Top 9 Books from the 2018 Agent In Engagement Reading List - Part 1

One of the ways to stay current on employee engagement and employee experience topics is through reading books. In 2018, I completed 22 such books. Here is a link to the entire 2018 Agent In Engagement Reading List. From those books, I identified 9 employee engagement-related favorites. Rather than try to rank these selections, I’ll discuss them in the order in which they were read. Below, in Part 1, I’ll spotlight the 5 favorite books from the first half of 2018.  In Part 2, I’ll highlight the remaining 4 selections that were completed from July – December.


As I do each year, let me tout the benefits of using your local public library. This free and accessible public service is paid for, in part, by your tax dollars and offers a wealth of interesting and informative selections. If, by chance, the book you wish to read is not available through the library, please be environmentally responsible and purchase a used or digital version when available.



Explore the top Agent In Engagement selections from Part 1: January – June 2018



When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing - Daniel H. Pink

When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing – Daniel H. Pink  

Completion date: 2/20/2018




“Various internet sources estimate that an adult makes about 35,000 remotely conscious decisions each day,” 1 though no source is cited.

Regardless of the actual amount of decisions, Daniel Pink notes that we often overestimate our ability to make good decisions. In his new book, When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing2, we learn how we can set ourselves up to make better decisions. It’s all about timing. I encourage you to read it so that you can gain more insight into how you can structure your day to be the most effective and productive.  While it is a matter of

When, don’t make it a matter of when you finally read it.

Related blog post: Takeaways from When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing




Radical Candor- Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity

Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity – Kim Scott 

Completion date: 3/20/2018



Managers need to get to know their direct reports and need to be willing to tell people when their work isn’t good enough, and when it is. According to author Kim Scott, challenging people is often the best way to show them that you care when you’re the boss.




Talent Magnet - How to Attract and Keep the Best People

Talent Magnet: How to Attract and Keep the Best People – Mark Miller 

Completion date: 4/25/2018




In this fable about the parallels the lives of a business leader and his son and their desire to make an impact.  Together, they discover a formula to attract top talent with the understanding that people want: A Better Boss. A Bigger Vision. A Brighter Future.




The Excellence Dividend - Meeting the Tech Tide with Work That Wows and Jobs That Last

The Excellence Dividend: Meeting the Tech Tide with Work That Wows and Jobs That Last – Tom Peters 

Completion date: 5/8/2018



In a world that’s constantly changing, how does a company/organization stand out? Tom Peters argues it’s about being different, and being excellent…in everything big and small.  Excellence is the new differentiator.  

“So what is this Excellence Dividend? In short, businesses that are committed to excellence in every aspect of their internal and external dealings are likely to be survivors.”3

“Excellence is a moment-to-moment way of life. Or it is nothing at all. There’s no tomorrow in excellence; there is only right now”.4




The Culture Code - The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups

The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups – Daniel Coyle 

Completion date: 6/27/2018



“In The Culture Code, Daniel Coyle goes inside some of the world’s most successful organizations—including the U.S. Navy’s SEAL Team Six, IDEO, and the San Antonio Spurs—and reveals what makes them tick. He demystifies the culture-building process by identifying three key skills that generate cohesion and cooperation, and explains how diverse groups learn to function with a single mind. Drawing on examples that range from Internet retailer Zappos to the comedy troupe Upright Citizens Brigade to a daring gang of jewel thieves, Coyle offers specific strategies that trigger learning, spark collaboration, build trust, and drive positive change. Coyle unearths helpful stories of failure that illustrate what not to do, troubleshoots common pitfalls, and shares advice about reforming a toxic culture. Combining leading-edge science, on-the-ground insights from world-class leaders, and practical ideas for action, The Culture Code offers a roadmap for creating an environment where innovation flourishes, problems get solved, and expectations are exceeded.”5



In Part 2, we’ll unveil the 4 remaining favorite books from the second half of 2018.




What are your thoughts on these selections? What were your favorite books of 2018? Which books would you recommend?



Disclosure of Material Connection: The links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only reference products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”


1 Hoomans, Dr. Joel. “Leading Edge Journal.” 35,000 Decisions: The Great Choices of Strategic Leaders, Roberts Wesleyan College, 20 Mar. 2015, go.roberts.edu/leadingedge/the-great-choices-of-strategic-leaders.

2 Pink, Daniel H. When: the scientific secrets of perfect timing. Riverhead Books, 2018.

3 Peters, Thomas J. Excellence Dividend: Meeting the Tech Tide with Work That Wows and Jobs That Last. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 2018, p. xvi

4 Ibid., p. xxv

5 “The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books.” PenguinRandomhouse.com, Penguin Random House, www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/235200/the-culture-code-by-daniel-coyle/9780804176989/.




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