📚 Team building – read a book – Confident Leadership

When you hear team building , what comes to mind?

Kickoffs? Games? Inspirational talks? Dinners and dancing?

I’ve been to many of those. They can be fun and energizing – but let’s be honest: how much of what we talked about actually sticks a month later?

It’s a bit like New Year’s resolutions – great in the moment, but unless they’re part of a routine, they fade away fast.

But here’s the thing: Team building doesn’t have to cost a thing.

It doesn’t even require leaving your office – or your Teams meeting.

It’s about everyday habits.And one of the best ways to build trust and team spirit is… reading a book together.

(Or watching a TED Talk – the idea is the same.) You create shared reflections, conversations and insights – all of which deepen collaboration and psychological safety.

And it can be simple and powerful.

✅ How to start a book circle at work (or a TED Talk club!)

1. Before the meeting:

📬 Send out the chapter or clip you want the team to read/watch.
⏰ Do it a week ahead, to give everyone time.
💬 Include 1–3 reflection prompts, like:
- What made you think?
- What did you relate to?
- What can we take with us?

🛎 Bonus: Send a light-hearted reminder a few days before. This isn’t homework – it’s a fun spark for great conversations!

2. During the meeting:

☕ Start with the reflection round as your check-in – it helps focus and presence.
🔄 Let everyone speak for 1–2 minutes. Kick it off yourself and pass it around.
💡 Ställ frågan: 💡 Ask: What do we want to test or take with us?
📌 Note the ideas and follow up next time.

3. Make it stick:

🔁 Rotate responsibility – one person leads each round and sends out the questions.
🎯 Connect your reflections to a challenge or goal the team is working on.

📚 Books that spark great team conversations:

Here are some of my favorites – perfect for leadership development, self-leadership and team growth.

Illusions and Solutions (Tänk låsningar och lösningar) – Kjell Enhager

Simple, funny and full of insight. Great for self-leadership.
Click for more details

🇬🇧 Illusions and solutions
🇸🇪 Tänk Låsningar och lösningar
ISBN: 9789163964343
Buy the book: https://enhager.com/produkt-kategori/bocker/

Mästarlikt ledarskap – Hans Jansson

Perfect for leadership teams – especially in non-profit and church settings.

🇬🇧 Not available
🇸🇪 Mästarlikt ledarskap: lärdomar från Jesu mästerliga ledarskap
ISBN: 9789189071476
Buy the book: https://www.sjobergsforlag.se/bocker/ledarskap/mastarlikt-ledarskap-hans-jansson

The Art of Listening (Konsten att lyssna) – Annika Telléus

Listening builds trust. This book combines real-life stories with reflective exercises.

🇬🇧 Not available
🇸🇪 Konsten att lyssna : vägen till en större tillit och bättre relationer
ISBN: 9789180066341
Buy the book: https://www.adlibris.com/se/bok/konsten-att-lyssna-vagen-till-en-storre-tillit-och-battre-relationer-9789180066341

Dear Leadership (Kära ledarskap) – Simon Elvnäs & Stefan Söderfjäll

Short, sharp and to the point. A reminder of what leadership really is.

🇬🇧 Not available
🇸🇪 Kära ledarskap
ISBN: 9789180597944
Buy the book: https://www.adlibris.com/se/bok/kara-ledarskap-9789180597944

Emotional Intelligence 2.0 – Travis Bradberry & Jean Greaves

Emotional intelligence is a leadership superpower – and this book shows how to grow it.

🇬🇧 Emotional Intelligence 2.0
🇸🇪 Ej tillgänglig
ISBN: 9780974320625
Buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Emotional-Intelligence-2-0-Travis-Bradberry/dp/0974320625

Reinventing Organizations – Frederic Laloux

Challenging and inspiring – especially for leadership teams. A must-read.

🇬🇧 Reinventing Organizations: A Guide to Creating Organizations Inspired by the Next Stage of Human Consciousness
🇸🇪 Ej tillgänglig
ISBN: 9782960133509
Buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Reinventing-Organizations-Frederic-Laloux/dp/2960133501

Atomic Habits – James Clear

Simple changes, big impact. 1% better each day adds up fast.

🇬🇧 Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
🇸🇪 1 %-metoden : små förändringar, stora resultat : ett enkelt och beprövat sätt att skapa goda vanor och bryta dåliga
ISBN: 9780735211292
Buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Habits-Proven-Build-Break/dp/0735211299

The 6 Types of Working Genius – Patrick Lencioni

Understand and appreciate each other’s strengths. Written in story format – easy and engaging.

🇬🇧 The 6 Types of Working Genius: A Better Way to Understand Your Gifts, Your Frustrations, and Your Team
🇸🇪 Ej tillgänglig
ISBN: 9781637743294
Buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Types-Working-Genius-Understand-Frustrations/dp/1637743297

🎯 Final thoughts: Team building isn’t something you do outside your work

it’s something you build into your everyday. A book circle is one of the easiest and most powerful ways to do that.

Want to get started?

📣 📣 Pick a book and get started today!

💬 Got a book you love? Share your recommendation in the comments – we’re always looking for new inspiration!

👉 Want help to get started? Send this post to a colleague you’d like to read with!