What is the best way to encourage/empower employees through reading?
I believe that the company I work for may benefit from employees reading books/articles on subjects like time management, health, industry studies, etc. Should our company invest in actual books similar to a library? Kindle memberships, Barnes and Noble gift cards possibly? Is anyone currently part of a similar program?
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May 16, 2017
Andrew, I commend your dedication to increasing the knowledge-base of your current team through reading materials. A small corporate library can be a nice perk, when placed in a location that is accessible. However, depending on the type of industry you work in, there may be employees who cannot benefit from an on-site library, due to working remotely or not having time to sit down and read a physical book. Digital and audio books, as well as educational videos, reports, and articles are all a good option, and can be easily distributed through a Sharepoint library on the company intranet. Consider that employees need regular introductions to professional development materials and industry trends through leadership, so maybe a monthly column written by the CEO or HR Director on the company blog with a link to a free resource would be a good place to start? Give employees both a reason and the time to read and learn, and the return will be worth the effort.
Jan 15, 2017
That's an interesting question.. Great that you want your employees to grow through information. For me, I don't have time to read, nor do I enjoy it, like I used too. I now listen to audiobooks, podcasts and watch videos for my information. I absorb more and retain more. Why don't you get a 'corporate' group rate for Audio book membership?
Jan 13, 2017
Sounds like you want to enhance and expand the knowledge base of your employees. As you may aware that reading habbits are generally in decline as people look for immediate solutions - like a pick up and consume only what you want as opposed to cultivating the mind for long term impact. It may be useful to start circulating short read articles of 3 to 5 minute duration as a first step. The topic could be based on management, industry, health and wellness that the employees can relate with their daily routine. A tea time 15 to 20 minute discussion session can be organised by based on turn based reading assignment. This will enable compliance for the unwilling reader and motivate the fence sitters to participate and educate the group.Later on this can be extended to books as people get more interested.
Oct 10, 2016
Sure Mr Andrew, Reading is a wonderful and empowering habit. But, employees should be able to implement what they have learnt from Reading.
Otherwise, its a waste of time. Florence MacDonald
Oct 4, 2016
I am not part of a similar program but I love this idea. I also have some questions: how would your company benefit? Would the knowledge gained be used for brainstorming or to implement new programs that would improve work/life balance? Is this an opt out program? How would your organization keep track? Would people who don’t fully engaged be penalized?
Remember, your organization can have a great program in place but unless you make it easily accessible to employees…it’s dead wood. What’s easily accessible look like? Well, for one think employees won’t engage with a program if they feel like its homework. Carving out reading time at work is one way to get employees engaged. Don’t leave it up to individual employees to schedule the times themselves; some will do it and others will find a distraction not to do it. And don’t expect people to read during their lunch break that sets everyone, including the program, up for failure.
Audiobooks are great resource; especially for commuters who may be more willing to participate if they can listen to it on their drive/trip to the office. Other employees might listen while they work out. Good luck!
Sep 29, 2016
Try to tell a story at the beginning of a meeting. Preachers do this all the time. They use a quote(s) from a book that ties into what they are saying. Application. They say the author and the title within the sermon. This can give employees the necessary encouragement to reading and researching based on the sermon so-to-speak.
Sep 28, 2016
Hi Andrew,
I think this is a great idea. The company can provide employees with a gift card at Amazon or Barnes & Noble. I would go one step further and encourage people to form groups and discuss what they have learned end experienced. I would say for $20.00 a month or something a company would get a great ROI. I would set up so the employees sign up for the program so you are not spending money where people have no interest.
Sep 24, 2016
Hi Andrew,
I believe your company could benefit from employees ACQUIRING knowledge in the subject areas you mentioned. To insist on the specific method is a prescription for stress on the part of both parties - especially when that method is reading.
A better approach would be to acquire some 15 minutes videos on the topics, establish a lunch and learn day, have the employees bring their lunch and show a video during lunch.
