Book - Commencement: a New Era in Higher Education by Joe Sallustio and Kate Colbert (https://commencementthebook.com/) Change is a constant presence in our lives and perhaps no better example exists today than within the virtual and physical walls of our Colleges and Universities around the country. Staying on top of those changes is critical for the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) and one of the key books I continue to turn to is Commencement: a New Era in Higher Education. What is most concerning to the leaders within the educational community (our members) is the rate of change we are currently experiencing in the industry across every intricate element. When the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) was founded some 38 years ago, our focus was to provide video conferencing expertise and guidance to the global educational community. Colleges and Universities around the world turned to our Board of Directors, mostly comprised of Presidents and industry executives, to learn about design choices and best practices. In these early days the data was primitive, the video conference systems we spoke of were both expensive and unreliable, but industry professionals still came to our conferences to hear about the good, bad, and the ugly truths from the experts. Having been in the educational technology field for some 20+ years I’ve seen rapid rates of change and the disruptive technologies that followed which changed our lives forever. Video conferencing capability that required six-figure budgets and involvement from your local telecommunications company to deploy now sits squarely in the palm of your hand. This same magnitude (rate) of change is quickly altering the higher education landscape forever. There is a striking similarity between those early USDLA days, and the topics discussed in this book. The team of Kate Colbert and Joe Sallustio have effectively translated the challenges facing today’s Presidents, Deans, and leaders into digestible, bite-sized nuggets of information that can be used to shape the educational landscape for years to come. Commencement has become a guiding light for our association by providing insight on shaping our service offerings to best align with the member and industry partner stakeholders we serve. Whether it’s how to leverage AI in your coursework, the way community involvement can help to drive ROI or embracing work-based credits towards CBE this book has it all.
'Start With Why' is about a naturally occurring pattern, a way of thinking, acting and communicating that gives leaders the ability to inspire those around them. The more organizations and people who learn to also start with WHY, the more people there will be who wake up feeling fulfilled by the work they do. Simon Sinek defines the Why as your purpose, cause, or belief. It explains why your business exists and why your customers should care. For me, this is when I decided to change careers, because my WHY was not aligning with my previous career and I needed to find a place where I was valued for what I have to give to people in the healthcare community. My WHY has always been to fulfill others and treat them the way I would want to be treated. This includes in my career and within my social and family circles.
One leadership book that profoundly impacted me is The Elephant's Dilemma by Jon Bostock. The key takeaway was to break free from self-imposed limitations and reimagine what's possible. Inspired by this, I started encouraging my team to take calculated risks and think beyond traditional boundaries. This shift led us to innovative solutions and a more dynamic work environment. Embracing the book's lessons helped us aim higher and create a lasting, positive impact in our field.
One book that profoundly impacted my leadership approach is Ray Dalio’s Principles. A key takeaway that transformed my decision-making process is the concept of radical transparency. Dalio’s idea of encouraging openness, feedback, and honest conversations inspired me to implement a more transparent culture within my team. By applying this principle, I’ve created an environment where everyone feels empowered to speak up, which has led to better problem-solving and more informed decisions. This open communication has not only strengthened our team dynamics but also increased overall productivity.
"Drive" by Daniel H. Pink has been instrumental in how I motivate and engage our team at our company. Pink's deep dive into what truly motivates people—autonomy, mastery, and purpose—has helped me redesign our operational strategies to empower employees more effectively. By integrating these principles, I’ve aimed to foster a more motivated and productive workplace. The central lesson from "Drive" was understanding that intrinsic motivation outweighs extrinsic rewards. Implementing this at our work, we’ve shifted focus towards providing meaningful work and opportunities for personal growth, which has enhanced our team’s engagement and productivity dramatically.
