Book Club
The CxXchange Book Club was founded in July 2023 when Maryann Lazzeri and Cinthia Silva realized they had a common passion for books and their transformative power. Each month, Maryann and Cinthia bring members together to discuss books (or TedTalks) to uncover their impact and share insights.
Come join us as we explore topics of personal and professional development and build friendships along the way.
If you'd like to join the conversation, sign up here, join the Slack community and add yourself to the #book-club channel!
Books We've Read (and Loved!)
Maryann Lazzeri and Cinthia Silva launched the CxXchange Book Club in July 2023 with the intent of sharing their love of books and continuous learning. We kicked off the first meeting by reading "Atomic Habits" and have hosted monthly meetings with the CxXchange community since that time. Here is a breakdown of the books we've covered so far:
Atomic Habits is a comprehensive guide on how small, incremental changes can lead to significant improvements in life. The book explores the science of habits and offers practical strategies for forming good habits, breaking bad ones, and mastering the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results. It emphasizes the importance of focusing on the process rather than the goal, and it introduces concepts such as the four laws of behavior change: Make it Obvious, Make it Attractive, Make it Easy, and Make it Satisfying.
Wired to Resist explores the neuroscience behind why people naturally resist change and how understanding this can help leaders manage and implement change more effectively. It delves into how the brain processes change, highlighting the roles of the amygdala and neuroplasticity. The reader is also introduced to the Change Quest Model, which outlines the stages people go through during change, and provides practical strategies for creating psychological safety, supporting teams, and overcoming resistance.
The Power of Vulnerability TEDTalk explores the importance of embracing vulnerability in our lives. Brené Brown shares insights from her research on human connection, highlighting how vulnerability is essential for forming genuine relationships, experiencing love and belonging, and living a wholehearted life. Brown discusses how the fear of vulnerability often leads to shame and disconnection, but by accepting and expressing our vulnerabilities, we can build stronger, more authentic connections with others.
The Start With Why TEDTalk explores the concept of inspirational leadership and organizational success. Simon Sinek introduces the Golden Circle framework, which consists of three layers: Why, How, and What.
The book, "Start with Why" explores the fundamental principles behind why some individuals and organizations are more innovative, influential, and successful than others. The reader is introduced to the concept of the Golden Circle, which consists of three layers: Why, How, and What. It argues that the most inspiring leaders and companies start with "Why" — their core purpose, cause, or belief — before moving on to "How" they do it and "What" they do.
Impact Players identifies and explores the qualities that distinguish exceptional employees who make significant contributions within their organizations. It outlines five key practices of these high-impact individuals: 1) doing the job that's needed, 2) stepping up and stepping back, 3) finishing stronger, 4) asking and adjusting, and 5) making work light for others. It provides insights and strategies for leaders to recognize, cultivate, and leverage these "Impact Players" to enhance team performance and organizational success. Through research, case studies, and practical advice, the book offers a roadmap for developing talent that drives meaningful and lasting impact.