You could then organize a fun team building game or exercise between episodes. In this way, they are getting the knowledge, applying it and everyone benefits including the company.
Give it a try, won't you?
Sep 23, 2016
You will appreciate from the many insightful responses Andrew that your question suggests that you are definitely putting “the cart before the horse”. Neither the employees nor the company will benefit directly from reading about management topics. There are many worthwhile suggestions here as to how self-improvement programs could be established. Almost all of them may encourage a portion of the company’s employees to partake in some (usually voluntary) further reading. Most people may read some recommended follow up documents, if there is an incentive, others simply will not. Therefore, you should not invest in or rely on reading as your catalyst for change or empowerment. In your particular case maybe a good book on teambuilding, motivation and reward programs would be a more effective starting point.
Sep 23, 2016
One suggestion is to find someone (may be yourself) who can talk to the employees and articulate the practical benefits of specific targeted reading to them.
Focus on what are the practical benefits for them otherwise there will be few takers.
Sep 23, 2016
Well if you link the reading with some kind of outcome as five tweets or some reflection is a Facebook group, Slack debate, etc it will be the base for collaboration and let the person to engage in reflection process. I am using as learning strategy for Ss metacognitive skills development. And btw I get a prize in Iberoamerican E-Learning Best Practices in 2014 with this idea. Good luck
Sep 23, 2016
There are specific companies, like Harvard Business Review (US Based) and MindTools (UK based) that provide an incredible feed of leadership and development articles, including book reading lists.
They have various options of membership, if a company buys a membership a certain amount of employees can start a profile and access for free. There is other free content to anyone.
I get daily emails, daily management and communication tips, meeting tips, professional relationship tips, all with links to articles and books. I can download at least 80% of the content in .pdf format right to my desktop to keep in my personal library and to read later.
A manager could download key articles, and then attach them to an email in .pdf format and send to his/her team.
Find HBR here: https://www.hbr.org/
Find MindTools here: https://www.mindtools.com/
Also, check out Udemy, they do actual classes and certifications.
Udemy is here: https://www.udemy.com/
Enjoy exploring these options and opportunities.
Finally, a good business coach or life-coach could be hired by a company to develop internal company programs. This is starting to catch on but is still a relatively new concept.
Sep 23, 2016
Arguably the most precious asset we have is our time. I get that reading can be useful, so how about providing the option of recorded books, articles, etc. that can be played while driving to and from work? And be sure to include some that aren't directly related to business, as personal happiness is really what we're all after, so personal growth material would be good, and will help your fellow team members grow as people and leaders.
Sep 23, 2016
I agree that everyone benefits in continuous learning.
On the other hand - Companies are in the business of making money. It's not really the company's responsibility to invest in employee education - for education sake. There should be a company-reason to spend company funds.
One recommendation is to tie your education to specific problems or pain points for the company. For instance, if the company/management wants to improve meeting management - they can require everyone read/listen/watch a recommended "meeting management" training video/audio/article on that topic. Then, as a team, put those techniques immediately into practice.
If your company needs to be HIPAA Compliant or some other industry standard, recommend everyone to read/study a specific industry recommendation. Then, as a team, put those techniques immediately into practice.
If there are processes that need to be streamlined to save money, or become more effective, etc -- then recommend specific video/training on time management, project management, critical path analysis, risk management, etc Then, as a team, put those techniques immediately into practice.
For the training to be effective for the company, your group needs to have an explicit need and immediately put the learnings into practice for the benefit of the group.
For the company to take responsibility for it -- have a company-related reason/goal for the employee education, followed up with practical and immediate use of the material -- and it will be more successful.
On the other hand - if you wanted to spearhead this movement yourself (without company funds), you can provide Brown-Bag-Lunch series on your own. Either give presentations or invite guest presentors to provide information on the topics you are interested in sharing with the various departments and co-workers. Encourage others to share their knowlege on interesting topics regarding time management, health, industry studies, etc. You can start a Brown-Bag-Lunch Book Club as well. You can also start a 'share book-nook' -- where you encourage your co-workers to lend-a-book and borrow-a-book. I've done all of these things in the corporate environment. I even created an on-line list of all my books and people would just request to borrow and return.
