Knowing what your strengths are and then working through your strengths will change your business and professional life. Here are three books worth reading (and I have read them more times than I can count).

Now, Discover Your Strengths – Buckingham, Marcus & Donald O. Clifton

For anyone who uses Microsoft Outlook, this books is worth reading…and even if you don’t, most of the concepts apply across the various types of productivity software. As I skimmed this book at the bookstore prior to buying it, I thought, ‘Hmmmm…this sounds a lot like David Allen’s work.’ Then, I read the book and found that she and David Allen (prior to both of them forming their own companies) had worked together and had developed the ideas that are foundational to this book (and David Allen’s Getting Things Done system). So, since I was already a big fan of the ideas, this just strengthened my knowledge of how to implement the practices in my life. McGhee writes clearly and gives readers step-by-step ways to use the ideas she discusses. Read it, take what works for you, and leave the rest behind. (Of course, this is pretty much my advice for all books!)

If you love having books arrive FAST, be sure to sign up for Amazon Prime…free 2-day shipping for one flat rate each year (and you can have 4 family members all using it.  Such a bargain for those of us who want books NOW vs. later!)

 Welch, Suzy.   10-10-10: A Life-Transforming Idea.

This is an OUTSTANDING book whether you are an introvert or an extrovert.  I learned so much from reading Laney’s book.  I wish it had been written years ago and that I had known about it. Her information is enlightening and her suggestions are smart and reasonable.  She knows what she is talking about and doesn’t offer ideas that an introvert would eschew.  This is an excellent follow-up book to the ‘Networking for Introverts’ workshop – which you may receive as an immediate download – learn more here:  www.meggin.com/NetworkingforIntroverts.php.

“Holy moly!”  This book is a treasure trove of information for anyone who is a writer.  Just click on the link and once you get to the Amazon page, you’ll see several of this book’s brothers and sisters (including an on-line version), too.  Note:  It’s not necessary to purchase the Writer’s Market book every year, but if you intend to write and get your ideas out there in any number of different formats, then you need to buy one every couple of years, at least.  You can also find this book at essentially every public library.  Check it out!

Just the title alone intrigued me…and then when I read the Seven Principles of Fierce Conversations, I was hooked. For example, Principle 6 is “Take Responsibility for Your Emotional Wake.”  Scott points out that for leaders, there are no “trivial comments.” Since reading this book, I have highly recommended it in my leadership training seminars, and have used as a core text in a year-long training. Reading it will have an impact on your professional and personal life–even if you don’t do anything. If you DO follow some of her suggestions, your personal and professional lives will be “fiercely” affected.

No matter what your profession, being a better (and prolific) writer will increase your success.  I teach several different classes about writing including 30 Articles In Just 30 Days and always recommend various books to participants, including some of the ones listed below.

Take a few moments to read the annotations below to see if any of the books sound interesting to you (and more are constantly added and deleted) so visit often.

Manser, Martin H. The Facts on File Guide to Good Writing.

This book has chapters on preparing to write, revising, grammar, word usage, punctuation, etc.  It’s a handy reference tool.

McCutcheon, Marc.  Damn!  Why Didn’t I Write That?  How Ordinary People Are Raking in $100,000 or More Writing Niche Books and How You Can, Too.

If you’ve ever had the experience of seeing a book and thinking, ‘Hmmm…I could have written this,” then you will want to read this book.

Sellers, Heather.  Chapter After Chapter:  Discover the Dedication and Focus You Need to Write the Book of Your Dreams.

This is a great book, especially if you are considering writing a novel.  HOWEVER, and it’s a big however, I recommend it regardless. I am certainly not writing a novel and I have learned a great deal from reading this book.

Sellers, Heather.  Page After Page:  Discover the Confidence and Passion You Need to Start Writing and Keep Writing (No Matter What).

It’s hard to say which book in this list I recommend the most highly, but this is one of them.  When I bought this book, I read a little bit of it each night before I went to sleep.  I find it a scrumptious book.  Both of these two books (Page After Page and Chapter After Chapter) are printed on great paper and in such an intriguing way.  But it’s the content that will really be helpful to you (and has been to me).

Winget, Larry.  How to Write a Book One Page at a Time.

This book is apparently no longer in print, but maybe you can find a copy somewhere.  I’ve included the link to Amazon, although you can only buy it from used booksellers.  I referenced it in the “Words That Fall Out of Your Keyboard:  Writing Naturally” teleseminar (which is free) and it would be worth hunting for a copy.

Excellent book based on the “Do Babies Matter” study (by Mason & Goulden) as well as additional research conducted by the two authors (mother & daughter). 

Anyone who manages others (even yourself!) will gain from reading this book and putting into practice the concepts presented by the authors.  Read and answer the 12 Questions that “measure the core elements needed to attract, focus, and keep the most talented employees“ on page 28. Your own answers may cause you to decide to change where and how you work and the answers that your employees give are truly a measure of your organization’s productivity.

We ALL need to enhance our leadership skills – and some of the books that I find extremely useful are annotated below. 

Take a few moments to read about the books I’ve listed below to see if any of the books sound interesting to you and see if they would be helpful to you, too.  Everyone around you needs you to be at your best.  These books help you do that. 

Marcus Buckingham is the face of the strengths movement.  His earlier books written while with the Gallup Organization helped propel him to rock star status.  Plus, he’s a fabulous speaker and communicator and thinker (and yes, he’s handsome, too).  Now that he’s started his own company, he is building an empire to keep propelling the strengths movement ahead.  This book is an excellent read, you get to take a strengths assessment, and it has super nifty tools included (Love it and Loathe it cards, for example).  HIGHLY recommended to be part of your library.

I cannot recommend this book enough and even though it’s not a time/paper management book per se, it is because of their research-based philosophy that we need to spend our time, energy, efforts, and lives doing what we do best and helping those around us do the same. This is probably the book I have recommended to more people for a longer period of time than any other book I’ve ever read. It’s life changing.

After Marcus Buckingham left the Gallup Organization to start his own company (and write his own book….GO Put Your Strengths to Work:  6 Powerful Steps to Achieve Outstanding Performance), then it was important for Gallup to publish a new book on the Strengths work that they have continued to do.  And this is that book.  For some reason, I was poised not to like it (who knows why), but I like it VERY much.  It’s clear, provides excellent action suggestions for each of the 34 strengths, and of course, has the magic code in it so you can take the StrengthsFinder assessment.  This is the book I now use when I’m teaching Strengths workshops.  Order it today if you haven’t already.

Just the title alone intrigued me…and then when I read the Seven Principles of Fierce Conversations, I was hooked. For example, Principle 6 is “Take Responsibility for Your Emotional Wake.” Scott points out that for leaders, there are no “trivial comments.” Since reading this book, I have highly recommended it in my leadership training seminars, and am using it as a core text in an upcoming year long training. Reading it will have an impact on your professional and personal life–even if you don’t do anything. If you DO follow some of her suggestions, your personal and professional lives will be “fiercely” affected.

Now just tell me that this title doesn’t make you want to read the book – or at least talk to someone who HAS read the book. I have read the book and have recommended it to hundreds of people because, unfortunately, many workplaces don’t seem to have implemented the ‘no asshole rule.’  In this time of toxicity in the workplace, which is a horrendous impediment to productivity, this book is worth reading and worth buying for others to read.  Unfortunately, the real a-holes won’t get it, so don’t waste your money on them.  Get your colleagues to read it and then discuss it in a faculty meeting.