Recommended Books
We’re constantly scanning for great books, articles and resources. Below are listed some of our favourite thought starters. You can also keep up with the latest through Kate’s Amazon Reading List on Linked In.
Branded Customer Service the New Competitive Edge
by Janelle Barlow and Paul Stewart
“Branding is an integral part of modern business strategy. Here Barlow and Stewart show that delivering on-brand service – service that supports and extends a company’s brand – can provide enormous competitive advantage”
Delivering Happiness – A Path to Profits, Passion and Purpose
by Tony Hsieh
“In his first book, Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh shares the different lessons he has learned in business and life, from starting a worm farm to running a pizza business; through LinkExchange (acquired by Microsoft for $265 million), Zappos, and more. Tony shows how a very different kind of corporate culture is a powerful model for achieving success — and how by concentrating on the happiness of those around you, you can dramatically increase your own.”
Employer Brand Leadership – A Global Perspective
by Brett Minchington
“Employer branding has been embraced by leaders of top companies around the world and the role of the employer brand leader is growing in importance as a way to strategically manage a company’s ability to attract, engage and retain talent”
Light Their Fire – Using Internal Marketing to Ignite Employee Performance and WOW Your Customers
by Susan M Drake, Michelle J Gulman and Sara M Roberts
“Many organisations have the gift of taking committed, enthusiastic people and turning them into cynics. While today’s bottom-line-oriented business environment demands that owners and managers keep a close eye on costs, many miss the opportunity to strengthen their profit potential through strong internal marketing to employees”
Living the Brand – How to Transform Every Member of Your Organisation into a Brand Champion
by Nicholas Ind
“A company’s workforce is its most valuable asset. It is the employees who translate an organisation’s strategy into reality, who interact with consumers and who determine the corporate brand. Ind demonstrates how a participatory approach can enhance employee commitment, improve service standards and focus effort to deliver business goals”
Peak – How Great Companies Get Their Mojo from Maslow
by Chip Conley
“Part memoir, part theory and always practical, accessible and engaging, Peak offers a behind the scenes look at Joie de Vivre’s – the second largest boutique hotelier in the world – remarkable transformation. By creating loyalty with employees, customers and investors, Conley was able to turn his company around and experience sustained success”
Start with Why – How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action
by Simon Sinek
“Why are some people and organisations more innovative, more influential, and more profitable than others? Why do some command greater loyalty from customers and employees alike? Even among the successful, why are so few able to repeat their success over and over? In studying the leaders who’ve had the greatest influence in the world, Simon Sinek discovered they all think, act and communicate in the exact same way – and it’s the opposite to what everyone else does. It all starts with WHY”