Remember we said you have to be the communication expert in your organization? Just like the Doc, the lawyer and the chaplain? Not the chaplain. Anyway, one way to become an expert is by reading.
Set up an office reading program.
Every two months or so we buy a book for anyone in the office who wants to participate (most do). After about 30 days we all sit down to discuss in a somewhat organized manner. Here are the books our office read:
- The New Tsar: Putin is a pretty interesting character. Reading this will help you understand the history and give you perspective on where we are today.
- The Originals: Every PA office has creative folks. This will give you some insight on how to manage and explode your potential.
- Black Flags: The story of ISIS. If you have anything to do with this war, you have to read this.
- Objective Troy: Interested in how we got to where we are with drones and terrorism? Read this. Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula is Al Qaeda’s most capable and committed threat to the United States. This is the story of how they came to be.
- Execution: Decent book on managing the effort of your shop. Some good chapters in here but may be too much for the whole shop to read the whole book. Recommend you read and discuss a few pertinent chapters.
- The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos, love him or hate him, he fosters a definitive, intentional culture. From the way Amazon members communicate internally to hiring and fostering talent within your ranks, there are lessons here for everybody.
Communication Essentials.
Remember, you’re an expert. Experts not only read but keep books to reference from time to time. We have a fairly regular stream of organization members who come by asking for communication advice.
Here is what our book case looks like:
- Brief: Be better, Be Brief. Written by our good friend and colleague Joe McCormack. I feel like we wrote this book together.
- How to Win Friends and Influence People: Read this once a year and be better at your job and life.
- Start with Why: Throw this book at people who have to talk about technical things.
- Elements of Style: Live it. If you’re a PA, you better know this.
- On Writing Well: Learn it, love it. Your guide to effective written communication.
- Power Cues: The Science of interpersonal communication; kind of lamely written but useful points after you sort through the garb.
- If I Understood You: Who doesn’t like Hawkeye? A better narrative than Power Cues with similar lessons.
- All Marketers are Liars: People want to believe, help them believe in your truth.
- Made to Stick: Learn more about stories and communication technique.
- Trust Me, I’m Lying: Information laundering 101. Know how it works so you can defend against it.
- Politics and the English Language: Not a book, but don’t pick up a pen without first reading this essay.
Now go and do likewise.