was around 50% that of the general population).

To address these challenges, the responsibility of educating your team and fostering an inclusive workplace falls on the broader organisation. Each situation is unique, and tailored support is essential. Seeking education from trans-led organisations should be considered a crucial step in this journey. Organisations like Every Gender, Gender Minorities Aotearoa, and InsideOUT can provide guidance and insights needed to navigate this path successfully.

So, what can I do?

For employees, colleagues, and allies, respecting a person’s name and pronouns is fundamental. Their gender, personal history, and medical background are private matters, shared at their discretion. The best way to support is to recognize and acknowledge a person’s identity and treat them with kindness and respect.

For employers and people managers, things are more complex. Confidentiality, consent, and gender inclusive policies must be a top priority. Changes may be required in other areas like uniforms, leave, gender inclusive facilities and benefit packages. The decision-makers responsible for these inclusivity initiatives should be well-informed and accountable for their choices, ensuring their impact aligns with every employee’s wellbeing and the goals of the wider company.

Final Thoughts

To become a genuine ally, whether as an individual or a business, commitment to continuous learning and growth is paramount. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, but seeking DEI programs led by the community you aim to include can provide the necessary guidance. This choice not only ensures that educators are well-versed in the subject matter but also provides financial support to the very communities you seek to embrace.

In conclusion, embracing trans inclusion in the workplace is not just about meeting certain goals or avoiding pitfalls. It’s about creating an environment where everyone can thrive, where each member of your team feels valued and respected for who they are. It’s a journey worth embarking on—one that can lead to a more inclusive, supportive, and successful workplace for all.

Ben Sarten (they/them)
Co-Founder, Every Gender.

Every Gender is a storytelling vehicle bringing trans lived experience education and consultation into workplaces. In really simple terms, we, as trans people, teach businesses what steps they can take in order to support trans people, like us, at work.

We offer workshops, consultation content and one on one coaching to leadership teams as they build cultural competency in the trans inclusion space. Our vision is to create pathways for trans individuals into positions of self determination, financial empowerment and organisational leadership.

logo for Every Gender organisation

If you’d like to read further have a look at the list of resources we have compiled, many of which are available via Wellington City Libraries collection:

Trans and Non-binary Inclusive Workplaces: A Guide for Employers and Employees
This guide aims to help employers support trans and nonbinary employees by bringing you up to speed on your responsibilities and other ways you can help. The second part also explains your rights as a trans or nonbinary employee. (Outline Aotearoa)

Transgender employees
Managers and workmates must act lawfully and should support transgender employees who are transitioning or intending to transition, or are having issues at work. (Employment.govt.nz)

Rainbow resources
These resources and links will help organisations ensure their workplaces are inclusive and supportive of those from the Rainbow community. (Diversity works)

Creating a trans-inclusive workplace: how to make transgender employees feel valued at work Thoroughgood CN, Sawyer KB, Webster JR.   Harvard Business Review. 2020;98(2).
Transgender people often experience discrimination, stigma, hostility, and pressure to control or manage their individual identities when around others, including work environments. This is due to how people are socialized to perceive and perform gender. These reactions from others, however, have significant negative impacts on trans employees’ job satisfaction and well being. Although awareness of discrimination has grown, many employers are ill-equipped to address the issue and risk losing opportunities to recruit and retain top talent. Four helpful practices are identified: promote trans inclusivity via dress codes, bathroom use, and pronouns; support individuals undergoing gender transitions; adopt trans-specific diversity training; and implement resiliency interventions.
(Library registration and login required.)

7 Small Ways to Be a More Inclusive Colleague. Lordan N, Lordan G.  Harvard Business Review Digital Articles. February 2023:1-5. Accessed September 5, 2023.
Lists seven small actions you can take to be a more inclusive colleague and help foster a comfortable and safe work environment for everyone. Library registration and login required.

LGBTQ+ voices: Learning from lived experiences
New research reveals the challenges that LGBTQ+ employees face, and six ways to help them bring their authentic selves to work. (McKinsey)

Alphabet soup : the essential guide to LGBTQ2+ inclusion at work / Bach, Michael
“Everything you need to know about creating LGBTQ2+ inclusive spaces, from A to Z. What you aren’t doing to create an LGBTQ2+ inclusive space is costing you more than you might think. Every year, organizations (be they employers, volunteer organizations, hospitals, academic organizations, religious and faith organizations, or any space where people congregate) who aren’t doing the necessary work are losing millions of dollars to low productivity, staff turnover, missed opportunities, and reputational damage–and no, simply slapping a rainbow over your company logo every June isn’t going to cut it. In this myth-busting follow-up to the 2020 breakout bestseller Birds of All Feathers, diversity and inclusion expert Michael Bach breaks down everything you need to know about creating inclusive spaces for people who don’t fit squarely into the “straight” and “cis” box. And don’t worry if you’re already feeling lost; by the time you’ve finished this book, you’ll know exactly what LGBTQ2+ means–and a whole lot of other stuff to boot. With clarity and a healthy dose of humor, Bach lays out a road map on how to ensure your space is safe for LGBTQ2+ people. You’ll gain a clear understanding of sexuality, gender identity, and gender expression (yes, they’re different things, and it matters); what a Safe Space is, and how to turn your space into one; how to create and properly enforce a Code of Conduct; and how to grab a piece of the fabulous “pink dollar” (worth more than $1 trillion dollars annually in the Canada and US alone!). A must-read for leaders, HR professionals, CEOs, and managers of all levels, Alphabet Soup is a critical guide to creating a truly inclusive space for all–regardless of sexuality, gender identity, or gender expression. Whether you consider yourself an ally, or don’t even know what it means to be one, you’ll come away armed with everything you need to know to create a safe, productive, and thriving LGBTQ2+ inclusive organization.”– Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)

Cultures of belonging : building inclusive organizations that last : a guide to equitable leadership / Miranda-Wolff, Alida
“Clear, actionable steps for you to build new values, experiences, and perspectives into your organizational culture, infusing it with the diversity, inclusion, andbelonging employees need to feel accepted, be their best selves, and do their best work.” (Catalogue)

 

How to be a diversity and inclusion ambassador : everyone’s role in helping all feel accepted, engaged, and valued / Warren, Celeste R
“This book offers a clear, proven framework for how anyone-from the CEO to a frontline employee-can play a role in creating a diverse and welcoming workplace. Creating a diverse workplace needs to be an ongoing effort, not just the subject of an occasional training. What can you do to help? Celeste Warren, vice president for global diversity and inclusion at Merck, says you can become a diversity and inclusion ambassador. These people are committed to helping everyone see the importance of inclusive and equitable practices. Warren offers a straightforward three-stage model: 1. Become aware of your own conscious and unconscious biases; 2. Take an inventory of your surroundings: what is getting in the way of there being an inclusive environment in your organization?; 3. Develop a personal action plan. Depending on readers’ positions, the actions they take can be as simple as consistently raising DEI-related issues in staff meetings or as far-reaching as leading an employee resource group or developing a new hiring policy. In separate chapters, Warren offers specific advice for chief diversity and inclusion officers, C-suite leaders, frontline managers, human resources practitioners, and individual contributors. Featuring tools, exercises, and examples, this book offers everyone the opportunity to help make diversity a workplace reality. Reading group discussion guide available in book”– Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)