One leadership book that has shaped my mindset and approach is Good to Great by Jim Colling. The key takeaway for me was the concept of Level 5 Leadership. These leadership blend humility with professional will, while always believing in the greater and the organization's success above their personal own achievement. It's about having a company-first mindset. You also see this principle in sports - like the Ryder Cup team, where individuals' accomplishments are put aside for the shared goal of team victory. It's not about the personal win, but once you have the right people in the right seats, its about doing what's best for the team and company. In both sports and business, true greatness comes when everyone fights for something bigger than themselves.
I'm very late to the game on this, but I recently read David Allen's "Getting Things Done." As the ED of a nonprofit with a small staff, I'm consistently overwhelmed by daily "to-do" type tasks that get in the way of bigger thinking. Allen's method has allowed me to get organized and focus on impact over just keeping my head above water. Like anything else, I tend to fall out of the routine of keeping up with the method, but it's not hard to get back on track. This alone keeps me coming back to it.
As a tech company CEO, 'Radical Candor' by Kim Scott truly transformed my leadership approach. The core principle is about caring personally while challenging directly. So, instead of tip-toeing around issues, it prompted me to be more honest, yet respectful in my feedback, encouraging transparency and fostering a culture of open dialogue. This new approach not only mitigated potential misunderstandings but also led to increased productivity and stronger employee relations.
"Coaching for Performance" by Sir John Whitmore changed how I lead. The main lesson was the GROW model - focusing on Goals, Reality, Options, and Will. This simple method helps my team think for themselves instead of always looking for answers from me. It's an easy way to guide others to find their own solutions, making them feel more confident and motivated.
One leadership book that has profoundly impacted my approach as an Executive Director is *"Dare to Lead"* by Brené Brown. The key takeaway was the importance of vulnerability and courage in leadership. The book reinforced that fostering an environment where team members feel safe to express themselves and take risks leads to greater innovation and collaboration. This mindset has been instrumental in guiding my team at 6 Degrees Media, where I've focused on building authentic and inclusive marketing campaigns, driving growth, and scaling brands across diverse industries.
"Finite and Infinite Games" by James P. Carse has very much changed the way I lead. It's not your usual book on business leadership, but its philosophical view of life and organizations helped me see my job as Executive Director in a new way. The most important thing for me was the difference between limited and infinite games. There are clear rules for finite games, known players, and a clear goal: to win. On the other hand, infinite games are played to keep playing. To keep the game going, not to win. This idea really hit home for me because it made me think about long-term longevity instead of short-term gains. It made me remember that real leadership isn't about winning one battle but ensuring everyone is involved, has power, and is committed to the road ahead. It's about creating a mindset where people are always learning, adapting, and growing so that the business "game" can go on forever.
One leadership book that has profoundly impacted my approach is "Rework" by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson. The key takeaway for me was the idea of simplifying processes and focusing on what's truly important, rather than getting bogged down in unnecessary complexity. It challenges traditional business practices and emphasizes efficiency, adaptability, and taking action without overthinking. This approach has helped me streamline operations and make more decisive, effective leadership choices.
I've read one book and it's a fundamental part of my journey as a Director, it's called It's Your Ship by D Michael Abrashoff. I like this book because it's full of concrete and practical tips to make you a better leader. And the thing that made me think different about leadership when I read it was the focus on self-reflection. Many leaders do this wrong - they are often more eager to harp on what others are not doing, make excuses for them or draw conclusions based on someone's status within the company. But this book pushed home the point that you have to get better for your team first. The captain Abrashoff needed to become more leaderful before his crew would respond. I have kept many of the practices in this book that I have embraced in my professional life, such as delegation, modeling and active listening. I also bring purpose communication, trust, and team cohesion to the table. I'm always trying to increase the quality of life of the people in my organization so the entire organization can be successful.
One leadership book that has profoundly influenced my approach as an Executive Director is "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu. The key takeaway lies in the strategic mindset, which emphasizes the importance of preparation and adaptability. As a trial attorney, success hinges on meticulous planning and anticipating all potential moves by the opposing side. This book underscores the necessity to remain agile and vigilant, enabling me to turn challenges into opportunities, much like maneuvering through the layered tactics of a courtroom battle. This strategic outlook is paramount not only in the legal field but in any leadership role, resonating with the ethos of always staying a step ahead.
