What we are reading… in May.

As a team we absolutely love to read. Whether it be a latest release, an undiscovered treasure that has only just come across our radar, or dusting off an old favourite from the bookshelf.

As a team of Business Psychology practitioners, we also know how important it is to keep up-to-date on the latest research, thinking and industry trends. So for a bit of fun, but also in the spirit of ‘caring is sharing’ we thought it might be useful to share what we’re currently reading each month.

Here’s a snapshot of what the Psychology Work’s team have on their reading list for this month…

No Hard Feelings: Emotions at Work and How They Help Us Succeed, Liz Fosslien and Mollie West Duffy.

No Hard Feelings addresses the challenge of managing emotions in the workplace, recognizing that everyone experiences feelings like anxiety, jealousy, and insecurity at work. Instead of ignoring or suppressing these emotions, which can harm health, happiness, and productivity, the book offers practical guidance on how to express and manage emotions in a way that enhances both personal well-being and professional effectiveness.

Drawing on insights from behavioral economics and psychology, the authors provide tools and strategies to help readers navigate their emotional experiences at work. Through lively illustrations and real-world examples, No Hard Feelings shows how to harness emotions to become more creative, collaborative, and productive, enabling you to bring your best self to work every day.

The Manager's Dilemma: How to Empower Your Team's Problem-Solving, Irial O’Farrell.

This Amazon bestseller addresses the common challenge managers face when overwhelmed by a constant stream of issues escalated to their desks. Many managers, skilled at problem-solving, instinctively jump in to resolve each problem as it arises. However, this approach isn't sustainable when dealing with numerous issues daily, especially when team members like "Merv," "Damon," or "Lisa" continually rely on their manager to solve problems they could handle themselves.

The book offers practical strategies for managers who want to empower their team members to become better problem-solvers. Drawing from real-world scenarios and extensive experience with hundreds of managers, it explores the reasons behind issue escalation, the detailed steps of problem-solving, and how a manager's mindset influences team dynamics. Additionally, it provides profiles of common team member types and tailored advice on how to develop each one, ultimately helping managers free up their time and foster a more independent, capable team.

No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention, Reed Hastings and Erin Meyer.

Shortlisted for the 2020 Financial Times & McKinsey Business Book of the Year, this book delves into the revolutionary culture at Netflix, a company that has rapidly evolved from a DVD mail-order service into a global streaming giant with 190 million subscribers. Netflix's success is attributed to a unique set of cultural principles, including radical honesty, trusting the team, and rejecting the traditional corporate mindset of pleasing the boss. These ground rules have enabled Netflix to thrive in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment.

In this book, Netflix Chairman and CEO Reed Hastings, alongside INSEAD business professor Erin Meyer, reveals the leadership philosophy that has redefined the entertainment and tech industries. The book explores how Netflix’s unconventional practices—such as offering unlimited holidays and eliminating approvals—create a dynamic workplace that fosters creativity, productivity, and innovation. For anyone interested in understanding how to run an organization differently in today’s world, this book provides an in-depth look at the principles that make Netflix’s culture a model of modern corporate success.

The encore.

If you’ve made it this far and still want more, then why not check out some of our other book recommendations….