Well Read As the Class of 2016 heads out into the world, Willamette faculty and staff suggest some good books full of career and life advice that’s relevant for alumni of all ages. Adulting: How to Become a Grown-Up in 468 Easy(ish) Steps by Kelly Williams Brown “Adult isn’t a noun, it’s a verb,” writes Kelly Williams Brown in her often-hilarious and alwayspractical primer on life after college. “It’s the act of making correctly those small decisions that fill our day. It is one that you can practice, and that can be done in concrete steps.” In no-nonsense yet sympathetic terms, Brown offers advice on the minutiae of life, such how to make perfect mashed potatoes and write thank-you notes. She also nails the big-picture stuff — learn to be alone, accept responsibility for your words and actions, and “cope gracefully and eventually move past emergencies large and small via the resilience of the human spirit and the power of safety pins.” The book is perfect for anyone who needs some help figuring out domesticity, money, friends and neighbors, the workplace, love and tough times. It’s never too late to be a grown-up. Recommended by Jeani Bragg, director of vocational discernment and leadership development in Career Services
38
SUMMER 2016
Resonant Leadership by Richard Boyatzis and Annie McKee Burned-out, stressed-out leaders (and indeed, many workers) may be more prevalent than ever in American businesses, but authors Richard Boyatzis and Annie McKee offer a solution based on mindfulness, hope and compassion. As in their previous collaboration with Daniel Goleman on the bestselling “Primal Intelligence,” they show how emotional intelligence — the ability to process emotional information and use it to guide thinking and behavior — is essential for achieving results in the modern workplace without sacrificing health or sanity. While firmly rooted in the authors’ academic research and real-life consulting experiences, this holistic and ethical view of management also incorporates cognitive psychology and Buddhist philosophy to help leaders get the best from themselves and others. Recommended by Larry Ettner, professor of management practice in the Atkinson Graduate School of Management
Yes, And: Lessons from The Second City by Kelly Leonard and Tom Yorton
Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin
It may sound funny, but lessons from a world-renowned comedy theatre really could improve your career and your life. The secret weapon is improvisation — an approach that harnesses the power of creativity, communication and collaboration. Aiming to reverse the “No, but” thinking that can stifle ideas, projects and careers, “Yes, And” calls on principles of improvisation used by The Second City theatre group, incubator of comedic talent such as Tina Fey and Stephen Colbert. As taught to thousands of the theatre’s clients in corporations, nonprofits and other organizations, these principles follow the lead of successful businesses: They encourage people to challenge convention, embrace failure as part of the process, allow any group member to assume a leadership role, and listen to understand rather than merely to respond.
Applying hard-won lessons learned in military action, two former SEALs bring home leadership secrets from the battlefield. After serving in combat and then as leadership instructors for the U.S. Navy’s elite fighting force, Willink and Babin set up their own consulting firm. In this New York Times bestseller, vivid accounts of the authors’ experiences in Iraq, as well as real-life examples from their consulting company, become case studies. Their theories and tactics, they say, can be applied in business, sports “and, to a broader degree, life.” In their book, successful leaders check their ego, work with others to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes, attack weaknesses, and consistently work to build a better and more effective team. In doing so, they can change the culture of their team and entire organization.
Recommended by Phylis Myles, assistant dean for placement in the College of Law
Recommended by Leslie Shevlin, head swimming coach