I read Discovering Your True North, by Bill George, for a graduate course, High Performance Management. I am sure I would not have picked the book up off a shelf at the library and thought to read it on my free time. However, I really enjoyed the book and the information in it. Bill George is a former CEO of a large medical device company. While his frame for his workplace is much different than a Cooperative Extension Association, I found his writing relatable. I particularly appreciated the way that George keeps values at the center of work as well as his encouragement of mindfulness and affinity groups. The True North in the title is your values. He encourages discovering and understanding what your true north is and really sticking to honoring it in decisions and actions. It was also a great reminder that I need to continue to work on mindfulness and work-life balance. Lastly, he spoke of the importance of having a few trusted people that you can confide in.
This book comes with an online self-evaluation tool. It is recommended to take the assessment more than once as you journey to becoming an authentic leader. It cover five core areas and reflect if you are having success with change through self-awareness.
Susan Coyle is a 4-H Educator in Monroe County, and recipient of the 2018 ESP professional development scholarship.