Rising together : how we can bridge divides and create a more inclusive workplace / Helgesen, Sally
“Participants at leadership conferences often tell Sally, “Please don’t spend your time telling us why developing and retaining a diverse workforce is important. We get it. The problem is, we don’t know how to do it.” Rising Together provides that missing how in full detail by identifying both what holds us back and specific tactics that can help us move forward. First, Sally identifies the eight common triggers most likely to undermine our ability to collaborate across divides–not only of gender, but also of age, ethnicity, race, sexuality, and life experience. These triggers are widespread, yet rarely acknowledged. They include differences in how people from different backgrounds view ambition, competence, perceptions, fairness, communication, networks, attraction, and humor. Sally then offers specific practices designed to address these triggers: simple behavioral tweaks that we can use on a daily basis; a method for informally enlisting allies to hold us to account; and a means for cultivating and disseminating the dynamic power of we.”–Inside front jacket flap” (Catalogue)

How to get your act together : a judgement-free guide to diversity and inclusion for straight white men / Hassan, Felicity
“Lead meaningful and positive change in your organisation with the ultimate guide to implementing diversity and inclusion. Of the very few Fortune 500 companies that share diversity data, 72% of their senior executives are white men. And it’s been proven that companies with more diverse management teams have nearly 20% higher revenues. Surely YOU don’t want to be left behind? Moral imperatives aside, the business case for diversity and inclusion is clear – they are clear drivers of innovation, profit and employer brand. But how can male white leadership implement this change? There’s no denying it’s difficult — perhaps you feel afraid to make mistakes, and confused about the evolving language of diversity and inclusion. In this revolutionary guide, leading diversity specialists Felicity Hassan and Suki Sandhu OBE teach you how to create an inclusive environment for your employees and have educated conversations about diversity, illuminating tricky territory with humour and heart. This judgement-free guide will educate, empower and embolden you to create a workplace where anyone can be themselves, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, class or disability – and eventually, to change the face of business for the better” — Publisher’s description.” (Catalogue)

Say the right thing : how to talk about identity, diversity, and justice / Yoshino, Kenji
“In the current period of social and political unrest, conversations about identity are becoming more frequent and more difficult. On subjects like critical race theory, gender equity in the workplace, and LGBTQ-inclusive classrooms, many of us are understandably fearful of saying the wrong thing. That fear can sometimes prevent us from speaking up at all, depriving people from marginalized groups of support and stalling progress toward a more just and inclusive society. Kenji Yoshino and David Glasgow, founders of the Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging at NYU School of Law, are here to show potential allies that these conversations don’t have to be so overwhelming. Through stories drawn from contexts as varied as social media posts, dinner party conversations, and workplace disputes, they offer seven user-friendly principles that teach skills such as how to avoid common conversational pitfalls, engage in respectful disagreement, offer authentic apologies, and better support people in our lives who experience bias. Research-backed, accessible, and uplifting, Say the Right Thing charts a pathway out of cancel culture toward more meaningful and empathetic dialogue on issues of identity. It also gives us the practical tools to do good in our spheres of influence. Whether managing diverse teams at work, navigating issues of inclusion at college, or challenging biased comments at a family barbecue, Yoshino and Glasgow help us move from unconsciously hurting people to consciously helping them”– Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)

One of them / Lal, Shaneel
“What would you do if you were told by the people you loved the most that the way you were born was evil and wrong? For Shaneel Lal, this was their reality from the time they were five. Growing up in a tiny, traditional village in Fiji, Shaneel always knew they were different. Still, for the first years of their life, it was idyllic – playing dress-ups in saris with their sister, and hiding under their neighbour’s house, playing games with dolls. But from the time Shaneel started school, they faced condemnation from their family, and then ‘therapy’ from conservative elders in their village. The elders tried to ‘free’ Shaneel from the evil spirits they thought were making them queer. Shaneel was kept away from the girls to stop Shaneel from becoming more feminine, and from the boys to stop Shaneel’s queerness from spreading to them. Eventually the ‘therapy’ escalated to beatings and torture. After escaping Fiji and moving to New Zealand as a teenager, Shaneel tried to keep their sexuality – and gender – to themself, but gradually found the courage to come out. One day, while Shaneel was volunteering at Auckland’s Middlemore hospital, a church leader came up to them and offered to ‘pray the gay away’. It was a lightbulb moment for Shaneel, who could not believe that the same practices that had scarred their childhood in Fiji were operating – and legal – in New Zealand. Determined to ensure others wouldn’t have to go through what happened to them, Shaneel founded the Conversion Therapy Action Group, which lead the movement to ban conversion therapy in Aotearoa”–Publisher’s website.” (Catalogue)

Krow’s TRANSformation 
Duration: 1 h 28 min
|Country: Canada
Rating: PG
Year of Release: 2019
Never comfortable with “her” body or given name, Kayanna knew since childhood he was meant to be a boy. Struggling deeply with his identity throughout his youth, he adopted a new name – Krow. At 12-years-old, Krow began a career as a globe-trotting “female” fashion model. While living a glamourous lifestyle, he never felt fully comfortable, despite the attention and praise lavished on him for his good looks. In a series of honest and often heart-breaking interviews, we see how Krow’s decision impacted those closest to him. His mother, Lisa, initially struggles with the revelation that her child wanted to transition. But, as she learns what it means for him, she begins to whole-heartedly embrace her son’s new life. Then there is Krow’s friend Ashton and his mentor Kas who share their own experiences of growing up in bodies they never felt comfortable in, as well as their personal journeys towards transition.  (Available through Beamafilm with library registration)


If you need more information please contact the Prosearch team at the library.  We can help you find information across a range of perspectives and resources.  All enquiries are treated in confidence.

Accessing the Harvard Business Review

Linda

The Harvard Business Review (HBR) has long been a popular business magazine.

Wellington City Libraries offers HBR in both hard copy (magazine) format and online via our databases.

In this blog we will show you how to access both.  All you need is a current Wellington City Libraries registration.

HBR as a hard copy magazine

Magazines (published bi-monthly) are held at the Te Awe Brandon Street branch of Wellington City Libraries and displayed with the magazines on the ground floor.

 

Only copies for the current year are held in the library but the last ten years of magazines are held in our storage facililty.  To request an older issue not held at Te Awe all you need to do is bring up the record for the HBR record on the catalogue and then click on the red [Place Reserve] button. Log in using your library card number and password, then click which issues you would like to see.  

 

Click on the issues you would like to see and select the branch most convenient for you to pick up from.  Submit your request and your chosen items will then be dispatched.  An email will be sent to tell you when they have arrived (usually within 48 hours).  There is no charge for this service but a 50c charge for each magazine borrowed and the loan period is for a week.  

HBR online

The Harvard Business Review is available fulltext online via Business Source Premier.

Business Source Premier is a business research database offering information in nearly every area of business including management, economics, finance, accounting and international business.

It can be accessed here.

Sign in with your library card number and pin.  You will then see a page that looks like :


 

You can then proceed to search in several different ways.

1.  Along the top menu is an option for Publications.  This provides a full list of all the publications indexed in this database.  Enter Harvard Business Review into the search box and you will get a screen that looks like : 


 

Select the Harvard Business Review option and you will then be taken to a screen that breaks down the entries into years.  Make your selection for a particular issue from the listing on the right hand side.

