Accel5®’s Business Book Summaries of the Month: February 2022

Add these summarized business books from Accel5 to your February reading list.

This month’s collection covers various topics including leadership, innovation, diversity, corporate social responsibility and more — all summarized to be enjoyed in minutes. Keep scrolling to discover your next read with the most recently summarized business books from Accel5^®.

Business Recoded
Peter Fisk

Summary: In today’s environment of relentless change, seven shifts can help business leaders create a better future for their organizations. Change is accelerating faster than ever. Experts believe that we’ll see more change in the next decade than we have in the last 250 years. This is problematic for businesses since many were designed to operate in stable environments. To succeed, companies and leaders must find new codes to support success. In Business Recoded, Peter Fisk describes the seven shifts and 49 codes required to create a better business future.

 For those looking to improve upon these competencies:

• Innovation
• Leadership
• Managing Change

HBR’s 10 Must Reads On Change Management
Harvard Business Review

Summary: One of the most significant challenges for today’s leaders is staying competitive through change and disruption. The requirements for doing so can feel overwhelming, even to the most seasoned leaders. In volume two of HBR’s 10 Must Reads On Change Management, presented by Harvard Business Review Press, 26 organizational thought leaders explain how to identify the needed changes, explore opportunities and implement new strategies for success.

For those looking to improve upon these competencies:

• Management
• Change Leadership

It’s Time to Talk about Race at Work
Kelly McDonald

Summary: Diversity, equity and inclusion programs can be difficult to get right. Rather than driving change, these programs can cause people to tune out, feel uncomfortable and avoid putting in the efforts the programs’ organizers call for. Instead, leaders must use the moments they have to talk about these matters to help their teams build skills that promote fairness in collaborations, conversations, and opportunities for members of every race. In It’s Time to Talk about Race at Work, Kelly McDonald helps leaders take on these important topics.

For those looking to improve upon these competencies:

• Diversity
• Leadership

Put Happiness to Work
Eric Karpinski

 Summary: In Put Happiness to Work, Eric Karpinski shares seven research-based happiness strategies you can use to activate the positive emotions in your people that will spark long-term engagement and increase productivity. Leaders can use this toolkit to develop new habits in themselves and their teams that will cultivate happiness, propel work and foster lasting organizational change.

For those looking to improve upon these competencies:

• Managing Others
• Managing Self
• Positive Outlook

Reinventing Social Change
Nell Edgington

 Summary: In Reinventing Social Change, Nell Edgington explains how to create a thriving social change organization within an outdated system that contains unnecessary rules and barriers. By caring for yourself and your staff, recognizing your organization’s value, creating mission-based systems to raise funds and recruiting people with different expertise to help, your social change organization will be poised to make lasting change in the world.

For those looking to improve upon these competencies:

• Corporate Culture Development
• Corporate Social Responsibility

The Lost Art of Connecting
Susan McPherson

Summary: The world is suffering from a loneliness epidemic. Personal and professional networks are shrinking, and modes of communication are shifting away from those that foster real connections to those that simplify contact. In The Lost Art of Connecting, Susan McPherson explains how depth can be restored in relationships through meaningful, authentic connection. Her three-step method, “gather, ask, do,” encourages people to build those connections. She explains that people must first define what’s meaningful to them. Then, they must explore how they can be of service. Finally, they must act in ways that make those relationships deeply rewarding.

For those looking to improve upon these competencies:

• Managing Others
• Networking & Relationship Building

The Non-Obvious Guide to Working Remotely
Rohit Bhargava

Summary: In a world changed forever by the COVID-19 pandemic, the future of business will require the flexibility to be productive without being in the same room. In The Non-Obvious Guide to Working Remotely, best-selling author Rohit Bhargava teaches readers how to improve the skills that matter most in a virtual workplace. Readers will learn how to make human connections, collaborate effectively, present virtually and more.

For those looking to improve upon these competencies:

• Managing Self
• Time Management
• Working Remotely

The Power of Good News
Hal Urban

Summary: The news that we hear most frequently from the media tends to be negative. In The Power of Good News, Hal Urban makes the case for focusing on positive, uplifting content. Research shows that the type of content you experience can have a major impact on your physical and mental health. While we can’t ignore the harsh realities of the world, we can certainly try to balance them. Using Urban’s simple strategies, it’s possible to manage negative inputs and become more positive, healthy and resilient.

For those looking to improve upon these competencies:

• Managing Self
• Positive Outlook

The Vision Code
Oleg Konovalov

Summary: In The Vision Code, Oleg Konovalov explains how you can use a powerful vision to successfully transform your company’s future. Whether you’re a new or experienced leader, applying his practical strategies can help you master your vision and use it as a solid foundation for your organization’s success. From creating a vision that inspires others to making it a reality, you can be a leader who uses vision as a powerful management tool that helps your business thrive in today’s fast-changing world.

For those looking to improve upon these competencies:

• Vision & Mission

Wait, I’m Working with Who?!?
Peter Economy

Summary: Every workplace has people who spoil productivity and turn work culture toxic. In Wait, I’m Working with Who?!?, Peter Economy outlines a field guide to identify the 16 types of “jerks”, understand their effects on employees and workplace culture, and take decisive action through eight strategies for dealing with them. By learning to identify and neutralize their impact, you can bolster morale and significantly improve your workplace environment.

For those looking to improve upon these competencies:

• Collaboration & Teamwork
• Management
• Networking & Relationship Building