It seems like every month, somebody at HealthStream Research™ takes the initiative and comes up with a great idea.  One of our Project Managers became a shining example of this type of valuable employee when she helped launch a business book club.  But how, you ask, could a book club accomplish so much?  What could a book club do for your organization?

This isn’t poetry read over tea and pastries—the volunteer members of the book club collectively vote only on books that show tangible potential to have the greatest and most usable impact.  “We made sure that the book club had the mindset of thinking about how each chosen book can influence what we do here at HealthStream Research, how this knowledge can be passed on to our clients, and how we can use the gathered wisdom to enhance our own careers,” said our Book Club Leader.

The first book chosen was Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't, by Jim Collins.  So, what were the insights gained from the first meeting?  What are the characteristics of a Great company? 

• Great companies must ask for open, honest communication. However, sometimes companies aren’t sure that it's understood.  It's one thing to hear about a problem, but another to really understand it and make sure the changes are addressing the root of the issue. 
• The book downplayed the necessity for bureaucracy, that when you have the right people in the right place on the right track, bureaucracy is simply not needed as much.
• Great people put only the right people in the right place.  Hiring done in a crunch, rather than waiting for the "right" person, was mentioned as a great way to build a failing organization. 
• A Great company must be open to utilizing employees in completely new ways.  There are sure to be great employees who are passionate about the values of the company, but are not necessarily in the right position to do their best.

So, how can your organization benefit from a book club?  HealthStream Research offers the following tips for a successful program:

1.   Choose a book club leader—don’t assign one.  “The person coordinating a project like this needs to be passionate about it.  Make no mistake—there is work involved in this.”

2.   Search for recommendations for titles diligently before launching.  “One of the best ways to build a reading list is to seek suggestions from everyone in your organization.  While online bookstores (like Amazon.com) provide many resources for building relevant reading lists, nothing beats a personal recommendation from employees on the front lines.  They are often in the best position to know what needs to be addressed.  You never know where the best insights will come from, so you have to look everywhere!”

3.   Gain consensus from the group.  “We found that a simple email voting process was the easiest.  When the members have a voice in choosing the book, they are more likely to be actively engaged with the discussion.”

4.   Set specific goals for each meeting.  “You have to determine what the take-aways from each book will be.  This can’t simply be a discussion—there needs to be a plan for action that grows from each book.  It is a good idea to prepare a discussion outline before the group meets, so that each member will have a better idea of how to place the ideas from the book into the context of the organization.”

Book clubs are a great way to get an injection of fresh ideas into your organization.  Our Data Specialist, Jim Eggers, agreed that this has already been a great success for HealthStream Research. “It’s like getting free consulting from the best minds in the business.  We’ve certainly enjoyed having Jim Collins as an ‘employee’ for a few days!”

If you would like to receive a suggested “starter” reading list with relevant ties to the healthcare industry, please send an email to researchinfo@healthstream.com.