 

A full listing of all the articles will appear with the option to open as HTML full text (plain) or pdf (as it appears in the magazine).  You can also select and email articles to yourself.

 

2.  The second way to search is if you know a title of an article or are looking for works by a particular author.

Return to the first search screen.

If you are looking for HBR articles on burnout, for example, enter burnout into the first box and select “Title” from the dropdown menu.  In the second box enter “Harvard Business Review” and then select Source from the drop down menu.  This will then give you a list of article published in the HBR with burnout in the title.  You can use other features on this screen to narrow or expand your search.


 

 

From here you can either read selected article from the list or add them to a folder to email to yourself.

 

You can also keep up to date with new content at Harvard Business Review – Ideas and Advice for Leaders (hbr.org)  

The HBR site offers a range of newsletters that can be freely subscribed to.  This will draw attention to new content.  Social media options are also available.

If you would like further information please contact the Prosearch team at the library. We can help you find information across a range of perspectives and resources. All enquiries are treated in confidence.

 

In praise of older workers

Linda

via GIPHY

Years ago a business I was involved with consistently employed school leavers in a front facing role.  These young, and inevitably, women, were considered ‘cheap’ to employ as they were on youth rates.  
Due to various reasons however, the incumbents left and needed to be replaced on a regular basis.  The business kept repeating the pattern of employing younger people who stayed 6-8 months before moving on.  The business accepted this as inevitable yet the cost of recruiting and training a replacement was a burden on a small company.

The suggestion was made that they employ an older person for the role.  This was met with shock and some derision.  An older person would be bored, an older person wouldn’t ‘fit’, an older person wouldn’t pick up the technology and so on.

However after advertising the role for the fourth time an older applicant was appointed.  It was a great fit.  In return the company got a loyal, stable and capable kaimahi (worker), who brought a wealth of life experience to the role and undertook tasks in a calm and professional manner.

When faced with choosing between two workers many employers do what the above company did; select the younger applicant over the older applicant. 

Reasons for this vary but employers often erroneously perceive older workers as being slow, an awkward fit with younger staff,  unwilling/unable to learn, or lacking computer skills and so on.  In other words, people of a certain age are often discriminated against by employers who fail to see the advantages this demographic is able to bring to the workplace.

via GIPHY

Older employees in the workplace provide experience, life, social and problem solving skills, balance and knowledge which benefits both employer and younger employees.

“It is crucial to recognize the profound value that age diversity brings to a workforce, particularly in a business setting. Older workers possess a deep understanding of how existing systems and practices intertwine with emerging technologies and methodologies. By bridging the gap between traditional and innovative approaches, they provide invaluable insights into how different components interact, ensuring a holistic perspective on problem-solving and decision-making.”  – Nancy Hammervik

In Masterton, former historian and television presenter Hugo Manson has taken on an apprenticeship at the age of 82 years.  His “boss” is 24 years of age.  For Manson “… it’s an extremely productive relationship. One that I’ll always value”.  You can learn more here. 

If you are over 50, and looking for work or considering a career change; if you’re an employer wondering how to better capitalise on the talent among your older workers then have a look at some of our Wellington City Library resources.

Managing the older worker : how to prepare for the new organizational order / Cappelli, Peter
“Your organization needs older workers more than ever: They transfer knowledge between generations, transmit your company’s values to new hires, make excellent mentors for younger employees, and provide a “just in time” workforce for special projects. Yet more of these workers are reporting to people younger than they are. This presents unfamiliar challenges that–if ignored–can prevent you from attracting, retaining, and engaging older employees. In Managing the Older Worker, Peter Cappelli and William Novelli explain how companies and younger managers can maximize the value provided by older workers. The key? Recognize that boomers’ needs differ from younger generations – and adapt your management practices accordingly. For instance:
· Lead with mission: As employees age, they become more altruistic. Emphasize the positive impact of older workers’ efforts on the world around them.
· Forge social connections: Many older employees keep working to maintain social relationships. Offer tasks that require interaction with others.
· Provide different benefits: Tailor benefits–such as elder-care insurance programs or discount medication–to older workers’ interests. Drawing on research in management, psychology, and other disciplines,
Managing the Older Worker reveals who your older workers are, what they want, and how to manage them for maximum value.” (Catalogue)

Older workforces : re-imagining later life learning / Bingham, Domini
“We are all going to become old. Many countries are ageing demographically with ageing workforces. Despite anti-discrimination and equality laws, older workers are routinely left out from learning opportunities even unconsciously so, suffer stereotyping or they simply do not participate. Why is this so? This book looks to understand the background to this and re-imagine older workplaces to capitalise on older workers. The author explores what learning and development offers a best fit for older workforces through literature, research and case studies with organisations and individuals. She considers how an organisation might shift its strategic processes to offer a holistic workforce opportunity of value to both employee and employer, as it is cognitive skills that will be needed in future workforces. Emphasising the area of work agency and the human right to learning, this book turns ageing and learning in workplaces on its head, seeing older workers as vessels of untapped potential. It re-imagines their possibilities in a time of intense demographic and digital change. This book will be a pragmatic guide to academics, researchers and practitioners in the fields of workplace learning, human resource development, social policy and diversity.” (Catalogue)

Unretirement : how baby boomers are changing the way we think about work, community, and the good life / Farrell, Chris
“Demographic doomsayers predicted that baby boomers would bleed America dry, bankrupting Social Security and Medicare as they faded into impoverished old age. Chris Farrell argues that they are already extending their working lives with new careers, entrepreneurial ventures, and volunteer service. Unretirement not only explains this seismic change, it provides key insights and practical advice for boomers about to navigate this exciting new frontier.” (Catalogue) Also available in EBook Libby

Older women who work : resilience, choice, and change
“Older Women Who Work: Resilience, Choice, and Change provides one of the first in-depth examinations of women age 65 and older who have delayed retirement, exploring personal and career identity, social roles, and quality of life concerns. The fifteenth book in APA’s Division 35 Psychology of Women series, this edited volume presents a rich array of qualitative and quantitative research on older women’s experiences in the workplace. Chapter authors share insights about how organizational leaders can change societal structures to better support the motivations and needs of diverse older women in the workplace. The book also describes how consultants, educators, and mental health professionals can encourage development of personal grit, to help the growing numbers of older women exercise their right to opportunities and be adaptable in the face of employment challenges”– Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)

How to find a job after 50 : from part-time to full-time, from career moves to new careers / Cummings, Betsy
“This practical guide tackles one of the largest issues in the workplace: finding work over the age of 50” (Catalogue)

 

 

Getting the job you want after 50 for dummies / Hannon, Kerry
“Provides readers over the age of fifty with helpful tips and techniques for updating their resumes, performing well on job interviews, and landing a job in a field or in an area that they are passionate about.” (Catalogue)

 

 

If working for others isn’t your thing – consider starting your own business.

