Summer Reading - The Revised Top Ten List

I’m often asked (as I was earlier this week) what books would I recommend to educators that best encapsulate the LYS philosophy. Last year I posted a top ten list, but since that posting I’ve added two books, and by necessity, demoted two. So just in time for summer reading, here is my updated list.

1. Results Now, by Mike Schmoker.

This book sets the LYS tone. If on the whole you disagree with what Mike writes in this book, you are going to disagree with LYS (the organization and probably the Nation).

2. Corp Business, by David H. Freedman.

This is the book I had every new AP I hired read. I have yet to find a book that does a better job of laying out the actionable ABC’s of leading people in the field.

3. Good to Great, by Jim Collins.

There are hedgehogs and foxes. Reject your fox instincts and embrace your inner hedgehog. Don't have a clue what I'm talking about? Read the book.

4. The Tipping Point, by Malcolm Gladwell.

The primer on the power of the few. Those who question the power of the LYS Nation just don’t recognize the implication of a network of the best Mavens, Connectors and Salespeople in our field.

5. Switch, by Chip Heath and Dan Heath.

Ever feel like (or know) that you are leading change but no one is following? Find out if you have a rider problem, an elephant problem or a path problem and learn how to get everything going in the right direction.

6. The Fundamental 5, by Sean Cain and Mike Laird.

Yes, I co-authored the book. But it really is that good. Need a primer for your rookie teachers on how to survive in the classroom? Want a reminder for veteran staff to improve their effectiveness and reduce their stress. Looking for a blueprint to improve the quality of your presentations. The fundamental five is the place to start.

7. The Moral Imperative of School Leadership, by Michael Fullan.

You actually should read everything that Fullan writes, but if time is a factor, this is the one to start with. I do have one small problem with Fullan. He’s too smart. He understands the nuances that drive expert leadership and does a world class job of explaining this (perhaps better than anyone). Unfortunately, the smart/lazy manager type can use Fullan as justification for their repeatedly inane actions (or inaction).

8. How the Mighty Fall, by Jim Collins.

Yes, it is a business book, but Collins lays out the doom loop that district after district is currently stuck in. Fortunately, he tells us how to get out of the loop and even prevent it. Unfortunately, most senior leadership doesn’t care and isn’t listening.

9. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, by John C. Maxwell.

Maxwell is a former pastor. He writes about church leadership. In many ways, church leadership is a better model for school leaders than business leadership. Violate the Irrefutable Laws at the peril of your organization and you career.

10. Slot number ten is filled by a number of books, that depending on my mood, interest, or need of the person I’m working with, that I might recommend. Some of those books include:

33 Strategies of War, by Robert Greene for strategic and tactical planning.

The Federalist Papers, by Hamilton, Madison and Jay. If you are trying to lead an organization of more than three people who have competing self interests, you might find this worth reading.

It’s Called Work for a Reason, by Larry Wingate. Admittedly a pulp book. But sometimes we have to get over ourselves, cut thru the BS and admit that we have a job to do and how hard we tried doesn’t matter if we’re not successful. Just looking at the title ought to give you a little boost when the going gets tough.

His Excellency, by Joseph J. Ellis. Think you have leadership all figured out? If this study of George Washington doesn’t convince otherwise, you must be pretty darn good.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “The Fundamental 5: The Formula for Quality Instruction.” Individual copies available on Amazon.com! http://tinyurl.com/4ydqd4t

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Upcoming Event / Presentation Schedule

June 11 (TASB) - The Fundamental Five; Improve Now!

June 15 thru June 17 - TASSP Conference

June 16 (TASSP) - Conference Breakfast, hosted by E. Don Brown (LYS travel tumblers for the first 1000 attendees, last year we ran out)

June 16 (TASSP) – Book Release Event for “The Fundamental 5”

June 18 - TASB Conference, Fort Worth

Cain Notes (As Named By Others)

Cain Notes were not named by me, it was an underground name that an AP said out loud one time and it stuck.

I read a lot. Not quite as much as I used to, but still much more than the typical educator. I can’t help myself, if it has words on it and I have 2 seconds, I’ll read it. When I was a teacher and an assistant principal, I assumed that everyone read at least as much as I did and I had no compelling reason to check to see if my assumption was correct.

When I became a Principal, I found out I was wrong. My first response was to suggest, beg, plead and chastise my staff into reading more. That worked a little (or at least they learned that if they nodded their heads “yes,” I would move on to the next topic). But, as I hired new staff I found out that waiting for them to catch up with the specific knowledge base of the existing staff took too long. So, I started typing up my book notes and commentary to use as a training tool. That way they would have an idea about what we were talking about until they had a chance to read the book.

ALWAYS READ THE BOOK.

