If you work in an educational organization, you understand the busyness that engulfs the daily routine. No matter what role you serve in, it is easy to get caught up in the minutiae of your position, losing sight of the bigger picture, if you aren’t intentional with your time. As an educator, you are always in a state of reflection. Every day, you are grappling with what went well, and where there is room for growth. As you navigate your days, you have opportunities to connect with a multitude of people about various items. Some of those interactions may seem easy and others more challenging in nature. Amidst the multitude of interactions that fill your days, you instinctively seek common ground, knowing that diverse perspectives shape your ongoing journey. While some conversations effortlessly align, others feel like an uphill battle. But amidst this quest for coming together, there is a simple solution—four words that hold immense power: select a professional book. 

Professional Book Talks Bring Common Ground

Why does selecting a professional book grounded in the mission and vision of your district hold the key to unlocking personal and professional growth? Let’s explore the manifold reasons why:

Creating a Shared Experience: Choosing a professional book acts as a catalyst for creating a shared experience among educators. It ignites conversations that spark innovative ideas and insights. The collective exploration of its pages naturally cultivates spaces for collaborative problem-finding and problem-solving, fostering a sense of camaraderie and collective purpose.

Igniting Conversations and Innovative Ideas: Professional books serve as a source of inspiration, igniting discussions that transcend the confines of daily responsibilities. They provide a rich tapestry of ideas, theories, and real-world connections that spark fresh perspectives and innovative approaches to educational obstacles. By selecting a professional book, you open doors to invite other perspectives and transformative ideas that propel personal and professional growth.

Nurturing a Constant State of Learning: As Simon Sinek remarked, “Great leaders consider themselves students in leadership.” Selecting a professional book reinforces the belief that we should always remain in a constant state of learning, dedicated to helping those we serve thrive. It fosters a growth mindset, encouraging educators to continuously seek knowledge and expand their understanding, empowering them to better support their students and colleagues.

Amplifying the Power of Collaboration: Adam Grant eloquently shared, “The most meaningful way to succeed is to help other people succeed.” By selecting a professional book, you invite collaboration and collective growth. It creates a platform for educators to come together, exchange ideas, and learn from one another’s experiences. Through shared reading and reflection, a community of educators can amplify their impact and create lasting change within their educational ecosystem.

My Professional Book Recommendations

Here are some of the timeless books that have transformed my approaches to leadership and teaching and learning in no particular order: The Innovator’s Mindset by George Couros, Innovate Inside the Box by George Couros and Dr. Katie Novak,  Good to Great by Jim Collins, Change by Richard Gerver, Personal and Authentic by Thomas C. Murray, Think Again by Adam Grant, One-Minute Meeting by Dr. Mary Hemphill, Atomic Habits by James Clear, The Infinite Game by Simon Senik, Trust and Inspire by Stephan Covey, Teach Like a Pirate by Dave Burgess, The Pepper Effect by Sean Gaillard, Teachers Deserve It by Adam Welcome and Rae Hughart,  Evolving Education by Dr. Katie Martin, Evolving Learner by Lainie Rowell, Kristy Andre, and Lauren Steinmann, Evolving with Gratitude by Lainie Rowell, Because of a Teacher, written and curated by George Couros, The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday, The Art of Coaching by Elena Aguilar, Student-Centered Coaching by Diane Sweeney, Lead with Collaboration by Allyson Apsey and Jessica Gomez, and The Four Agreements by don Miguel Ruiz (just to name a few).

From Reflection to Action: 5 Ways to Energize Professional Book Talks

I have wholeheartedly capitalized on and embraced the wealth of ideas and lessons gleaned from these books, integrating them seamlessly into my daily practices. They have become touchstones I frequently revisit, whether it’s in preparation for a presentation or when facilitating a transformative learning experience. In the spirit of fostering ongoing dialogue, I am delighted to share a selection of actionable ideas that will keep the conversations alive and thriving.

Keep Quotes for Discussion Accessible: As I read a book, I must do things like highlight the parts that resonate with me or fill the pages with sticky notes, making the book just a little thicker! But, here’s the thing. You will not always be carrying the book with you. I look at some of these timeless books I read as friends I must constantly revisit for advice and inspiration. Therefore, I use the notes section in my Smartphone to collect quotes from various books and podcasts. You can usually find me using the voice to text feature in lieu of typing. This is especially helpful for the longer quotes you want to capture. This way, I can easily access the words of wisdom at any given moment! I have even inspired people who aren’t reading the book to pick up a copy based on quotes I share whenever and wherever!