Changing gears: entrepreneurs @ 50+ / Robertson, Angela C
“Globally, there is an emerging trend for people to start a business for the first time in later life. In New Zealand, 45% of these ‘Entrepreneurs’, are over the age of 50, and the trend has been steadily increasing since the onset of the COVID-19. Why do individuals in the second half of life choose to change gears, and go down this route? What is the trigger? What motivates them? What is the nature of the businesses they established, and how did they go about it?
In this book you’ll meet 33 Entrepreneurs @ 50+, who challenge the stereotypical belief, that advancing age narrows down life choices. It doesn’t! These individuals create their own reality. Their businesses range from the conventional to the ‘out there’, and their experiences include candid accounts of the challenges they faced, and their aspirations for the future. Regardless of your age and stage, circumstances and experiences, there are always opportunities to pick up ideas and lessons learned from others who have embarked on this path beyond mid-life. If you have that nagging feeling of ‘what’s next for me’, this book is for you. Inspired by their example, you might like to change gears too!” (Catalogue)

Ageless startup : start a business at any age / Terrien, Rick
“Ageless Startup guides retirees through the world of entrepreneurship. The book discusses what it takes to start a business at an advanced age, how seniors set themselves apart from their younger competitors, and provides general business startup guidance”– Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)

 

 

If you need more information please contact the Prosearch team at the library.  We can help you find information across a range of perspectives and resources.  All enquiries are treated in confidence

Chinese business resources

Linda

This week marks New Zealand Chinese language week in which Mandarin, Cantonese and other Chinese dialects are celebrated!

Our colleague Xinxin has put together a wonderful blog outlining some of the resources within the Wellington City Libraries collections and events being held in the library during this time.

Specifically for the business community there are a number of journals and newspapers available through different platforms and in Chinese language formats or English.  If you do business in a Chinese speaking part of Asia you may find these resources helpful.

Press Reader


This list provides entry to some of the many magazines and newspapers that cover China, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore and Taiwan.

China
Beijing Review (English)
Capitalweek(Simplified Chinese)
China Business News (Simplified Chinese)
China Economist (English)
China Newsweek (Simplified Chinese)
China Today (English)
The Global Times (English)
Harvard Business Review (Simplified Chinese)
Jiefang Daily (Simplified Chinese)
Manager (Simplified Chinese)
National Business Daily (Simplified Chinese)
Shanghai Daily (English)
United Times (Simplified Chinese)

Hong Kong
China Daily English (English)
Economic Digest (Traditional Chinese)
Hong Kong Economic Journal (Traditional Chinese)
Oriental Daily News (HK) (Traditional Chinese)
South China Morning Post  (English)

Macau
Macau Daily Times (English)

Singapore
The Business Times (English)
The Edge (English)
Lianhe Zaobao (Simplified Chinese)
Shin Min Daily News (Simplified Chinese)
Straits Times (English)
Vuapo (English)

Taiwan
Business Weekly(Traditional Chinese)
China Times(Traditional Chinese)
Commercial Times (Traditional Chinese)
Economic Daily News(Traditional Chinese)
The Merit Times (Traditional Chinese)
Taipei Times (English)
United Daily News (Traditional Chinese)

DragonSource

 


DragonSource has over 3000 Chinese magazines online that include many popular magazine titles, such as Reader’s Digest, Elle Chinese, Vogue Chinese, photography, Xinmin Weekly and much more.
Updated monthly, read online for free.

Book collection

Encountering China : New Zealanders and the People’s Republic
“This collection of 50 texts, written by diplomats and poets, politicians and academics, students and businesspeople, reflects on personal experiences of China over the last half century”–Back cover.” (Catalogue)
Also available in EBook Libby

 

Party of one : the rise of Xi Jinping and China’s superpower future / Wong, Chun Han
“Party of One shatters the many myths and caricatures that shroud one of the world’s most secretive political organizations and its leader. Many observers misread Xi during his early years in power, projecting their own hopes that he would steer China toward more political openness, rule of law, and pro-market economics. Having masked his beliefs while climbing the party hierarchy, Xi has centralized decision-making powers, encouraged a cult of personality around himself, and moved toward indefinite rule by scrapping presidential term limits-stirring fears of a return to a Mao-style dictatorship. Today, the party of Xi favors political zeal over technical expertise, trumpets its faith in Marxism, and proclaims its reach into every corner of Chinese society with Xi portraits and hammer-and-sickle logos. Under Xi, China has challenged Western preeminence in global affairs and cast its authoritarian system as a model of governance worthy of international emulation. As a China reporter for the Wall Street Journal, Chun Han Wong has chronicled Xi Jinping’s hard-line strategy for crushing dissent against his strongman rule, his political repression in Hong Kong and Xinjiang, and his increasingly coercive efforts to reel in the island democracy of Taiwan, as well as the domestic and diplomatic fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic. When the Chinese government refused to renew Wong’s press credentials and forced him to leave mainland China in 2019, he moved to Hong Kong to continue covering Chinese politics and its autocratic turn under Xi. Now, Wong has drawn on his years of firsthand reporting across China-including conversations with party insiders, insights from scholars and diplomats, and analyses of official speeches and documents-to create a lucid and historically rooted account of China’s leader and how he inspires fear and fervor in his party, his nation, and beyond”– Dust jacket.” (Catalogue)

City on the edge : Hong Kong under Chinese rule / Hung, Ho-fung
“For decades, Hong Kong has maintained precarious freedom at the edge of competing world powers. In City on the Edge, Ho-fung Hung offers a timely and engaging account of Hong Kong’s development from precolonial times to the present, with particular focus on the post 1997 handover period. Through careful analysis of vast economic data, a myriad of political events, and intricate networks of actors and ideas, Hung offers readers insight into the fraught economic, political, and social forces that led to the 2019 uprising, while situating the protests in the context of global finance and the geopolitics of the US-China rivalry. A provocative contribution to the discussion on Hong Kong’s position in today’s world, City on the Edge demonstrates that the resistance and repression of 2019-2020 does not spell the end of Hong Kong but the beginning of a long conflict with global repercussions”– Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)

Alibaba’s world : how a remarkable Chinese company is changing the face of global business / Erisman, Porter
“What is as powerful as Google, more popular than Facebook, and more economically disruptive than Amazon and eBay combined? Alibaba operates the world’s biggest online shopping mall, with 600 million registered users (Amazon has roughly 200 million). It executes about 80% of China’s e-commerce transactions and generates nearly 70% of all packages in China, making up close to 2% of China’s GDP. And its marketplaces include another 60 million small and medium-size business users spread over 200 countries. This Chinese company is poised to make its global debut with an IPO that could be the largest in history. But what is Alibaba? How does it work? And why should we be paying attention? Porter Erisman shows how Jack Ma, a charismatic Chinese schoolteacher, rose from obscurity to revolutionize commerce in China, and now the world. He shares stories of weathering the dotcom crash, facing down eBay and Google, negotiating with the Web-phobic Chinese government, and enduring the misguided advice of foreign experts, all to build the behemoth that’s poised to sweep the ecommerce world today. And he analyzes Alibaba’s role as a harbinger of the new global business landscape–with its focus on the East rather than the West, emerging markets over developed ones, and the nimble entrepreneur over the industry titan. As we face this near future, the story of Alibaba–and its inevitable descendants–is both essential and instructive”– Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)

The Shenzhen experiment : the story of China’s instant city / Du, Juan
“A rural borderland just forty years ago, today Shenzhen is a city of twenty million and a technology hub. This success is attributed to its status as a Special Economic Zone, but no other SEZs compare. Juan Du looks to the past to understand why. It turns out that Shenzhen is no prefab “instant city,” but a place influenced by deep local history.– Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)

 

If you need more information please contact the Prosearch team at the library.  We can help you find information across a range of perspectives and resources.  All enquiries are treated in confidence.

