WHAT HAPPENS IN BOOK CLUB, STAYS IN BOOK CLUB: AN EXERCISE IN GRASSROOTS SELF-ORGANIZATION
Grassroots employee initiatives continue to be popular undertakings in large organizations. Such efforts are commonly focused on areas such as anti-stigma programs, workplace inclusivity, and employee development. Here, we explore an implementation of the latter interest in the form of a voluntary employee Book Club. We present an overview of the motivation, formation, and evolution of the group and discuss its trajectory from inception to present state. In particular, we provide an enumeration of content and themes exposed to members and describe how both the topics and the process have impacted and benefited the participants. We conclude by suggesting how such undertakings can be generalized and what potentials gains might be offered for overall organizational fitness.
Learning Outcomes:
- Introduce and discuss 70:20:10 workplace learning framework
- Using a grassroots-driven initiative to drive professional and personal development
- Creating a safe environment (book club) for learning and engagement.
Key Themes:
- Communication
- Leadership
- Leading Change
- Leveraging Technology / Innovation
- Process Improvement
- Team Building/Working in Teams
Presenters:
Dana Mohapl, Peter Cui, and Jason Greatrex are part of a group of staff members within IST, who with their shared passion for reading have formed a book club that supports personal and professional development through peer collaboration. Dana, Peter, and Jason will speak about their experiences, including their expectations, successes, challenges, and unexpected benefits from the book club.