What's the current reality?
Every manager wants their employees to be thoughtful, accountable, empowered, productive and a great leader (even as individual contributors.) Yet, do you know the effectiveness of your current professional training? Do you know how many of the insights and ideas are translating into improved leadership and performance?
Unfortunately the statistics aren't very encouraging, and my guess is that you would like better results for your team.
According to research, there are several factors that are preventing your employees from turning their learning into improved leadership. This includes factors like: lack of engagement due to distractions; learning in isolation, rather than in community; lack of accountability; and to put it simply, they don't know how.
Unfortunately the statistics aren't very encouraging, and my guess is that you would like better results for your team.
According to research, there are several factors that are preventing your employees from turning their learning into improved leadership. This includes factors like: lack of engagement due to distractions; learning in isolation, rather than in community; lack of accountability; and to put it simply, they don't know how.
"Ideas without action aren't ideas,
they're regrets."
~Jeff Hayden, author of The Motivation Myth.
Why a Company Book Circle?
A Company Book Circle is an intersection of training and community building. It provides a complimentary learning approach to traditional training models, and allows your employees to engage, collaborate, co-develop, and share best practices on an ongoing basis, using a leadership, management, or business book of YOUR choice. Using the common principles and expertise outlined in the shared book, your team can further the mission, vision, and strategy of your company in cooperation with one another, while also building trust amongst your employees and supporting the company culture.
It's a cost effective way to support your team's professional growth and help them move from consuming best leadership practices, to creating new leadership behaviors.
The time commitment for your employees will range from 10-30 minutes per day, which is mostly comprised of reading and reflection. In addition, there are longer integration sessions which are 90-120 minutes.
It's a cost effective way to support your team's professional growth and help them move from consuming best leadership practices, to creating new leadership behaviors.
The time commitment for your employees will range from 10-30 minutes per day, which is mostly comprised of reading and reflection. In addition, there are longer integration sessions which are 90-120 minutes.
"Trust is the one thing that changes everything.
It is not a nice-to-have, it is a must have."
~Stephen M.R. Covey and Doug R. Conant
Why Me and Not Someone Else
I love books, and I believe in engaging the reader and learner from the very start to the very finish of the learning experience (which could mean forever.) Through consistency, community, and coaching, your employees will not just read a book, they will integrate the ideas and bring their reading to life.
Here is what else makes me different:
A custom book circle provides a fresh, innovative way to think about learning and development. It is also 100% virtual, which is perfect for global teams, and global pandemics.
Here is what else makes me different:
- I have an extensive background in education, coaching, and educational leadership. This brings a new perspective and new energy to your company and your team.
- I don't believe that learning is one-and-done. I believe in keeping the conversation going long after the "training" is over.
- I believe that we need to treat our learning and growth like we do food or exercise. A little bit everyday, or every few days is what leads to long term success.
- I see more and more people learning in isolation, or not learning at all, so the community aspect of a book circle allows people to gain perspective, co-develop new practices, build trust and cooperation, and collaborate with people they might not normally work with. It encourages them to learn out loud.
- I am there to facilitate no matter what topic you choose, which brings coherence and a through line to your learning as you work through multiple books and multiple topics.
- I like to operate by the philosophy that there is a "leader in every chair." You are the expert, not me.
A custom book circle provides a fresh, innovative way to think about learning and development. It is also 100% virtual, which is perfect for global teams, and global pandemics.
86% of employees named learning opportunities the most important thing their employers can provide for them on the job.
What is the return on invesment?
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What's included?
A custom circle offers teams or groups of 10-15, or larger groups, the opportunity to dive deep into a book of their choosing, with the facilitation of a professional coach throughout the entire learning process. The starting price is 1500€ per book cycle(not including books), and a typical book cycle is 2 months.
Clients build their circle from the following options:
Clients build their circle from the following options:
- Private community and discussion board for your team (Slack, MS teams, etc.) to keep the engagement and conversation alive during the entire reading period.
- Recommended book selection based on the growth needs of your employees and in alignment with the vision and values of your company
- Launch/Q&A Meeting to calibrate the entire process with the selected team
- Debrief and Discussion at end of reading period to help your team come together around what new leadership practices they want to focus on as company, as well as individually.
- Integration Session 2-4 weeks after the previous discussion, to put to paper what changes will be integrated into your work.
- Accountability Check-In 4-6 months after the last integration session, to reflection what what has worked, what hasn't, what has gotten in the way, and if a pivot is necessary
- Additional Integration Workshops to dive deeper into specific topics within the book that we didn't have the time to cover in other sessions
- A Companion Guide with additional reflections questions and actions. (See example.)
- Surveys, supplementary documents, additional resources, etc. (Example 1, Example 2)
- 1:1 coaching to provide additional support for any team members who could benefit
- Virtual Office Hours to give all of your employees an opportunity to ask questions and get support or coaching without the commitment of 1:1 coaching
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Kind Words From Happy Clients:
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When Theresa presented her book circle idea to me, I was immediately intrigued and, after answering my questions, I knew it would add to the growth of the leadership team and our company overall. It has and will continue to as we work through more books.
As busy leaders, the book circle model allows us to step back and think about our approach to both our team and our job as a whole. It also allows us to see what is happening in other departments that we might not have seen or known. Theresa is engaged, objective, asks powerful questions, and is a great facilitator. My team appreciated her focus on integration and action. |
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Theresa brought in a different perspective to our usual quarterly leadership book review sessions. It was definitely a breath of fresh air and a good nudge to direct us back to our core as leaders amidst our day to day activities.
I appreciate her patience and the different methods she used to engage us and ensure that we are on track with our reading. The way she facilitated the book review served as a reminder and initiated a lot of actionable items from our leadership team, not just to accomplish, but to also model to our team members. We are in the middle of another book reading, and I am looking forward to our next book review with Theresa! |
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A few book suggestions...
Remember that these are suggestions. You are welcome to choose a book that meets your current needs.
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Coach and Facilitator Bio
By combining my first career in education and educational leadership, with my second career as a professional coach, I have a unique perspective when it comes to learning, development, and leadership.
I know first hand, and through the 8 years that I have been coaching and mentoring individuals around the globe, that learning alone won't change your leadership practices. Yet, when you combine learning, with community, consistency, and coaching, you move from consuming new ideas, to creating new ways of living and leading.
When I am not working, you can also find me meditating, swallowed up in a good book (obviously), hiking in the mountains above my house, or laughing with friends. I have also served as the President and VP of Mentoring for the Professional Women's Network of Nice Cote d'Azur, where I still act as a mentor for members.
If you would like to learn more about me, head here.
I know first hand, and through the 8 years that I have been coaching and mentoring individuals around the globe, that learning alone won't change your leadership practices. Yet, when you combine learning, with community, consistency, and coaching, you move from consuming new ideas, to creating new ways of living and leading.
When I am not working, you can also find me meditating, swallowed up in a good book (obviously), hiking in the mountains above my house, or laughing with friends. I have also served as the President and VP of Mentoring for the Professional Women's Network of Nice Cote d'Azur, where I still act as a mentor for members.
If you would like to learn more about me, head here.