There is a book on leadership that my approach has also been influenced by: "The Culture Code" by Daniel Coyle. The most important lesson from this book is how critical it is for an organization to be safe and trusting. Coyle argues that greater security leads to greater risk-taking, more willingness to share ideas, and better collaborative work. In my leadership, I have incorporated this by making open communication. I could be evaluated for micromanaging. But truthfully it's time to talk with my team, to make sure that they are doing all right - not just on projects - but on how do they feel about the work environment.
A leadership book that has significantly impacted my approach is "The Infinite Game" by Simon Sinek. The key takeaway from this book is the concept of viewing leadership as an ongoing journey rather than a finite competition. Sinek argues that successful leaders focus on long-term vision, adaptability, and creating a lasting impact, rather than just short-term wins. This perspective has shifted my approach to strategy and decision-making, emphasizing the importance of building strong relationships and prioritizing the development of our team. By adopting this mindset, I’ve seen a more resilient and innovative culture emerge, positioning us for sustained success in a rapidly changing environment.
One book that I found very impactful is ‘The Lean Startup’ by Eric Ries. The key takeaway for me was the importance of embracing a ‘build-measure-learn’ feedback loop in decision-making. Basically what this means, rather than waiting for the perfect strategy or product, I learnt to implement small, testable steps and iterate based on real-time feedback. This mindset helped me lead with agility, allowing us to pivot quickly when necessary, minimize wasted resources, and focus on continuous improvement, both in our services and in team dynamics. It’s been a game changer in keeping our organization adaptable and resilient.
As a Creative Director, I’ve read Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter by Liz Wiseman, which has helped me fine-tune my leadership approach. One of the key takeaways for me was shifting from being the person who drives the creative vision to someone who empowers my team to bring their own ideas and innovations to the table. I would highly recommend this book to new leaders or managers. It offers valuable insights into navigating the challenges of leading a team while maximizing their potential. My team also created the animated version of the book on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vwrWRNq8Y4
As an entrepreneur for over 20 years, the book that has most impacted my leadership approach is The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz. The key takeaway is that building a business is difficult, and there are no easy answers. Early on, I struggled with the “ founder’s dilemma” - dealing with high growth and limited resources. Horowitz’s candid experiences showed me that I wasn’t alone in facing hard decisions with imperfect information. His insights on managing a fledgling tech company taught me pragmatism and the resolve to do what’s necessary. For example, to fund expansion into Sao Paulo in 2010, I had to shut down an underperforming business unit to free up capital. This difficult call secured investment and paved the way for major growth, though it was painful at the time. The Hard Thing About Hard Things gave me the courage to make tough choices and steerd the “messy ambiguity” of leadership. Leading a startup often means the high stakes of risk and reward. There are no playbooks, just the determination to survive and adapt. Horowitz underscores that building a lasting organization demands resolve in the face of complexity. His advice has given me the humility and perseverance to steer through obstacles, learn from failures and emerge stronger. The journey is hard, but for those committed to the climb, the view from the summit is worth the battle.
One book that has shaped my leadership approach is The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. The key takeaway is to begin with the end in mind - define your mission and prioroties, then align your daily actions to achieve them. As CEO of BlueSky Wealth Advisors, I ensure our team focuses on long-term client outcomes. We use multi-year financial plans and tax strategies to build wealth and achieve life goals. This long view guides our investment and planning recommendations so clients get the most value. For example, when the market dropped 50% in the financial crisis, some advisors encouraged clients to sell. We stuck to the plan, rebalanced portfolios and reminded clients of their long-term objectives. Most who stayed the course recovered and went on to achieve their key milestones. Keeping the destination in sight during volatility and uncertainty allowed us to lead clients to financial success. To lead effectively, define your mission, set priorities and evaluate decisions based on progress made toward key goals. Take actions that compound over time to achieve sustainable results. A habit of disciplined execution will transform any organization.