Invite Storytelling: Invite colleagues to share their own personal stories to elevate and personalize the conversation. This will not only bring the book to life, but it will make it more relevant and interesting to the people reading it. Additionally, this opens doors to learning more about different facets of your colleagues. Recently, I facilitated a book talk with a group of colleagues at our annual administrative retreat. I opened the discussion grounded in the book Trust and Inspire by Stephen Covey by talking about a mentor who saw leadership qualities in me at a young age; my fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Roth. I shared how Mrs. Roth retired as an assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction in a local school district and until this very day, I speak with her every week. The story of our connection and the way we kept in touch was just one example of how my colleagues learned a little more about me and each other that day.

Extending the Conversation: Using a platform like Voxer (a walkie talkie app) that will ensure that you can add thoughts about the book to your previous conversations without having to wait for your next formal book talk meeting. This will keep the cross pollination of ideas continuous. When I use Voxer to share ideas, I have to say them in the moment. You can usually find me talking into the app at any time of the day, whether I am walking to a teacher’s classroom or to my car. Most often, there will be someone in the group who will respond pretty quickly. They will add onto my idea, reaffirm my idea, or push my thinking by sharing a different perspective.

Balancing Digital and Nondigital Reflection Activities: During the recent administrative retreat I mentioned earlier, my team and I developed digital and nondigital learning experiences to ignite reflection and initiate engagement. These activities are modeled intentionally so our colleagues can think about using them in their own staff meetings with teachers. Then, the teachers can use these activities with their students. See how this works? Great high-leverage practices get passed down and implemented with intention and purpose. 

Examples of Digital and Non-Digital Activities:

– Collecting Feedback: We used the digital tool Mentimenter to collect answers to the question: What qualities do you look for in a leader? Participants scanned the QR code on their phone and typed in their adjectives. A word cloud formed, providing us with immediate feedback about what our colleagues valued in a leader. This propelled our conversation in the right direction. 

–Inviting Collaboration and Making Thinking Visible: We used the digital tool Canva to invite collaboration and make thinking visible. We created a presentation that included 5 slides (for 5 groups). Each slide had an image. This particular image came from the book Trust and Inspire by Stephen Covey. Each group worked collaboratively to share thinking in real-time about the image below. The prompt was, “Share specific examples about how you model these beliefs from the book in your daily practices.” Then, they used a post-it to make their thinking visible to the group. We followed this with open discussion.

–Incorporating Movement: We used a non-digital experience called the Quote Carousel to get participants up and moving while sharing their thoughts about the book. Each participant selected a sentence or two from the book that resonated with them. Then, the group came to a consensus about when a particular quote resonated with all of them. They jotted that quote on chart paper and all participants went around to the different chart papers filled with quotes from different groups and quietly responded to the quote or each other’s thoughts in writing. Then, they got to circulate and read all of the ideas their colleagues shared.

Sealing the Book Talk with Gratitude: Seal the Book Talk with Gratitude: Throughout my educational journey, I’ve discovered the profound impact of expressing gratitude. Appreciating our colleagues and students is a valuable investment in our emotional well-being. In Lainie Rowell’s book #EvolvingWithGratitude, she shares, “We often fail to appreciate what we have until we consider how different life could have been.” To foster a culture of gratitude, I’ve initiated moments in meetings where educators take a minute to send texts or emails expressing appreciation to someone who has made a difference in their week. This simple act ignites a wave of smiles as heartfelt messages of gratitude are received in return.

During a recent Trust and Inspire book talk, my colleagues and I took it a step further. We asked leaders to write postcards to themselves, filled with inspiring words for the future. These self-addressed postcards will be mailed to them unexpectedly, serving as a delightful surprise that keeps them motivated to continue their exceptional work. Additionally, we encouraged them to write postcards expressing gratitude and appreciation to fellow teachers, recognizing their invaluable contributions.

Moving Forward

As we navigate the busyness of our educational journeys, it’s crucial to remain intentional and not lose sight of the bigger picture. By embracing the power of professional book talks, we pave the way for ongoing growth and collaboration. Let’s kcontinue to find common ground and evolve together as educators, creating an impact that extends far beyond the pages of the books we explore.