Catching flies with chopsticks (or Acquiring mastery)

Linda

“Man who catch fly with chopstick, accomplish anything.“
Mr Miyagi in The Karate Kid

via GIPHY

We all know someone who appears to have effortless mastery of a skill or talent. It may be the friend who plays the piano beautifully, the colleague who is an accomplished baker, or the old schoolmate who achieved national sporting success.

While environment and natural talent may play some part, an even larger part is not natural but the result of hours of training and practice.  As The Karate Kid‘s Mr Miyagi would assert, “Practice makes perfect”.   Sensei Miyagi however also had a role imparting his years of acquired knowledge to his young protege.  Mastery extends not just to the process of studying and practicing but also the the methods of teaching.

In his new book The real work: on the mystery of mastery, author Adam Gopnik notes masters of a skill are, for the most part, everyday people “… who are, often for the most eccentric of reasons or with the most improbably eccentric practices and teaching methods, able to impart something of what they know”.

The ability to learn or master a skill is important in the workplace, but so too is the ability to impart knowledge to others.

In the process of researching his book, Gopnik studied magicians, undertook art lessons, learned to drive, informally apprenticed himself to his mother in order to learn to bake bread, sought instruction from a Muay Thai boxer (despite professed lack of sporting prowess), and took up ballroom dancing with his daughter.  Throughout all this, Gopnik examines the process by which we learn, master, and teach  new skills.

Even though we may not think of ourselves as masters of a skill set or task, years of practice mean that for many in our workplaces, we know much more than we think we do.

The real work : on the mystery of mastery / Gopnik, Adam
“In The Real Work-the term magicians use for the accumulated craft that makes for a great trick-Gopnik becomes a dedicated student of several masters of their craft: a classical painter, a boxer, a dancing instructor, a driving instructor, and others. Rejecting self-help bromides and bullet points, he nevertheless shows that the top people in any field share a set of common qualities and methods. For one, their mastery is always a process of breaking down and building up-of identifying and perfecting the small constituent parts of a skill and the combining them for an overall effect greater than the sum of those parts. For another, mastery almost always involves intentional imperfection-as in music, where vibrato, a way of not quite landing on the right note, carries maximum expressiveness. Gopnik’s simplest and most invigorating lesson, however, is that we are surrounded by mastery. Far from rare, mastery is commonplace, if we only know where to look: from the parent who can whip up a professional strudel to the social worker who-in one of the most personally revealing passages Gopnik has ever written-helps him master his own demons. Spirited and profound, The Real Work will help you understand how mastery can happen in your own life-and, significantly, why each of us relentlessly seeks to better ourselves in the first place”–Publisher’s description.” (Catalogue)

You can hear Gopnik’s RNZ interview Why mastery is better than being a master here and watch his Youtube The Real Work – How We Learn & Master New Skills

 

Want to learn more?  Try these titles from Wellington City Libraries collections.

Range : why generalists triumph in a specialized world / Epstein, David J.
“What’s the most effective path to success in any domain? It’s not what you think. Plenty of experts argue that anyone who wants to develop a skill, play an instrument, or lead their field should start early, focus intensely, and rack up as many hours of deliberate practice as possible. If you dabble or delay, you’ll never catch up to the people who got a head start. But a closer look at research on the world’s top performers, from professional athletes to Nobel laureates, shows that early specialization is the exception, not the rule. David Epstein examined the world’s most successful athletes, artists, musicians, inventors, forecasters and scientists. He discovered that in most fields–especially those that are complex and unpredictable–generalists, not specialists, are primed to excel. Generalists often find their path late, and they juggle many interests rather than focusing on one. They’re also more creative, more agile, and able to make connections their more specialized peers can’t see. Provocative, rigorous, and engrossing, [this book] makes a compelling case for actively cultivating inefficiency. Failing a test is the best way to learn. Frequent quitters end up with the most fulfilling careers. The most impactful inventors cross domains rather than deepening their knowledge in a single area. As experts silo themselves further while computers master more of the skills once reserved for highly focused humans, people who think broadly and embrace diverse experiences and perspectives will increasingly thrive.”–Dust jacket.” (Catalogue)
Also available in EAudiobook Overdrive format and EBook Overdrive

Peak : secrets from the new science of expertise / Ericsson, K. Anders
“Almost all of us have the seeds of excellence within us– it’s just a question of nurturing them by reducing expertise to a discrete series of attainable practices. Ericsson and Pool introduce an incredibly powerful approach to learning that is fundamentally different from the way people traditionally think about acquiring a skill, and offer invaluable, often counterintuitive, advice on setting goals, getting feedback, identifying patterns, and motivating yourself.” (Catalogue)

 

Micromastery : learn small, learn fast, and find the hidden path to happiness / Twigger, Robert
“We read that we must be passionate about only one thing, that 10,000 hours of hard practice is needed to achieve mastery. But in fact most successful people, including Nobel prize winners, nurture multiple areas of knowledge and activity that feed their central subject. Whether it’s making a perfect souffle, dancing a tango or lighting a fire, when we take the time to cultivate small and quantifiable areas of expertise, we change everything. We become faster and more fearless learners, spot more creative opportunities, improve our brain health and boost our happiness. We see knowledge itself completely differently. The skills acquired in painting a door flawlessly or growing delicious chillies will unexpectedly transform your life. So start small. Start specific. But start – and you’ll be on the path to mastery.” (Catalogue)

Mastery / Greene, Robert
“The #1 New York Times-bestseller from the author of The 48 Laws of Power Each one of us has within us the potential to be a Master. Learn the secrets of the field you have chosen, submit to a rigorous apprenticeship, absorb the hidden knowledge possessed by those with years of experience, surge past competitors to surpass them in brilliance, and explode established patterns from within. Study the behaviors of Albert Einstein, Charles Darwin, Leonardo da Vinci and the nine contemporary Masters interviewed for this book. The bestseller author of The 48 Laws of Power, The Art of Seduction, and The 33 Strategies of War, Robert Greene has spent a lifetime studying the laws of power. Now, he shares the secret path to greatness. With this seminal text as a guide, readers will learn how to unlock the passion within and become masters.” (Catalogue) Available in EAudiobook Libby format only

Interviews with the masters : a companion to Robert Greene’s mastery / Greene, Robert
“A companion to Robert Greene’s Mastery. More than 20,000 hours of research and thought went into Mastery. In a departure from his previous works, Robert Greene interviewed nine contemporary masters, including tech guru Paul Graham, animal rights advocate Temple Grandin, and boxing trainer Freddie Roach, to get their perspective on their paths to greatness. Those interviews are now available to readers for the first time. Interviews with the Masters presents more than 700 pages of revealing insight directly from these contemporary Masters; from how they learn and think, to how they put it all together and create. ” (Adapted from Catalogue). EBook Libby format only

If you need more information please contact the Prosearch team at the library.  We can help you find information across a range of perspectives and resources.  All enquiries are treated in confidence.

 

Understanding investing : demystifying the options

Linda

via GIPHY

Have you ever wondered how to go about investing in order to increase your wealth?  

Do you want to better understand the share market?  What are the risks of property investment? Are you wondering if your Kiwisaver could perform better?
Does understanding this  it all seem too hard?

