December 13, 2021
Contributor: Ava McCartney
Give them a read for your personal and professional development in the year ahead.
Chances are you know Gartner experts for their salient research and commentary around all things technology, business and strategy. Whether you’re a CIO or a CHRO, a VP of marketing or a general counsel, you’re the beneficiary of our expert insights, which empower you to make faster, smarter decisions.
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Now, as we do every year, we’re showing you a more personal side of these experts — in the form of their recommended reads for 2022. Each book on the list comes with a note from the expert highlighting its value to you as a leader and an individual, so start reading.
“The Mind at Work” by Mike Rose
“Even though it was written in 2004, this deep perspective on workers and intelligence is essential. As we redesign work for all workers, Rose’s study of people who work with their hands will shift how we innovate for frontline employees. As we augment these frontline workers with technology, we must do so in a way that honors and amplifies their exemplary skills rather than simply automating them.” —Chris Howard, Distinguished VP Analyst and Chief of Research
“Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment” by Daniel Kahneman, Olivier Sibony and Cass R. Sunstein
“Kahneman puts together another great book, this time showcasing issues with intuition-based decision making. While it highlights societal problems, the applicability to the business world is clear. Leaders must be aware of human biases and recurring inconsistencies and flaws in their judgment.” —David Egloff, VP Analyst
“It’s About You Too” by Lori B. Rassas
“I was looking for resources around how to be a stronger ally and effective peer leader to inform how I operate here at Gartner and ran into this one. It’s a useful story and frame for talking with anyone and everyone about the benefits of difference and meeting people where they are, individually, rather than beating them over the head with more data on DEI best practices. It’s helped me reframe discussions with my politically polarized family and community as well.” —Dana Stiffler, VP Analyst
“Conscious Leadership: Elevating Humanity Through Business” by John Mackey, Steve McIntosh and Carter Phipps
“John Mackey is the CEO and cofounder of Whole Foods, now wholly owned by Amazon. This is a sequel to the foundational book, “Conscious Capitalism,” which proposes that business can be instrumental in shaping society, and to do so, you need to build your business around what you want your business to be in society — meaning the impacts to the community and many times to the world at large. This is a great book for those clients who are working hard to address the question, how do we do well by doing good?” —Jorge Lopez, Distinguished VP Analyst
“Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know” by Adam Grant
“Storytelling is a powerful technique used to capture one’s attention. It is the first step in resetting how we think. And it is as a result of this reset that we can rethink what we imagine we know, reshape what we believe and act differently. [This book] is an engaging reminder and important push to survive in an ever-changing business environment.” —Heather Colella, VP Analyst
“The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact” by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
“This book offers a unique approach to managing subscription business by not fixing problems, but rather capitalizing on the peak moments customers have with your product.” —Alexander Bant, Practice Vice President
“The Delusions of Crowds: Why People Go Mad in Groups” by William J. Bernstein
“I loved this one — it goes totally against the popular image. In reality, it just shows that what is meant by ‘crowd’ is the challenge.” —Andrew White, Distinguished VP Analyst
