In these unusual times, have you been reading more than usual? Have you gravitated more towards non-fiction, to learn more about our world, its history and its people through the perspective of others? Or towards fiction, to either escape or to learn something about yourself from the narrative of someone in a world that’s not our own?
Or do you like the look of a book and buy it with excitement, only to let it sit on your table at home after you’ve read a single page or two? Would you find it helpful to read a book with others?
Regardless of your situation, a book club at work can be beneficial even in the virtual work world that most of us are in now. Book clubs: 1) Build employee community; 2) Encourage learning diverse perspectives and seeing others’ points of view; 3) Create informal accountability structures that can support you in other areas.
This week’s tip:
If there isn’t one already, consider starting a virtual book club in your workplace. This can be as simple as meeting for an hour every couple of weeks and assigning a few chapters to read before each session, or even reading the book aloud during the group’s meeting time. Meeting over lunchtime or coffee breaks is ideal for people with tight schedules, to allow them to eat/drink at the same time. You may wish to choose a newly-published “hot topic” book, a classic piece of fiction, or a memoir of someone whose life may carry some lessons for your group. We have compiled a list recommended books for an online book club focused on inclusion & belonging that you can refer to when selecting a book.
Try this out this week, and let us know how it goes in our Facebook group! We’d love to hear from you. As always, you can subscribe to our feed here, or sign up for our weekly newsletter to get these articles directly in your inbox.
Building Bridges Leadership 