Over the past 12 months I have written and presented several times around the idea that Risk and BC practitioners need to develop new, different skills and must broaden their intellectual horizons.
One way to achieve that is to read wider. In fact, it is probably the only effective way.
Reading can cover a range of sources- blog posts, Journal articles (so long as we move away from the narrow technical risk/BC focus journals), and of course, books.
In the Q&A section of a recent presentation I was asked about how people who were very short of time could broaden their skills. We are fortunate that technology can help here, in particular with the ready availability of a wide-range of titles in e-book and audio book formats. These days I prefer to buy books for the Kindle, rather than in paper format. The beauty of the Kindle is that these books are always with me, so anytime I have free time I can use it to read.
I use the Kindle software on my iPad, so I always have a range books at hand, and I don’t have to carry another device around. For a larger screen I also use the Kindle reader software on my MacBook Air and on a Windows Desktop machine. The software will keep each device in sync and the book opens at the page I was up to irregardless of which device I read it on last.
Audio books are also a useful tool for the time poor. I have a 3 hour drive each way from my home to the city where I work at the moment. That is a great opportunity to “read”, and those of you who commute on public transport have a similar opportunity. The trick is to use these times to best advantage, rather than just waste them.
So, today I thought I might share with you some of the books that are currently on my Kindle,
- Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action
by Simon Sinek
- This an in progress title that I will review here shortly.
- The message is that you need to understand your own ‘why?’ – our purpose and passion – if we want to inspire others to go along with our ideas and initiatives.
- Risk
by John Adams
- Adams has a intelligent approach to the concept of risk, and you may have read some of my earlier posts that referenced his work.
- He supports his arguments in this book with great use of data.
- A different perspective on risk management, rather than your traditional how-to, risk register management. A good way to start to broaden your perspectives.
- Risk and Blame: Essays in Cultural Theory
by Mary Douglas.
- I have written about Douglas and Cultural Theory in a number of posts, this is a reference for you to find out more on this subject.
- Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?
by Seth Godin
- For something completely different. Become an artist, do work that you are emotionally attached to.
- The empty Raincoat : Making sense of the Future
by Charles Handy
- Another classic by one of my favourite authors. Handy is well respected management thinker, and although this book is about 16 years old still worth a read.
Thats just a sample, will offer some other suggestions next month.
Are you reading? If not, why not?
What’s on your Kindle?
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