đđ Books for Builders: 2022 Gift Guide Edition
When you don't know what to give, a book is (almost) always the answer
Between wrapping up end-of-year work, beginning early 2023 work, and general holiday prep, there is never enough time this time of year. I was chatting with one of my work wives last week and we were talking about the situations where it is or isnât appropriate to get gifts for your coworkers and the general anxiety that produces. We couldnât quite say whatâs appropriate because itâs probably different for every relationship that you have. CONFUSING! That said, if your love language is gifting or if a gift is appropriate for whatever reason, the best gift is almost always a book.* One of my most popular newsletter posts ever was a holiday shopping guide for your coworkers (books only baby!). Read on for this yearâs refresh.
FOR YOUR BOSS
A tender relationship that you want to foster, and what better way to do this than to implant your ideas and ideals inside their head.
The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership: A New Paradigm for Sustainable Success by Diana Chapman, Kaley Klemp, and Jim Dethmer - A friend recently recommended that I read this because their thesis on being a present and trust-based leader âsounded like something Nickey would be into.â They were not wrong. I just started this and itâs already chock-full of my notes and shaping my worldviews.
Leadership Is a Relationship: How to Put People First in the Digital World by Willys Devoll and Michael S. Erwin - I heard Mike Erwin on a recent BrenĂ© Brown podcast and really picked up what he was putting down. I believe his core thesis to be true. Invest in your relationships and your work gets easier, the shit you ship gets better, and things just start to click in ways they wouldnât have otherwise.
Adrift: America in 100 Charts by Scott Galloway - This might be a little dark tbh, but as builders understanding the weird micro and macro environments we live in is essential to nailing the work we put out into the world.
FOR YOUR DIRECTS/MENTEES
A great moment to acknowledge the weird power structures that we are a part of and a moment to focus on the power of our craft. This list is by a handful of movers and shakers all designed to make ya (re)think.
Take Back Your Power: Ten New Rules for Women at Work by Deb Liu - An active, growth-mindset-shaped, set of tools that help women overcome the inequities at work.
Pay Up: The Future of Women and Work by Reshma Saujani - A great primer (especially for men who are often uneducated here) on the barriers working women, especially mothers, face at work.
Build: An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making by Tony Fadell - A fantastic peek into a brilliant builderâs mind.
FOR EVERYONE
I know we invariably want to buy our coworkerâs business books because itâs what we have in common and show up to do every day, but sometimes the best way to take care of ourselves is to NOT think about work. Here are two of the most palatable, liked-by-everyone, fiction books I read this year.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin - A trio of friends turned game-builders and the story of how they change the world through their games. One of the best books I read this year.
Fairy Tale by Stephen King - A surprising genre hop for Stephen King, master of horror, to pen a fairy tale ⊠but I loved it. His writing style is easy, the storyline sweet and surprising, and there is a dog that youâll grow to love. What more could you want?
*THE EXCEPTION
I do have an exception on the âbooks are the best giftâ rule and it is for anyone who does a service for you (like childcare workers, cleaning staff, your doorman, administrative help, etc.). In those cases CASH is always appropriate. No one wants socks or a keychain, be strong and donât do it!
What would you buy your boss, your directs, your mentees, or your coworkers? Or what was the best gift youâve gotten from a coworker? I want to hear your ideas in the comments below đđ»