7 books to help correct a toxic corporate culture
- A toxic work culture sounds intimidating, but employees and managers can improve it with the right tools.
- If you have a bossy boss or struggle to be inclusive, the following books may help.
- These seven choices underline the importance of alliance, cultural awareness and innovative leadership.
Whether you’re back in the office or working from home, a toxic corporate culture can make you feel trapped. Maybe your bossy boss doesn’t respect your time, maybe two of your employees just can’t get along, or maybe women and minorities don’t feel as welcome as men white.
Whatever the problem, we’ve got the good news: There are steps you can take to make things better. Check out the Seven Notable Reads below if you’re ready to start transforming your office culture, even if there are a few jerks in the way.
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1. âHow to be an ally: actions you can take for a stronger, happier workplaceâ by Melinda Briana Epler
Through the power of the alliance, each of us can create a fair and innovative workplace where everyone feels safe, valued and able to thrive.
Listen to our recap of Book Bite, read by author Melinda Briana Epler, in the Next Big Idea app
2. âToxic: A Guide to Rebuilding Respect and Tolerance in a Hostile Workplaceâ by Clive Lewis
A corporate psychologist draws on decades of HR and mediation experience to distill the issues and underlying causes of toxic workplaces before demonstrating how toxicity can be both prevented and resolved.
Listen to our recap of Book Bite, read by author Clive Lewis, in the Next Big Idea app
3. âInside: How to Heal from Racial Trauma in the Workplaceâ by Minda Harts
From the powerful author of “The Memo,” the essential self-help book for women of color to heal – and thrive – in the workplace.
Listen to our recap of Book Bite, read by author Minda Harts, in the Next Big Idea app
4. âDid that just happen? ! : Beyond Diversity – Building Sustainable and Inclusive Organizations âby Stephanie Pinder-Amaker and Lauren Wadsworth
This manual by two clinical psychologists explains how organizations (and all people) can improve their cultural awareness and become more equitable in their work and personal relationships.
Listen to our summary of Book Bite, read by authors Stephanie Pinder-Amaker and Lauren Wadsworth, in the Next Big Idea app
5. âThink Talk Create: Building Workplaces Fit for Humansâ by David Brendel and Ryan Stelzer
A brilliant counter-narrative to restore humanity to the culture obsessed with numbers and modern labor results of the 21st century.
Listen to our recap of Book Bite, read by co-authors David Brendel and Ryan Stelzer, in the Next Big Idea app
6. âInclude: the power of uniqueness and belonging to build innovative teamsâ by Stefanie K. Johnson
In this groundbreaking guide, a management expert describes the Transformative Leadership Competency of Tomorrow, a skill that can build truly diverse and inclusive teams that value employees’ need to belong while being themselves.
Listen to our summary of Book Bite, read by author Stefanie K. Johnson, in the Next Big Idea app
7. âBusiness Doing Good: Engaging Women and Elevating Communitiesâ by Shannon Deer and Cheryl Miller
âBusiness Doing Goodâ describes six principles that business leaders can apply to effectively hire women who have lived through incarceration, poverty, drug addiction and / or involvement in the sex trade.
Listen to our recap of Book Bite, read by authors Shannon Deer and Cheryl Miller, in the Next Big Idea app