LS2group Book Club – Takeaways from Leaders Eat Last

Written by ls2group

LS2group’s book club wrapped up its first book, Leaders Eat Last. The group joined together for a discussion to talk through key topics covered and ideas presented that stuck with them. After reading and reflecting on the book, here are some of the group’s top takeaways.

Maggie Meyer: Empathy: Leaders who are empathetic towards their employees tend to have a stronger circle of safety. With an empathetic leader, the work environment is more enjoyable and people are willing to work harder for a company that they feel safe in.

Susan Fenton: The biggest takeaway that I heard during the group’s discussion is that employees want their leadership to not keep secrets from employees and to lead their employees, not just manage them. We can all be leaders in our company no matter what our status. If employees feel free to implement ideas without micromanagement, employees perform better and are happy employees.

Toxic environments affect our well-being.  Stress causes cortisol to rise, which causes issues with your stomach, aches, and pains. Working in a safe environment releases endorphins that promote joy and harmony.

Bethany Grabe: My biggest takeaway from the book was the power of empathy. Having the ability to be aware of the feelings of those around you is important, especially as a leader. I find it fascinating that empathy is becoming more of a powerful strength in the workplace, where in the past it may have been considered a weakness. All human beings need to be cared for, and I’m glad leaders are recognizing that.

Ashley Hunt: You always hear a lot about company culture and how it makes somewhere a ‘good place to work,’ but after reading this book I realize that company culture doesn’t just make somewhere a good or fun place to work, it also can mean the difference between a successful business and an unsuccessful business. Good company culture means employees are happy, feel valued, and feel that their work is valued. When employees feel their work is valued, they take more ownership in their work. More ownership in work will result in better quality work and that’s a win for a company. What I learned from testimonies and stories from Leaders Eat Last is that one of, if not the most important part of company culture is ensuring your employees feel not just valued, but safe. The “circle of safety” that is referenced in the book means that when employees can trust each other, their managers, and the leaders of a company, they can feel more comfortable in their work environment, which of course, can mean employees are willing to take risks and ask questions, and, therefore, likely to produce a higher quality of work. So often you think of good company culture meaning a fun time and happier employees, but you don’t always think of the direct benefits it can have to a company’s public reputation.

Dan Lederman: My key takeaway from Leaders Eat Last is that leaders want employees to want to come to work because they value the company and their fellow employees and managers. As a leader, we need to make sure that our employees feel like they belong to a team, and that team fulfills the employees inner needs of security from outside dangers.

Is there a book that you would recommend for the book club? Provide your suggestions below!