What we’re reading

Click for the bibliography for The Biology of Learning seminar on Interpersonal Neurobiology and education.

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking
Well-researched book filled with stories and information about how organizations can understand and benefit from the strengths of introverts and extroverts.

Learning to Think Strategically
Sloan moves beyond strategic planning and simple “out of the box” thinking. She discusses the role of dialogue and intuition in defining strategy and looks at the role an organization’s culture plays in strategic success.

Orbiting the Giant Hairball: A Corporate Fool’s Guide to Surviving with Grace
Fun, inspiring memoir on “how to emerge from the ‘giant hairball’ – that tangled, impenetrable mass of rules, and systems, based on what worked in the past and which can lead to mediocrity in the present.”

The Laws of Simplicity: Design, Technology, Business, Life
Maeda suggests we can learn to simplify without sacrificing comfort and meaning. He lists ten laws for balancing simplicity and complexity in business, technology, and design – guidelines for needing less and actually getting more. (paraphrase from end notes)

Thinking in Systems: A Primer
An understandable, accessible introduction to systems thinking that looks at systems from the personal to organizational to global. It gives clear ideas on how to develop systems-thinking skills.

Switch: How To Change Things When Change Is Hard
How to bring the rational mind that wants change and the emotional mind that is comfortable with the status quo together to create change and tangible and intangible results.

Quiet Leadership: Six Steps to Transforming Performance at Work
Combines research in neuroscience and applies it to the workplace. It asks us to change the way we interact and includes activities and questions for use by those who engage in organization development.