BOOKLIST
Inspiration from the Sports World by Dianna Brodine, managing editor, Plastics Busines
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ith an apology to any New England Patriots fans… This year’s Super Bowl was quite the disappointment. I’m a diehard Indianapolis Colts fan living in Kansas City Chiefs territory, so my football season was going pretty well until Tom Brady interfered.
Luckily, my favorite former Colts coach wrote a new book to provide a distraction while I’m waiting six months for the next season to kick off. In case any readers are in the same boat, this Booklist offers lessons learned in teamwork, leadership and change from influencers in football.
The Soul of a Team: A Modern-Day Fable for Winning Teamwork Author: Tony Dungy Released: January 22, 2019
For most people, succeeding in life requires mastering the art of teamwork. Whether at work, school, church or home, virtually everyone is part of a team – and when they work well, teams can accomplish more than individuals working by themselves. But, not all teams are created equal. When a team isn’t functioning well, individual strengths can be undermined and weaknesses accentuated, making the work environment a terrible place to be. So, what does a truly effective team environment look like, and how can you create one within your own organization? As a former Super Bowl-winning coach, Tony Dungy is an expert at building and bringing out the best in a team. Drawing on his experiences from years of coaching and working with other leaders, this football fable lays out four essential principles practiced by truly effective teams. Telling the story of a fictional NFL team looking for a turnaround, The Soul of a Team not only identifies some of the most common issues that hold a team back but also lays out a game plan for winning teamwork. Whether you aspire to be a better leader or a stronger team player, The Soul of a Team will show you how to contribute to a stronger, healthier, more productive team destined for success.
The Captain Class: A New Theory of Leadership Author: Sam Walker Released: May 16, 2017
The seventeen most dominant teams in sports history had one thing in common: Each employed the same type of captain – a singular leader with an unconventional set of skills and tendencies. Drawing on original interviews with athletes,
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general managers, coaches and team-building experts, Sam Walker identifies the seven core qualities of the Captain Class – from extreme doggedness and emotional control to tactical aggression and the courage to stand apart. Told through riveting accounts of pressuresoaked moments in sports history, The Captain Class will challenge your assumptions of what inspired leadership looks like.
You Win in the Locker Room First: The 7 C’s to Build a Winning Team in Business, Sports and Life Authors: Jon Gordon, Mike Smith Released: September 20, 2015
NFL head coach Mike Smith led one of the most remarkable turnarounds in league history. In the season prior to his arrival in 2008, the Atlanta Falcons had a 4-12 record, and the franchise had never before achieved back-to-back winning seasons. Under Smith’s leadership, the Falcons earned an 11-5 record in his first season and would go on to become perennial playoff and Super Bowl contenders. You Win in the Locker Room First draws on the extraordinary experiences of Coach Mike Smith and Jon Gordon – consultant to numerous college and professional teams – to explore the seven powerful principles that any business, school, organization or sports team can adopt to revitalize their organization. Step by step, the authors outline a strategy for building a thriving organization and provide a practical framework that gives leaders the tools they need to create a great culture, lead with the right mindset, create strong relationships, improve teamwork, execute at a higher level and avoid the pitfalls that sabotage far too many leaders and organizations.