5 books association professionals are reading right now

If you’re anything like me, you have a stack of books at least a foot tall, sitting on a bookshelf or desk somewhere in your office. But for some reason, seeing all those unread books doesn’t stop me from ordering more. I tell myself that I will read them eventually and that I shouldn’t pass up a great professional development opportunity.

Well, to further occupy my desk and join the countless book recommendations I’ve received from various interviews with other association professionals, I asked SURGE Forward speaker applicants to share a book that impacted their career. 

They were so on-point and applicable to today’s current events, that I thought everyone should see. Here’s my top five favorite books our speaker applicants shared, and a little about each one:

“The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable” by Patrick Lencioni

With a powerful model and actionable steps for success, Lencioni shares the five common dysfunctions seen in every struggling team. This model can be used to overcome these hurdles and build a successful and cohesive team. Powerful, yet simple, this book delivers the thought-leadership needed to succeed and become exceptional team leaders.

“The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen R. Covey

Praised as a “beloved classic,” this book by Stephen R. Covey delivers a new approach for solving professional and personal problems. Offering a step-by-step guide to living with fairness, integrity, honesty and human dignity, Covey’s book provides readers the security, wisdom and power needed to take advantage of any opportunity.

“Winning” by Jack Welch

No matter the stage of your career, tough strategic, organizational and personal challenges are bound to occur. Thankfully, this book delivers a wide range and in depth management guidebook to dealing with these challenges. Consisting of do’s and don'ts, personal advice and anecdotes from Welch himself, “Winning” positions itself as one of the best books for businessmen and women looking to grow in life.

“Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking” by Malcolm Gladwell

Choices made in an instant — in the blink of an eye — seemingly without thinking at all. A simple phrase, really, but as this book by Malcolm Gladwell reveals, it might not be as simple as it seems. Here Gladwell discusses how our brains work in different scenarios and why some people are great decision makers while others struggle.

“Only the Paranoid Survive: How to Exploit the Crisis Points That Challenge Every Company” by Andrew S. Grove

With the major impacts of COVID-19 continuing to change the world, many are looking for ways to predict and prepare for the future. In his book, Andrew S. Grove shares his new strategy for when massive change occurs and a company must adapt or fail.

Sidecar only offers links to resources and products we truly recommend. It’s just a nice bonus that we might earn a small commission if you purchase through our affiliate links.