Team building. Employee development. Enhanced creativity. With a workplace book club, your organization can realize all of these benefits that help to develop a more productive workforce. Here is how to make it happen at your organization:

Do some digging. Before diving into a full-fledged club, find out if employees are interested. An email survey can help you learn if workers want to be part of a book club where you will meet during scheduled lunch dates and discuss what you are reading. 

Pick the book. Ideally, club participants will drive the choice of every book. For instance, if the majority of the readers represent a certain department, such as sales, everyone may agree to read a sales-oriented book. If the club members represent cross-functional departments, a more general topic may be in order. The main thing is for all the book club members to have a say in the decision.

Buy the books. When you pay for the books, it is a small perk that members will appreciate — and a small price to pay for employee development.

Prepare the questions. Taking time to organize book club discussion questions will help bring out the best in the club members’ thoughts and viewpoints. Questions can keep the discussion lively and the conversation flowing smoothly. 

Reap the benefits. Studies show that sharing our thoughts with others is a key way to remember new concepts and put them into action. In fact, taking part in a discussion about books raises retention by a whopping 70 percent and can also lead to better relationships, clarified thinking and powerful conversations.¹

Ready to start a new chapter in your employees’ development? Consider starting your office book club today.

_{¹“Starting a Business Book Club.” University of Michigan Medical School. Accessed August 27, 2018.}