In a world often inundated with technology and digital distractions, the Sibasi Book Club has emerged as a beacon of intellectual enrichment and personal growth for our organization. For the past three years, the dedicated team at Sibasi has embarked on a literary journey that has seen us explore more than 30 diverse books, including classics like "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie.
We launched Sibasi Book Club over 3 years ago with an objective of learning from each other and practicing communication skills. This is a reflection of how the experience has been.
This steadfast commitment to knowledge and self-improvement has not only transformed us as individuals, but also positioned Sibasi as a true leader and influencer in our society with better engagements with our customers while delivering projects.
Here are some advantages we’ve seen from the Sibasi Book Club:
- Broadened Perspectives: One of the most significant advantages of participating in a book club like Sibasi's has been the opportunity it has offered us to broaden our horizons. Reading a wide range of books exposes members to various viewpoints, cultures, and ideas, fostering open-mindedness and empathy. We do not prescribe the type, size, or even the author for the book club; each member picks any book they find interesting.
- Enhanced Presentation Skills: Discussing books in a group setting improves communication and presentation skills. Members at Sibasi have found that presenting their thoughts and opinions on the books they read has enhanced their ability to articulate ideas and engage in meaningful discussions. Beyond this, all of us have shown significant growth in presentation skills and the ability to do public speaking.
- Intellectual Stimulation: Reading challenging books stimulates the mind and encourages critical thinking. Sibasi team members have reported feeling mentally invigorated by their participation in the book club, which has had a positive impact on our team’s problem-solving abilities and creativity in their professional lives.
- Strengthened Social Bonds: Our book club has offered a unique opportunity for team building and social interaction. Regular meetings create a sense of community, fostering friendships and professional relationships that extend beyond the workplace. We have also had competitions and trivia that have become the talking points among our team, encouraging teamwork and strengthening our social bonds.
- Increased Empathy: By delving into the lives and experiences of fictional characters and real-world figures, our team has developed a deeper understanding of human emotions and motivations. A book like “My Life in Crime” by John Kiriamiti, which one of our team members was reading, really helped me see a different perspective of people who choose a life of crime, while a book like Trevor Noah’s “Born a Crime” was truly enlightening in helping us see a different perspective on life in South Africa. This heightened empathy has led me, in particular, to be more compassionate, and I believe this change has also occurred across the team.
- Commitment to Time: Committing to meeting every week and putting resources to support the book club is quite the challenge, but it’s also helped us to learn how to block that one hour per week to connect and learn from each other.
- Lifelong Learning: In summary, the book club encourages a culture of continuous learning. For the Sibasi team, the book club has become a platform for intellectual growth, allowing our team to stay updated on diverse topics and trends from around the world.
I hope our journey over the last 3 years with the Sibasi Book Club inspires you to join or start your own book club, so you can also reap the myriad benefits that a culture of reading and continuous learning can bring to your organization and your life.
Are you a part of a book club?
Does your organization also have a book club?
How has it helped you?
I’d be happy to hear your thoughts.
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