Sarah Dodd is a Charlotte native, a lifetime Library user and now a Library Foundation board member. She’s also a Merchandising Vice President at Lowe’s, and her recent reads have helped her lead her team through challenge and change:

During the pandemic, it’s become critically important for leaders to be able to connect with their teams working from home. Work still needs to be done, but how do we have meaningful conversations and connections with our team members? Here are some of the books I’ve read (and in some cases re-read) to make sure I was leading my team to the best of my ability during these unprecedented times.

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni: Written like a fable, this leadership book is an easy read with powerful messages for any team.  Without a strong foundation it’s difficult to develop a high-performing team that delivers results. The five dysfunctions – Absence of Trust, Fear of Conflict, Lack of Commitment, Avoidance of Team Accountability and Inattention to Team Objectives – are relatable and spark meaningful conversations with your team. I recommend reading this together with your team and the spending some time discussing as a group.

Dare to Lead by Brene Brown: If you’re looking for a book you’ll want to reread annually, this is it. Dare to Lead challenges leaders to be courageous and vulnerable in the workplace in order to develop trust with your employees and spark innovative team thinking. With many real, relatable examples and an easy style to read or listen to via audiobook, Dare to Lead will become your go-to book for a courage gut-check.

Radical Candor by Kim Malone Scott: A book written for leaders, but a good read for all levels. Providing a very helpful framework balancing “care personally” and “challenge directly” combined with many relatable examples of how to put the framework into practice, this book will sharpen your ability to both praise and provide feedback for your employees that drive performance and results. Hint: great content at the end! Don’t give up on this one mid-way through!