How and Why to Start a Business Book Club
Running a business has never been more competitive. A successful company is an agile company, one that can pivot at the drop of a hat to maintain its competitive edge. And for many entrepreneurs, there’s no better way to stay on top of the latest developments in their industry than by reading as much as they can about it.
If you're looking to start a book club for your team, we've put together this post all about how and why you should get started.
What is a business book club?
A business book club is a group of individuals who meet to discuss books that cover topics related to running a business. It can be an informal gathering, or the establishment of an official book club structure. The point of these gatherings is to encourage team members and colleagues to explore new books and ideas.
There's no hard-and-fast rule for organizing this type of group. But in general, discussions should focus on applying new information to real life situations within the company, as well as reviewing how the book relates back to previous readings (if applicable). Participants can then share their thoughts with peers who have read the same material and get feedback.
Some readers will get more out of the process than others. But regardless, book clubs provide a forum where startups and their employees can discuss the topics that are so important to your business.
Why start a business book club?
There's no shortage of self-help books on management and leadership. And while some are useful, many are parodies of what they should be: useful. Readers may be able to pick up a few pieces of advice here and there, but when it comes to truly improving their skills as a manager or leader, startups can't always afford for members to read dozens upon dozens of books on the subject.
And yet, you know that the best way to improve yourself as a business leader is to read books on the subject.
"In my experience, having a book club or reading groups within my company has helped me understand how to deal with tough issues and how to learn from other people's experiences," says Dr. Daniel A. Pink, author of multiple books on entrepreneurship and motivation including Drive. "It helps me stay open-minded and not get stuck thinking the same way." (Image credit: Melinda Jane)
But while it's always great to have diverse viewpoints in your team, it's also important for members to know that every idea is worth exploring from multiple angles before implementing it in practice. A book club allows you to accomplish this task by having your team examine the pros, cons and implications of every idea in detail.
So why read business books at all? Because reading business books can help you develop new skills that will make you a better, more successful entrepreneur.
How to start a business book club
If you're ready to start your own discussion group, there are a few things to consider. First and foremost, figure out if everyone on your team is interested in participating. If not, who else outside of the company would be a good fit for the club? Remember that no one has to participate. Some people may prefer to watch from the sidelines or simply read books independently on topics that interest them most.
After figuring out who to invite, the next step is to decide how you want the club to run. Will it be better suited for in-person meetings or virtual discussions? Some entrepreneurs prefer one over the other. But if you've got a remote team, or you're interested in making your company more well-rounded, it might be best to do both.
When deciding on a date and time for meetings, book clubs are at their best in an informal setting with no set agenda. Starting this structure from the outset will keep participants from wasting time on distractions that keep them from really thinking about what's being said.
Some groups will decide to do each week's book in a single sitting while other groups will meet once every month. The decision is usually made on how much time participants have to read.
The most important thing is to find something that works for you, your team and your company - because the goal is to get everyone on the same page and working together. And hopefully, that means learning from one another's experiences and knowledge.
Here are some of the best books that we’ve reviewed on Shopify Plus that you can use for your business book club:
The founders of Buffer set out to teach readers the importance of a work-life balance in this incredible book. Learn how to set goals, manage your day-to-day schedule and — most importantly — take a break.
If you want to learn how to become a better leader by studying the habits of some of the most innovative people in history, start here. This book will show you how to build an incredible team and lead them to success.
It can be hard for entrepreneurs looking for their first big break to find that perfect balance between work and play. In this book, Tavi Gevinson helps readers navigate the early phases of building a successful company. This book was great for our cofounder Brian and he shares his review here .
A smart way to learn more about how to build a cult following, this book shows readers how to create a personal brand and work with influencers in their own niche. We loved this book for its unique take on what it takes to be successful as an online entrepreneur.
We all know that we have a choice when it comes to how we spend our time each day, but sometimes it's difficult to manage our schedules more than just a little bit. If you're looking for some helpful tips on managing your time more effectively, consider reading The Productive Person's Guide To Managing Your Time .
If you're looking for a book that will help you understand the basics of lean business practices, the Lean Startup is definitely a good place to start. This book is great for entrepreneurs who want to streamline their growth and avoid common traps associated with creating a startup.
If you're looking for more ways to make your business grow, this book from Eric Ries will help you become more profitable. This book explains how startups can use the concept of continuous deployment to your advantage.
A great introduction into what it means to be an authorpreneur, this Alan Musk book talks about how authors can integrate entrepreneurship into their lives and businesses. Learn how you can combine the best things about writing with a great income stream.
Want to run a successful business based on increasing customer retention? This book gives great advice on how to keep customers satisfied and growing your business longer. Read this book if you want to learn how to hone in on what your clients really need from you .
If you're looking for a book that will teach you more ways to pay attention, this one might be just what you need. The author of Attention: You Are Your Own Most Important Product explains how we should be paying attention in order to become more successful at work .
Conclusion
I’m a huge fan of reading business books, so this series has inspired me to start my own book club. I’m hoping that this series will help other entrepreneurs launch their own book club and see the benefits (which include getting a bunch of useful ideas, reading good books and having fun).
Have you ever started your own book club? What are some of your favorite books that you read for business? Let us know in the comments below! We love hearing from you!
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