When you feel strongly about something, it doesn't have to be "someone else's" responsibility.
Sep 23, 2016
When I coach executives on strategic thinking, one of my first questions to them is about their preferred style of learning. Some like to read, and a few welcome challenging texts that really make them challenge their own assumptions and beliefs. Others are only interested in superficial skims of best practices. Others like to learn in more applied, relevant ways that involve very little reading.
So, I'd view the idea of reading and libraries as appropriate and beneficial for some and not for others. Obviously, there is cost and sacrifice involved in your ideas, and the real test of value probably lies in how much value your culture places in curiosity, innovation, and self improvement.
I was an employee at a company that had a nice, shiny library with a dedicated librarian. I liked the place and used it. Very few others took advantage of it and it disappeared during one of the belt tightenings.
Sep 23, 2016
It depends on the book and information. I recommended Strength Finders to our management team first. Then they wanted copies for everyone in the IT dept. I contacted the publisher to see about a bulk discount purchase. If your not getting a book for everyone, the gift cards work well.
Sep 23, 2016
Most important here is to understand adult learning and how people comprehend and put it in practice. I can read a book on heart surgery, doesn't mean you want me operating on you. Things like accountability for implementing learning is how you make culture shifts (but that starts from the top with goals and examples.) It is also important to know that generational learning is changing. Because I love books I recently went to the library and got out 6 business books to browse and get inspiration, take notes (and steal the really good ides for my trainings). Tell a 26 year old you got out books and they will roll their eyes and say you should have just Google'd it or gone on YouTube.
Investing in training is how companies increase employee skills far beyond the practice of reading. Think about what your best teacher did to engage and inspire you, did you get the same thing from a book? Texts are great support but nothing beats good old fashioned "I'll tell you, I'll show you, now do it and you show me"...every day.
Sep 23, 2016
Andrew,
Your thoughts are noble but as Ed says, you may be disappointed in execution. That said, to develop a culture of personal self improvement reading is key. As a family owned business you can encourage people to read by referencing the books that are meaningful to you by referencing them in conversation and communications and by having them on or near your desk. Having the book of the month available in the office is the way to go. Some people will align with you on this, others maybe not, focus on the ones who do and you will be pleased.
I also do not think I would limit offering books to your employees, you may have clients that would benefit as well. (ie. We recently shared this book ___________ with our family of employees and we saw this _______________).
Self improvement and training are tangible ways in addition to a retirement plan and health insurance to say you care.
Sep 22, 2016
Ed's suggestion is a good one. You could also gamify a reading or self-development program so that people earn points and win something for certain levels of achievement by watching videos or reading books and articles -- and passing quizzes on them. If your IT group or a vendor could help you design it using gamification technology that would make it more appealing and fun. The knowledge or skill development provided in the content of tapes and books would need be applied at work to have more than temporary entertainment value.
Sep 22, 2016
Andrew, if employees want to read these topics it might be helpful. However, without a program designed to make use of this I'm not sure how far it would go. In my opinion I'd first propose a program that would include the book learning component that would have the buy-in of the management and employees.
A long time ago, in a land far, far away............I offered business books from my personal library to my department heads and would-be interested in growth assistant d/h staff (I had a large organization with 26 department heads and corresponding subs, 350 full-time employees) to check out like a library. Those who showed interest checked out a book, and if they returned it within 30 days, we'd go to lunch together and discuss what they learned. In the private club business, developing people was one of my primary responsibilities, so simply having the library available and encouraged helped cut through those genuinely interested in growth and those simply talking about it.
My advice, pick the cherries out of all the comments so far and incentivise active readers any way you can. You may even want to form a "social" book club where the books are NOT business related. The classics are some of the best learning tools ever created.