Essential Reading to Strengthen Your Leadership Skills This Summer

Strong leadership is at the heart of any successful organization. Whether you’re a small business owner, a nonprofit director, or the head of a grassroots political movement, leadership is what draws people in, pulls them together, and mobilizes them to achieve greatness.

Leadership skills include many things: courage, integrity, perseverance, empathy. But the truth is, the essence of great leadership can’t be captured in a few keywords. That’s why we’ve put together this summer reading list of the best books about leadership and the skills you need to lead.

Books for Personal Development

Before you can lead others, you need to lead yourself. That includes changing the way you think and work so you can get more done without burning out. These books, recommended by experts in the field, will help you step out of your comfort zone and develop the personal skills you need to become an effective leader.

• The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
• Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. by Brené Brown
• The Leadership Challenge: How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations by James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner
• Off the Clock: Feel Less Busy While Getting More Done by Laura Vanderkam

Books for Fostering Creativity and Innovation

In addition to being organized and decisive, leaders need to be visionary. Contrary to popular belief, inspiration doesn’t simply strike. Rather, the ability to innovate is a skill carefully cultivated by nurturing your team’s creative side. These books explain how.

• Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World by Adam Grant
• The Positive Organization: Breaking Free from Conventional Cultures, Constraints, and Beliefs by Robert E. Quinn
• Driven by Difference: How Great Companies Fuel Innovation Through Diversity by David Livermore

Books for Leading Change

How do leaders rally people around innovative change in a world that prefers to stick to the status quo? Getting people to follow you into the unknown isn’t easy, but it is possible when you know how to tap into what truly motivates people. Read these books to learn how to inspire and motivate others to achieve your vision.

• Strengths Based Leadership: Great Leaders, Teams, and Why People Follow by Tom Rath and Barry Conchie
• Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek
• Applied Empathy: The New Language of Leadership by Michael Ventura

Books for Work-Life Balance

Being a leader isn’t an easy job. And while you might not be able to clock out, it’s still important to prioritize work-life balance in order to prevent burnout. These books explain how leaders can maintain work-life balance without sacrificing their vision.

• Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen
• Drop the Ball: Achieving More By Doing Less by Tiffany Dufu
• The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Timothy Ferriss

Great leaders know there’s always more to learn. That’s why the best leaders are always reading! Whether you’re just starting out on your leadership journey or are looking for ways to take your organization to the next level, let this summer reading list spark your creativity.

Reopening Plans for Richards Library

The Richards Library will reopen to limited days and services starting Monday, July 13^th, 2020. The library will be open to the public on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 AM-3 PM and will be closed on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday until further notice.  As part of its reopening plan, certain measures will be in place to ensure the public health and safety of our patrons and staff.  This is our top priority.

When normal deliveries have commenced, the staff, upon receiving materials for its patrons, will call those people and set up a date and time when they may pick up their books, DVDs, etc.  Patrons will be allowed to come into the library but may not proceed past the entry control point set up at the Library Avenue entrance.  All patrons MUST wear a face covering, i.e., surgical mask, homemade mask, scarf, etc., that covers their mouth and nose or they will be asked to leave until such time they have the proper covering.  Gloves are optional but recommended.  If patrons would like to only return borrowed materials, they may bring them to the Library Avenue book drop anytime.  Returned materials will be quarantined 3 days before check in, but no late fees will be charged for the foreseeable future.

If patrons would like to order materials, they have 2 options to do so.  1) They may call the library at 518-623-3011 and a member of the staff can order their materials for them, or, 2) Go to the library’s web page, www.therichardslibrary.com, where you will see an icon that states, “Books, DVDs & More”.  Click the link below that to go to the catalog.  Upon entering, please sign in to your account by using your library card barcode number as your user name and the last 4 digits of your home phone as the password.  This should bring you to the on-line catalog for the Richards Library.  At this time, we can only fill requests from our collection.  Requests for materials from other libraries is suspended until further notice.  If you experience any problems, contact the library and a staff member will assist you.  Please remember, that there are certain quarantine protocols that need to be maintained and requested holds to delivery to scheduled pick up may take up to an additional 3 days.    

Services such as copying and faxing are suspended until such time that the Board deems it safe.  Procedures for those services are pending.  Also, the public will not have access to our computers until it is safe and protocols have been established. The library does provide free Wi-Fi, 24/7, and patrons may use their phones, tablets or laptops to connect to the Internet outside on the library’s patio (please remember to practice social distancing) or from their parked car.  Finally, all programming and use of the library’s community room is suspended.

As we proceed forward in a cautious manner, we ask all of our patrons to be patient.  We too are anxious to return to “normal” times.  Any future changes in times and services will be posted on the library’s web page, Facebook page (Facebook.com/Richards Library) and this publication.  Finally, we would like to thank all the community members for voting in the June 16^th Referendum and passing the library budget for FY 2021.  We thank you for your support and we won’t let you down!

The Caldwell-Lake George Library and the Richards Library invite you to a virtual discussion with Lorraine Duvall on her latest book, “Finding A Woman’s Place: The Story of a 1970s Feminist Collective in the Adirondacks”

                             Wednesday June 24, 2020, 5-6pm

In a Zoom meeting, Duvall will share the fascinating history of a women’s community in Athol, New York, which served as a safe harbor for hundreds of women during the tumultuous times of the second wave of feminism in the 1970s.

Topic: Zoom Meeting
Time: Jun 24, 2020 05:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

 Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89549679731
Meeting ID: 895 4967 9731

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        Award-winning author Duvall brings a viewpoint to the story as an active participant, attending a retreat at A Woman’s Place in 1974, and as a researcher examining historical documents and locating the principal founders and organizers of the commune to write the full story.
       For further information see the website   www.lorraineduvall.com