World Book Day is here! If you have been reading our past blogs, you will know that GreenStones enjoy promoting charity events, just like World Book Day. Reading is an essential skill, and we’re passionate about fostering a love for books within our team and beyond.
Have you ever considered how reading can help your business grow? Whether it’s improving communication, sparking innovation or developing leadership skills, reading has benefits that go far beyond personal enjoyment.
Here are six ways you can implement and promote reading within your team:-
- Create a Book Club
Establish a regular meeting time where team members can discuss a book they’ve all read. This gives team members the opportunity to read different genres and authors.
- Implement a Reading Challenge
Last year we set a three month reading challenge to see who could read the most. Each time a team member read a book they had to complete a small form explaining what they learnt and if they would recommend it. At the end of our three month challenge, all team members who completed a form were entered into a prize draw. The more books team members read, the more entries they could add to the draw. You can make challenges like this fun and rewarding by offering incentives.
David won our reading challenge, after reading 10 books over the course of the three months. The winning prize was… a gift voucher! Out of all the books David read, he only gave one book 5 out of 5 stars and that was for Truly Madly Deadly by Alex Smith. This book is part of a series featuring DCI Robbie Kett. They are set in Norfolk and although very dark in places there is also a lot of humour in them.
- Provide Resources
Provide your team with access to books and reading materials. For example, at GreenStones, when a new team member joins, we provide them with our ‘recommended reading’ suggestions. The books we recommend to new team members display the atmosphere and ethos we wish to promote within the GreenStones team. You could also consider subscriptions to online platforms that provide access to a wide range of titles.
- Book Swaps
Encourage team members to bring in books they’ve enjoyed and swap them with colleagues. This introduces people to new reading material and encourages conversations beyond work topics. In our office, we’ve found book swaps to be a great way to inspire reading beyond our usual preference.
- Offer Development Opportunities
Encourage team members to read articles, blogs, and industry publications to stay up to date with the latest trends and knowledge in your field. Here at GreenStones, we keep track of development activities each month. If you don’t have team development activities at your workplace, why not implement them now?
- Lead by Example
Managers and leaders should also participate in reading initiatives to show that they value personal and professional growth. Please continue reading to find out who at GreenStones has published their very own book.
The Importance of Reading…
Reading is an important skill which helps with our development. Check out our list of key benefits below:-
- Improves our mental muscles (e.g. memory)
- Broadens our vocabulary and writing ability
- Expands our knowledge
- Helps with mental health and reduces stress
- Enhances our imagination
Published Books…
As some of you may know, Simon Chaplin, GreenStones Director, has gone one step further and published two of his own books – 7 Savvy Stories and Banish the Banish the Bottleneck. For those working in accountancy, please check out the book Banish the Bottleneck. This book was released back in 2021 and is aimed at accountancy practices who are looking to expand and perfect their teams.
Book Recommendations from The Team…
Check out the list of books below, which our team members would recommend reading. These books range from ones which can help you grow professionally and personally, to fun fiction books which team members have read:-
Lucy –
The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue.
‘So well written and felt incredibly real.’
The Three Lives Of Cate Kay by Kate Fagen.
‘Both books are about the knock on effects of random events that happen when young and starting in life as an adult.’
Craig –
The Game of Thrones books by George R.R. Martin.
‘Amazing characters, incredible depth to the story lines, and so well written. I read them a long time ago and then again a few years ago in anticipation of the next book being released, which has been promised for a nearly a decade!’
Leanne –
Coasting by Elise Downing.
‘This book is based on a young woman’s journey about running the coastline of Britain. It’s a light-hearted and easy read which subtly explores themes of resilience, perseverance and overcoming challenges.’
Sophie –
All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood.
‘A really uncomfortable read but very thought provoking about a relationship in a meth lab/drug dealing backdrop between a young, neglected girl and a much older, mentally immature man. Very conflicting feelings.’
The Woman in the Wallpaper by Lora Jones.
What’s Your Favourite Book?
We’d love to hear your recommendations! Share your favourite reads and tag us on social media. And if you’re a business owner, why not challenge your team to a reading initiative this year? Let us know how it goes—we’d love to hear about it!
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