The last couple of years have seen a number of new books released on or about the sharemarket and other investment opportunities.  In this week’s business blog we’ve compiled a listing of some of the Wellington City Library resources that can help you better understand your investment options.  

Earlier this year Wellington’s own online investment platform, Sharesies, released a book aimed at those new to investing.

The Sharesies guide to investing : your roadmap to financial freedom / Roberts, Brooke
“The easy way to start investing in shares – whether you have $5 or $50,000 to invest Online investing platform Sharesies has revolutionised the way everyday people invest. Since its beginning in 2017, thousands of new investors – often with just a bit of spare cash – have joined the platform to start their journey toward financial empowerment. With low fees and the choice to invest from as little as $1, Sharesies has broken down the barriers that once priced ordinary people out of the share market. But for many, the knowledge barrier still exists. How to start, what to invest in, and how much – figuring this stuff out can feel overwhelming. The Sharesies Guide to Investing aims to help you answer these questions, and gain the confidence you need to take the first step on your own investing journey. Through easy-to-digest information, jargon-busting investing speak, and stories from Sharesies investors, you’ll learn how to make the most of investing in shares (while staying true to your values) and discover how investing can help you secure your financial future.” (Catalogue)  Also available in Large Print format

Also aimed at the New Zealand investor are a series of books by writer, investor and entrepreneur, Lisa Dudson:

Good with money : 8 simple steps to ditch your debts, grow your savings and live your best life / Dudson, Lisa
“An 8-step plan for getting to grips with your finances and achieving financial freedom-no matter how big or small your goals and no matter how rocky the market (or your current financial situation) might be. These simple steps have helped Lisa’s clients save money, pay off hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt, and live their best lives. Good with Money introduces a realistic, achievable, and empowering alternative to get-rich-quick and over-complicated money management systems. With helpful checklists, worksheets, a tool kit of resources, Good with Money sets out clear short-term actions that lead to long-term goals. Lisa’s message is it doesn’t matter how much you earn, it’s what you do with your money that matters. And it’s never too late to become good with money and have a financially free life.-back cover.” (Catalogue)

The New Zealand money guide : all you need to know about becoming financially secure / Dudson, Lisa
“Over the last two decades I have personally seen thousands of people make enormous progress with their money and go on to create financial freedom for themselves. This book aims to help you understand financial principals so you, too, can make your hard-earned money work much better in the future. The New Zealand Money Guide is an essential resource for all things money. It’s simple and easy to follow and is full of practical advice to help you create the financial freedom to live the life you desire. This book will help you: get clear on what is important to you in life become more aware and mindful of how you spend your money create positive and helpful money beliefs have a good understanding of how to manage your money understand the risks you may face and how to manage them set achievable financial goals feel less stressed about money make a plan to pay off any debts you have create more money and grow your wealth safely, and most importantly, become confident about managing and growing your finances–Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)

The New Zealand property guide : everything you need to know about investing in residential property : plus how 10 Kiwis made their fortunes / Dudson, Lisa
“The New Zealand Property Guide is a great resource for both those considering property for the first time and those that have been investing for a while. There are many things that help an investor increase their chances of success.” (Catalogue)

 

Resources by finance journalist Mary Holm will also be of interest:

 A richer you : how to make the most of your money / Holm, Mary
“Bestselling author and New Zealand’s most trusted financial expert on how to make your money work in the real world We live in uncertain times. But this need not affect how you can make the most of your money. New Zealand’s most trusted money expert, Mary Holm, is here to guide you. Shares vs property, timing the markets, relationship issues, following your dreams, house prices, index funds, KiwiSaver, mortgages, helping out the kids… how much will be enough for retirement? Mary has it covered. This is a book for everyone – from the overly cautious savings champion, to the cash-strapped first-home buyer, to the enthusiastic new share market investor. Drawing on the many hundreds of letters written to her by concerned Kiwis over the last few years, Mary shows us how our money can work for us, in the real world.” (Catalogue)  Also available in EBook Libby format

In magazine format we offer:

New Zealand property investor
“The New Zealand Property investor magazine provides readers with information you can use to successfully invest in residential property. You can learn from the experts, read the stories of your fellow investors and keep up to date with the latest house prices and rental statistics.” (Catalogue)  Available through EMagazine Libby platform

The New Zealand investment magazine Informed investor is available in hard copy at WCL’s Karori branch but may be borrowed by placing a reserve.

From an international perspective we have:
Don’t stress, just invest : it’s time to set up your investments and get on with your life / Renehan, Alec
“Investing doesn’t have to be hard and it doesn’t have to be time-consuming. Read this book, set up your investments, and get on with your life. This book will give you the knowledge to set it up and the confidence for why it is enough. Forget what you think about investing. Technology has made the wealth-building power of the stock market more accessible than ever. You can now get started with just a few cents. Leading investment podcasters Alec Renehan and Bryce Leske cut to the chase in Don’t Stress, Just Invest. They show you the absolute simplest way to invest in the stock market and explain why this straightforward, automated strategy is enough. In four easy steps, you can access the full power of the stock market, then get on with the rest of your life.” (Catalogue)

The anxious investor : mastering the mental game of investing / Nations, Scott
“A revelatory new guide to building wealth amidst stock market crashes and uncertain economic conditions, drawing upon financial modeling, behavioral psychology, and market history to offer practical advice to everyday investors. Investing is scary… Scott Nations has spent his career studying market volatility. His firm, NationsShares, is the world’s leading independent developer of volatility and option-enhanced indexes. In The Anxious Investor, he teaches listeners how to understand the markets, master their own fear, and make the most of their money. In the first half of the book, Nations offers a quick, compelling rundown of the worst financial crashes in American history, focusing on their causes, the recovery, and the lessons each holds for today’s investors. Interwoven with these stories are fascinating cutting-edge insights into investor psychology: What makes investing so scary? What can behavioral science teach us about overcoming our “lizard brain,” which is notorious for making poor financial decisions? What can help us stay the course when the waters get choppy? In the book’s second section, Nations offers a roadmap that any investor can follow, with practical, easy-to-understand advice to help guide readers through the three different types of market conditions (normal, crash/bear market, recovery). Whether you’re just starting out on your journey to financial literacy or are looking for an investing book to take you to the next level, The Anxious Investor is an invaluable resource.” (Catalogue)

Simple but not easy : a practitioner’s guide to the art of investing / Oldfield, Richard
“Described by the author as “a slightly autobiographical and heavily biased book about investing”, Simple But Not Easy won fans among both professional and private investors alike when first released in 2007. The theme of the book is that investment is simpler than non-professionals think it is, in that the rudiments can be expressed in ordinary English and picked up by anybody. It is not a science. But investment is also difficult. People on the outside tend to think that anyone on the inside should be able to do better than the market indices. This is not so. Picking the managers who are likely to do better is a challenge. Richard Oldfield begins with a detailed confession of some of his worst mistakes and what they have taught him. He discusses the different types of investment, why fees matter, and the importance of measuring performance properly. He also outlines what to look for (and what not to look for) in an investment manager, when to fire a manager, and how to be a successful client. A cult classic for its candid confessions and sparkling wit, this extended edition of Simple But Not Easy – featuring a new author’s preface and a substantial afterword – remains an indispensable companion for all those interested in the rewarding but enigmatic pursuit of investing.” (Catalogue) Available as Ebook only

