Chris Grivas & Gerard J. Puccio

Books Selection

Susan A. Wheelan

Creating Effective Teams: A Guide for Members and Leaders, 4th Edition [SAGE Publications, 160 pp., £25.99] This is a practical guide for building and sustaining top performing teams. Based on the author’s many years of consulting experience with teams in the public and private sector, the most recent edition of Creating Effective Teams delves into why teams are important, how they function, and what makes them productive.

Chris Grivas & Gerard J. Puccio, Ph.D.

The Innovative Team: Unleashing Creative Potential For Breakthrough Results [Jossey Bass, 227 pp., $24.95] Chris Grivas, an organizational and leadership consultant, and Gerard J. Puccio, Ph.D., department chair and professor at the International Center for Studies in Creativity at Buffalo State College, teamed up to write this engaging business fable that offers leaders and team members a proven framework for promoting innovation and creativity.

Timothy R. Clark

The Employee Engagement Mindset: The Six Drivers for Tapping into the Hidden Potential of Everyone in Your Company [McGraw-Hill, 272 pp., $32.00] When it comes to employee engagement, Timothy R. Clark goes where no one has gone before. One of today’s leading experts on the subject, Clark reveals that the business world has been focusing on only half the question—namely, the organization’s role in driving employee engagement. Clark points to the other interested party— the employee.

Linda Holbeche & Geoffrey Matthews

Engaged: Unleashing Your Organization's Potential Through Employee Engagement [Jossey Bass, 334 pp., £24.99 ] Research shows many workplaces suffer from a serious engagement deficit. In these turbulent times, businesses can no longer afford this. For all managers and business leaders who want to enhance performance – and professionals in Communications or HR– this easy-to-use guide offers real solutions for getting your organization engaged and increasing productivity.

Ron Zemke, Bob Filipczak & Claire Raines

Generations at Work: Managing the Clash of Boomers, Gen Xers, and Gen Yers in the Workplace [AMACAOM, 304 pp., $17.95] This all-new edition of the seminal book takes a fresh look at a growing challenge. With their micromanaged childhoods and tech addictions, Gen Yers require constant feedback—frustrating for the Me Generation that can’t let go of the spotlight, and annoying for Gen Xers, sandwiched between the two. Learn how to lead this motley group with their often incompatible work ethics, values, and styles.

twsm What inspired you to write this book?

cg It occurred to me that a major resource was still untapped: 50 years of expert research conducted and/or collected by the International Center for Studies in Creativity. This research showed that humans have used the same creative process throughout history but that each person has distinct preferences. This gives us a map of how to solve problems efficiently and creatively. When used consistently with a group it increases the creative potential of that group significantly and decreases squabbling and wheel-spinning. Results are faster, more targeted, efficient and innovative. Although well regarded in academic and consulting circles, the practical applications of this research had yet to hit the mainstream.

twsm What challenges do you address?

cg I've met many people who have said "I'm not creative," which couldn’t be further from the truth. Creative problem solving is inborn and natural to every one of us. I hoped to begin to change the conversation from "How creative am I?" to "How am I creative?" and to explore the impact of different styles of creative thinking has on teams that are working together.

twsm How can HR pros learn from the lessons in this book?

cg The top-performing HR organizations are not merely legally minded; they recognize that how they help people work more effectively provides strategic advantages. Higher functioning teams bring greater rewards at significantly less expense. The book provides a clear, proven methodology which demystifies group process, identifies key leadership behaviors and illustrates how to manage team dynamics within that process. The examples and tools can be incorporated directly into the day-to-day work environment. The book also complements existing leadership training as it teaches skills necessary for a leader to harness the creative thinking of his/her team. It brings a new perspective to diversity initiatives, highlighting the power of cultivating diversity of thought. Just as appreciating differences of cultures, gender, etc. can increase flexibility and adaptability, appreciating differences in how people think can enable deeper, more effective working relationships.•