As my staff got promoted and went to other schools, some of them would ask that I keep them in the Cain Note loop. Not a problem.

When I began working with struggling schools across the State of Texas, I dusted off the Cain Notes. When a particular book was a good fit for the problems that a campus was facing, I’d leave the notes, to prime the pump for a campus-wide book study. Some principals didn’t care, some found the notes useful.

Now I am posting the notes on the Lead Your School consulting website, just in case other school leaders might find the notes useful. I’ll put a 1 to 3 up each month. Here is all that I ask:

READ THE BOOK.

1. The notes are based on what I think is important from the book. They are not a replacement for the book.


2. Let me know what you think. Did you like the book? Were the notes helpful? Was I on the track or did I miss the boat?

Currently, I have notes for the following books posted:

• Corp Business, by David H. Freedman
• Made to Stick, by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
• Environments for Learning, by Eric Jensen
• Who Moved My Cheese, by Spencer Johnson, M.D.

You can get to the notes by clicking on the following link, www.leadyourschool.com/Cain_Notes.html

Or, on the left side of this page, click on “Sean’s Book Notes.”

Did I mention, that you should read the book?

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

Recommended Book

I just finished reading, “Small is the New Big,” by Seth Godin.

If you are a fan of the author (I am), then this is a must read. If you aren’t a fan, I would still recommend the book. Godin is a new media, marketing guru, who writes on topics related to business, customer service, technology, and marketing. If you exchange the words “business” with “school,” and “customer” with “student,” he has a lot of wealth of ideas that you could easily adapt into your daily practice.

It’s also a quick read.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn…

Recommended Book - Real Leaders Don't Do PowerPoint

I just finished reading "Real Leaders Don't Do PowerPoint," by Christopher Witt.

It's a need based book. If you don't do a lot of public and/or large group speaking then I wouldn't move this to the top of your reading list. On the other hand, if you are a principal, a superintendent or aspire to be one; this book can help you become more effective when you present.

I speak to large groups on a regular basis so I had the opportunity to use some of Witt's suggestions during my last speaking engagement and I noticed the improvement in the audience's attention and response.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

Recommended Book - "Outliers"

As I was flying to Utah today, I finished “Outliers” by Malcolm Gladwell. An excellent read, as are his two previous books. This time he is examining the ultra-exceptional. I’ll have some posts in the near future concerning some of his more interesting points. Put this book on your must read list!

T.W.A – Your turn…

A Reader's Recommendation

A recommendation for your book stack from one of Lead Your School's readers:

You have to read this one soon. It is the hot book in politician offices right now.

“The Global Achievement Gap,” by Tony Wagner
ISBN 978-0-465-00229-0

When you get it, read closely pages 43 through 48 for his discussion of what is (in effect) the R4 Foundation Trinity.

Thanks reader, I'll order it this week.

Your turn...

What's In My Reading Stack

Here’s the list of books that I have finished in the past month and a brief review for each:

The Five Temptations of a CEO, by Patrick Lencioni
A good, quick read. Put it on your list.

The Dip, by Seth Godin
Skip this one unless you are a fan of the author (I am). Cotton candy reading.

George Washington: First in War, First in Peace, by James Crutchfield
Skip this one unless you are a huge George Washington fan (I am). There are better Washington biographies, such as “His Excellency”. I only learned one interesting fact – the British Navy flew their flags at half mast when Washington died.

Blogging for Dummies, by Susannah Garner and Shane Birley
Read only if you want to start a blog.

Here’s the list of books that I’m currently reading:

Small is the New Big, by Seth Godwin
Interesting.

Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell
Awesome.

Revolutionary Management, by Alan Axlerod
Good, but dry.

The Black Swan, by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Interesting, but dry.

Send me your list.

Professional Reading: The Must List

Larry Winget writes in his 2007 book, It’s Called Work for a Reason, that if you don’t read at least five professional books a year, you are a sorry leader.

Now I wouldn’t go that far, but if you don’t make a conscious effort to read one or two books a semester, you run the very real risk of becoming complacent and being left behind by our field.

As an example, last summer I was speaking to over 70 administrators in a struggling district. As I was talking, I noticed that the audience seemed lost so I stopped. I asked them to raise their hand if they had read anything by the following authors, Schmoker, Fullan, DuFour, or Marzano. Not more than 10 hands were raised for any one author. So I followed the teachable moment and we created a practical must read list for school leaders. Here’s the list:

Good to Great, by Jim Collins (the modern classic)

Results Now, by Mike Schmoker (the blueprint for rapid change)

Corp Business, by David H. Freedman (a handbook for action based leadership)

The Moral Imperative of School Leadership, by Michael Fullan (our big picture)

The Tipping Point, by Malcolm Gladwell (little changes for big effects)

What books would you add?