We wish everyone at the Development Office and your entire school a sun-filled summer full of relaxation—and professional development. Sure, the classrooms might be empty of students (for now), but your work is rarely done. The temporary breather offers you some time to catch up on that list of books you promised yourself you’d get to this year—and we’ve got a few suggestions for you to tackle while catching some rays.
Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time
by Keith Ferrazzi
This book is not the cold, selfish version of networking that shy people envision—Ferrazzi makes that quite clear in this updated classic guide to professional relationships, originally published in 2005. Rather, Never Eat Alone is about forming warm, authentic relationships with those around you to discover how mutual partnerships help both parties progress. For both development and more general administrative perspectives, this book is absolutely essential for learning how to grow vague contacts into dedicated donors.
A More Beautiful Question
by Warren Berger
Questions can feel dangerous at times, especially when they address long-standing (and comfortable) policies. However, as Berger outlines, true innovation and progressive practices that generate results within organizations—and schools!—can only occur in places where questions are not only accepted, but encouraged. His “Why/What If/How” question format presents a way in which we can all start to develop healthier, more productive professional and personal lives.
The Soul of Money: Reclaiming the Wealth of Our Inner Resources
by Lynne Twist
Professionals working in the world of philanthropy have various connections to money, whether it’s understanding budgets or networking with influential community stakeholders. The plethora of ways that donors relate to their money and its potential impact is important. Before you can develop a culture of philanthropy, you must understand the complexity of one of its core components: cash.
Additional ISM resources:
The Source for Private School News Vol. 13 No. 6 2014 Summer Reading List for Private School Administrators
The Source for Private School News Vol. 15 No. 6 2016 Summer Reading List for Private-Independent School Administrators
The Source for Development Directors Vol. 12 No. 10 Summer Reading for the Development Office: Recommended Books and Webinars