Experts versus the evidence : a practical guide to stock investing / Cai, Charlie X
“Experts Versus the Evidence: A Practical Guide to Stock Investing brings together the ideas and successes of experts and the potential of data to give readers the opportunity to learn from the best and to put their insights into practice. Readers will learn two important aspects of financial investment: first, the formulation of investment philosophies; second, how to test and implement data-driven investment strategies on one of the most popular professional, financial, digital platforms. While this book is concerned with the lessons to be learnt from investment experts, it is also interested in presenting relevant evidence on the various investment approaches (i.e. what could have been achieved by a specific approach over recent years). A companion website will host supporting material such as links to key information about the experts, s elected updated investment screening results of the strategies described in the book, investment and Bloomberg technical quizzes, additional discussion of style/factor investing which has been inspired by the experts and information about investment competitions.”– Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)

Investing with She’s on the Money : build your future wealth / Devine, Victoria
“Everything you need to know to get started investing and building your future wealth with financial advisor Victoria Devine, creator of the She’s on the Money podcast.” (Catalogue)

 

 

The ethical Investor : how to quit toxic companies and grow your wealth / Haddow, Nicole
“Is the money in your bank account helping to fund the fossil fuel and tobacco industries? Do you know which companies your superannuation is invested in? Want to put your money where your ethics are but have no idea where to start? Journalist Nicole Haddow is passionate about financial freedom, but as an investment novice she wants to find out – is it possible to grow wealth while also doing your bit for the planet and its population? In The Ethical Investor, Nicole guides us through the steps she takes to ensure her hard-earned cash isn’t going straight into the pockets of toxic companies. She reassesses what her money currently contributes to and seeks ways to make her strategies greener, chatting with industry experts on everything from superannuation and shares to neo banks and apps to help you get started in micro-investing. Nicole shares the necessary changes she is making to have a superannuation account that’s investing in ethical organisations, a share portfolio on a limited budget with investments in a range of growing sustainable businesses and a strategy for making her home more sustainable. And now you can too!” (Catalogue)

The Ulysses contract : how to never worry about the share market again / Kemp, Michael
“Avoid share market traps and create a watertight plan for long-term investment success. Most of us know the Greek myth of Ulysses. He made a pact with his ship’s crew ordering them to block their ears with wax and tie him to the mast of the ship while they steered past an island inhabited by mythological creatures called Sirens. This story inspired the term ‘Ulysses Contract’, which is a commitment device that helps us to build and maintain good habits and decisions despite future temptations. In The Ulysses Contract, Michael Kemp uses the Ulysses analogy to warn of the ‘sirens’ that tempt investors to part with their money and demonstrates how to put in place a successful investment plan that embodies discipline, consistency, and patience. Written with masterful storytelling that expertly explains complex investment concepts, you will learn how to:-avoid get-rich-quick temptations – think cryptocurrency and day trading-learn from the lessons of history – it’s NOT different this time-develop a long term, low-risk investing strategy. Armed with this knowledge you will become empowered to make sound investment decisions and obtain your own slice of financial freedom. Whether that means spending time with friends and family, helping your children achieve their life goals or dispensing of debt, The Ulysses Contract demonstrates just how remarkably easy it can be for anyone to develop into a capable and successful investor.” (Catalogue) Also available as Ebook Libby

Balance : how to invest and spend for happiness, health, and wealth / Hallam, Andrew
“In this illuminating guide to living a financially healthier and happier life, bestselling author and finance journalist Andrew Hallam demonstrates how you can optimize your income for maximum happiness by investing responsibility and living according your values. He shows you how to enjoy life more and stress less, and use money to care for the environment and help your children succeed–while defining “success” in a way that works for you. Drawing on behavioral science and evidence-based investing, he shows you how to start framing success in a way that actually brings happiness, not stress, into your life. Balance results when your money, connection, health, and purpose are all aligned.”–Page [4] of cover.” (Catalogue)

Making money made simple! : the ultimate guide to finance and investment in the 21st Century / Whittaker, Noel
“The most successful and influential of all Noel’s books and one that truly needs no introduction. Making Money Made Simple illustrates the essentials of money, investment, borrowing and personal finance in a way that only Noel knows how. This is the book that smashed sales records and sold over a million copies around the world. It stayed on the bestsellers list for a record nine years, and was voted in the Top 100 of the Most Influential Books of the 20th Century. This latest edition has been updated to include the most recent superannuation legislation, current figures (for tax, housing, interest rates and investments), as well as the latest sharemarket information.” (Catalogue)

If you need more information please contact the Prosearch team at the library.  We can help you find information across a range of perspectives and resources.  All enquiries are treated in confidence.

Sporting leadership: Lessons for business. Part 2

Linda

Continuing the blog piece of leadership lessons business can learn from sports.

In Part 1 we compiled some of the resources relating to rugby and the All Blacks, not only a phenomenally successful sports team, but also a successful business.

In this second part we have gathered together some other leadership resources from across a range of other sports with relevance to business.  These are stories of  success, endurance, leadership and team culture.

via GIPHY

Overcome Mistakes Like an Elite Athlete by Marina Harris and published in Psychology Today. Posted August 3, 2023.
Offers a five-step framework to help you bounce back from everyday mistakes.

Will to win : New Zealand netball greats on team culture and leadership / McCarthy, Lana
“A fascinating deep-dive into the development of the Silver Ferns’ traditions, the evolution of team culture and the nuts-and-bolts of leadership at an elite sporting level. The 12 legendary players and coaches interviewed – including Lois Muir, Leigh Gibbs, Sandra Edge, Bernice Mene, Ruth Aitken and Casey Williams – candidly discuss the highs and lows of their careers, and of the Silver Ferns, the effect of the intense rivalry with Australia, coping with gut-wrenching losses, and the resilience of players and coaches. For the first time the perspective of these key actors is the subject of serious analysis, and the book is a real insight into the psychology of a women’s highperformance team. As such, it provides a practical guide for developing team culture and leadership for netball coaches at all levels. It also includes comments from Farah Palmer and Noeline Taurua on women in sport and leadership, and a brief history of New Zealand netball, including the gains and losses as netball moved into a semi-professional era, and the struggles for sponsorship and for media recognition, despite it being New Zealand’s most popular team sport.” (Catalogue)  Also available as Ebook Libby

Sevens sisters : how a people-first culture turned silver into gold / Swannell, Rikki
“The Black Ferns Sevens have been the dominant force in the Women’s World Sevens Series since its inception in 2012, with five series titles, as well as claiming gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Their recent runaway success has been forged on the back of hard work and a family-like culture.” (Catalogue)

 

Blake leader : leadership lessons from a great New Zealander / Orams, Mark
“New Zealand lost one of its favourite sons when Sir Peter Blake was shot and killed in the Amazon in late 2001. Blake had become a icon after leading New Zealand to victory in the 1995 and 2000 America’s Cups, following earlier successes in the Whitbread Round the World Race and Jules Verne Challenge. His accomplishments demonstrate his skill at assembling, managing and leading winning teams. Blake: Leader is written by sailor and marine scientist Dr Mark Orams, who sailed around the world with Blake and worked with him at Team New Zealand and Blakexpeditions. In this book he looks at Blake’s successful style of leadership from a personal viewpoint. It mixes reminiscences and anecdotes from Orams and other sporting and business figures who worked closely with Blake with practical observations of how he chose and led teams. Break-out boxes and chapter summaries highlight key points and techniques that can be used by leaders and team members in a wide range of sports and business situations. Chapters include building a great team, being a great leader, encouraging a great work ethic and having a winning attitude. It also examines the unique New Zealand style of leadership demonstrated by other great Kiwi leaders and how Blake’s legacy can be taken into the future.” (Catalogue)

