1, 2, 3, BOOKS!

Hello!

My title here at Arrowhead is that of “Producer”. Basically, one could say my job is keeping track of plans, talking to publishers, making sure commitments we make are delivered upon, and making sure the talented people here at Arrowhead Game Studios are motivated, happy, and badass.

My name is Axel Lindberg and I am going to use this opportunity for intra-web-tacular exposure to share with you, a list of three kick-ass books on the topics of human behavior and leadership…

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team – Patrick M. Lencioni

A fun and interesting – and in many ways mind-opening – book on the psychology of teams. The book is written as a fictional novel, complete with intrigues, twists, and surprises much like a thriller novel – only this story is set in a corporate context in Silicon Valley. The author uses this “novel- approach” to draw the reader in, while simultaneously effectively describing some very interesting models and philosophies regarding leadership, communication, perception, and team-work. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team is a fun, quick read. The theories presented have had a big impact on how I think about working with other people.

Drive – Daniel H. Pink

What is it that drives us? Is the old “carrot-and-stick” -method the most effective way to get us to achieve a given goal? If that goal demands heaps of creativity and innovation, what is the best way to tap into those mind-sets – and more importantly, what should we NOT do to avoid sabotaging our ability to be creative? These are some of the types of questions that “Drive” reflects upon. The book is full of interesting research and history on how corporations, artists, athletes, scientists and others seek to harness the power of a driven mind. The book is written with a playful tone and quickly had me hooked.

Good Boss, Bad Boss – Robert l. Sutton

I read this book after I had first read both “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team” and “Drive” (though not back-to-back). From that perspective, I would describe “Good Boss, Bad Boss” as a collection of cases, stories, and anecdotes on the same subjects as the Five Dysfunctions and Drive books. While not really adding any completely new ideas to the table I thoroughly enjoyed reading Good Boss, Bad Boss, as it provided me with a better understanding for how it all works in practice, and what the consequences can be when it fails. I found this book was best read in short sprints to allow some time for details and nuances to sink in.

/Axel