Re-igniting recognition: summer reads to turn up the heat

Before you dismiss the idea of toting a “serious” read to the beach this summer, check out the following to re-ignite your recognition strategy as you prepare to welcome your staff back to campus.

The Power of Moments – Join brothers Dan and Chip Heath (co-authors of Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die) as they explore why certain brief experiences can jolt, elevate, and ultimately change us. Find out how to create such extraordinary moments in our life and work. Short cut: watch a four-minute video with Dan Heath describing how to build a powerful moment.

Leading with Gratitude – Authors Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton say that practicing gratitude offers the greatest effect for the time dedicated. Learn eight leadership practices to achieve extraordinary results. Short cut: listen to Elton’s Leading with Gratitude podcast series.

Work Made Fun Gets Done! – Dr. Bob Nelson of 1501 Ways to Reward Employees is back, this time with Mario Tamayo to share easy ways to boost energy, morale, and results. According to Nelson and Tamayo, “work made more fun is universally easier and more enjoyable to complete—and results in better performance.” Short cut: browse the margins of the book for “snackable” ideas and tips that you can quickly implement.

Added bonus: Yale’s own, Laurie Santos
Laurie is known worldwide for her class, “Psychology and the Good Life,” which is the most popular class in the history of Yale. As “The Science of Well-Being,” it has also become one of the most popular classes ever to be available on Coursera, and is in podcast form as “The Happiness Lab.” Laurie Santos is a professor in Yale’s Department of Psychology and the interdisciplinary Cognitive Science Program as well as head of college for Silliman College. She is also director of the Comparative Cognition Laboratory (“CapLab”) and the Canine Cognition Center at Yale.