Leadership Resources

Make Your Meetings More Active

Include items on your meeting agenda that require participants to get out of their seats (breakout groups, stand and write ideas on an easel).
Choose movement friendly meeting locations (walkable neighborhoods, on-site gym, nearby park).
Hire a professional instructor (pilates, yoga, tai chi, stretching, Zumba) to lead a class before or during the meeting.
Point out the stairs and encourage attendees to use them. Consider including the location of stairs in meeting directions or putting arrows to the stairs in front of elevators.
Organize a group walk early in the morning, during a break or before/after dinner.
Consider incorporating standing ovations after each speaker to encourage participants to stand and stretch.

Standing Breaks

At least once an hour, participants should be encouraged to stand up to improve blood circulation, boost metabolism, and relieve physical discomfort from sitting for prolonged periods of time.
Announce that it is fine to stand up and move around, as needed. If possible, provide raised tables for those electing to stand during the meeting.

Stretch Breaks

Stretch breaks help participants wake up their bodies and minds.
Encourage people to stand up and stretch in place.
Try playing a Healthy UC Davis WakeBreak video! These instructor-led stretch videos range from 4 to 15 minutes.

Breathing Exercise

Focused breathing is an energizing activity that can help relax and clear your mind. Simply inhale for four seconds, hold it for seven seconds, and exhale for eight seconds.

Suggested Activity Agendas

LENGTH OF MEETING	STANDING BREAK	STRETCH BREAKS	BREATHING BREAKS	MOVEMENT BREAKS	WALKING BREAKS
50 - 60 min	x		x
2 - 4 hours	x	x	x	x
All Day	x	x	x	x	x

Past Programs

Recommended Books

Cover

Title and Author

Why CEO's Fail: The 11 Behaviors That Can Derail Your Climb to the Top and How to Manage Them
Ram Charan and Geoffrey Colvin, 1999

Available on Amazon

Organizational Culture and Leadership
Edgar H. Shein, 2010.

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Unlocking Leadership Mindtraps: How to Thrive in Complexity
Jennifer Garvey Berger, 2019

Available on Amazon

Leadership in Turbulent Times
Doris Kearns Goodwin (Historian), 2018

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Humanocracy
Gary Hamel & Michele Zanini, 2020

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Agile Conversations: Transform Your Conversations, Transform Your Culture
Douglas Squirrel & Jeffrey Fredrick, 2020

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Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know
Adam Grant, 2021

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Noise – A Flaw in Human Judgment
Daniel Kahneman, 2021

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The Agile Leader: How to Create an Agile business in the Digital Age
Simon Hayward, 2021

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Reflect to Create! The Dance of Reflection for Creative Leadership, Professional Practice and Supervision
Elaine Patterson, 2019

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Helping People Change: Coaching for Lifelong Learning and Growth
Richard Boyatzis, Melvin Smith, et al., 2019

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Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action
Simon Sinek, 2017

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Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In
Roger Fisher & William Ury, 2011

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The Inner Work of Racial Justice: Healing Ourselves and Transforming Our Communities Through Mindfulness
Rhonda Magee, 2019

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Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad
James Clear, 2018

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The Burnout Epidemic: The Rise of Chronic Stress and How We Can Fix It
Jennifer Moss, 2021

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The No Gossip Zone: A No-Nonsense Guide to a Healthy, High-Performing Work Environment

Sam Chapman, 2009

Available on Amazon