Chasing the cup : my America’s Cup journey / Spithill, Jimmy
“If Ben Ainslie manages to win the right to compete for the America’s Cup in 2017, Jimmy Spithill is the man he’ll be up against. Jimmy is the world’s most successful racing skipper, and at 37 has already reached legendary status. In 2013 he led Oracle Team USA to victory against New Zealand against massive odds, recovering from 1-8 to win 9-8 (the Wall Street Journal called it `one of the greatest comebacks in sports history’), and is the skipper for Oracle’s upcoming 2017 America’s Cup defence as well. This is his autobiography, and it opens with a young Jimmy in hospital about to have surgery on his leg, being told by the doctors he’ll never be much good at sport. This sparks a life-long determination to prove them wrong. He won his first race aged 10, and using a credit card to pay for travel he went on winning races all over the country, and then the world. He debuted in the America’s Cup as a skipper at age 20, and after a tough legal battle to free himself from his contract with the Young Australia team, he sailed in the next two Cups before becoming the youngest ever winner of the America’s Cup in 2010, as helmsman and skipper of BMW Oracle Team 90, only to win it again three years later in 2013. This book is far from the usual media-trained official account you often get, especially in the closed-off world of the America’s Cup. Jimmy’s open, honest style gives us a rare insight into what goes on in the head of an extremely focused man at the top of his game. It’s a rags-to-riches story of fierce determination, court cases, seasickness, crashed boats and cars, alcohol and winning against all the odds. And it all contributed to turning a quiet, bullied, water-loving blue-collar redhead born in Sydney into one of sailing’s biggest rock stars. A compelling read, with many lessons in leadership, teamwork and achieving your dreams, no matter how impossible they seem.” (Catalogue)

One life / Rapinoe, Megan
“Megan Rapinoe was four years old when she kicked her first soccer ball. Her parents encouraged her love for the game, but taught her that winning was much less important than how she lived her life. Here she reflects on the choices she has made, her victories and her failures, and embarks on a thoughtful and candid discussion of her personal journey into social justice. After the 2011 World Cup, discouraged by how few athletes were willing to discuss their sexuality, Rapinoe decided to come out publicly as gay and use her platform to advocate for marriage equality. In 2016 she took a knee during the national anthem to protest racial injustice and police brutality. Rapinoe discusses the obligation we all have to speak up, and the impact each of us can have on our communities. — adapted from jacket” (Catalogue)

Forward : a memoir / Wambach, Abby
“Abby Wambach has always pushed the limits of what is possible. Named by Time magazine as one of the most influential people of 2015, the soccer player captured the nation’s heart when she led her team to its recent World Cup Championship. Abby is a vocal advocate for women’s rights and equal opportunity, pushing to translate the success of her team to the real world. Now Abby recounts her own decisions, wins, losses, and the pivotal moments that helped her become the world class athlete and leader she is today. Abby’s book goes beyond the soccer field to reveal a person grappling universal questions about how we can live our best lives, and become our truest selves. Written with honesty and heart, Forward is a blueprint for individual growth and rousing call to action.” (Catalogue)

Leading / Ferguson, Alex
“After an astonishing career-first in Scotland, and then over 27 years with Manchester United Football Club, Sir Alex Ferguson delivers Leading, in which the greatest soccer coach of all time will analyze the pivotal leadership decisions of his 38 years as a manager and, with his friend and collaborator Sir Michael Moritz, draw out lessons anyone can use in business and life to generate long-term transformational success. From hiring practices to firing decisions, from dealing with transition to teamwork, from mastering the boardroom to responding to failure and adversity, Leading is as inspiring as it is practical, and a go-to reference for any leader in business, sports, and life.”–provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)

On leadership lessons from sports
“The world’s elite athletes and coaches achieve high performance through inspiring leadership, strategic choices, and mental toughness. Harvard Business Review has talked to many of them throughout the years to learn how their success can translate to business leadership. If you read nothing else on management lessons from the world of sports, read these 10 articles by athletes, coaches, and experts in the field. We’ve combed through Harvard Business Review’s archive and selected the articles that will best help you drive your performance–whether as a individual contributor or a leader. This book will inspire you to: – Improve your weaknesses, not just your strengths – Hold everyone to high standards–especially your stars – Find meaning in success–and in challenge – Take care of your body for sustained mental performance – Identify the right rivalries to bring out the best in you – Build your team from the bottom up – Understand where the analogy of sports and business doesn’t work– Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)

The winning mindset : what sport can teach us about great leadership / Hughes, Damian
“In The Winning Mindset, Professor Damian Hughes, the acclaimed author of Liquid Thinking and How to Think Like Sir Alex Ferguson, draws on both his lifetime experience and academic background within sport, organization and change psychology to reveal the best ways to create a winning mindset in both personal and professional life.” (Catalogue)

 

The captain class : the hidden force that creates the world’s greatest teams / Walker, Sam
“Walker starts with one of the most hotly debated questions in sports: What are the greatest teams ever–particularly those that sustained success over a long period of time. He devised a formula to compare the achievements of teams from leagues all over the world, and after painstakingly profiling thousands of them, produced a comprehensive, unbiased list of the 16 best. Period. At that point, Walker became obsessed with another, more complicated question: What did these teams have in common? A genius coach? A transcendent superstar? A ground breaking system? Or was it all a matter of chemistry? A surprising pattern emerged: There was a very specific kind of leader at the center of these teams, a force that drove them to greatness, and they all shared eight specific characteristics. Who they are, who they are not, and the traits they shared will fascinate anyone who follows sports or is interested in building a team — and winning. Told through riveting stories of some of the most compelling and pressure-soaked moments in sports history, Walker not only brings these uncommon leaders to life, he presents a counterintuitive view of leadership–one that can apply to a wide spectrum of competitive disciplines, particularly business”– Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)

Staying the distance : the lessons from sport that business leaders have been missing / Baker, Catherine
“Leadership can be hard. It can certainly be relentless. The pandemic has wreaked havoc on the well-being, health and sustained performance of many senior leaders, and yet strong leadership remains central to the performance of every single organization. Business leaders are very familiar with drawing lessons from elite sport, particularly around teams, leadership and high performance. But we have all been missing a trick. Day in, day out, sport has been showing us not only how to improve, perform and achieve, but how to do so on a sustained basis, consistently delivering results when it matters. This book shines a light on these unseen lessons, and provides a clear and practical roadmap for how to deploy them in the reader’s own leadership practices. With Catherine Baker’s unique view into world-class sport and top-level business, and with insights from top performers in both worlds, this book provides a fresh and dynamic take on how – consistently and over the long term – to bring out the best in yourself, and in those you lead.”– Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)

If you need more information please contact the Prosearch team at the library.  We can help you find information across a range of perspectives and resources.  All enquiries are treated in confidence.