Summer is a great time to take a breath, step back, and think about how you can support your team's growth. With longer days and a little more time to think, it's the perfect moment to recharge, reflect, and explore fresh ideas - together. Whether you want to lift team spirits, strengthen your culture, or shake things up with bold new thinking, the right book can spark meaningful change. Here are five powerful reads to help you build connection, resilience, and a deeper sense of purpose across your team this summer.
Scaling Conservation
Dr Rich Stockdale, (Rethink Press, 2025)
Best read for: Purpose-led leadership
How do we make protecting the planet more profitable than destroying it? In Scaling Conservation, Dr Rich Stockdale lays out a bold, actionable 'greenprint' that challenges how we value nature. Drawing on deep expertise in conservation, green finance and natural capital, this book presents a visionary yet grounded approach to scaling environmental impact fast.
Ideal for business leaders, investors and changemakers, this book is a rallying cry to build a future where purpose and profit work together. Whether your team works in sustainability or not, the insights here will help inspire big thinking and bolder action across every sector.
Brave New Leader
Lesley Cooper and Vicky Smith, (Right Book Press, 2023)
Best read for: Tackling fear-based cultures
Despite endless talk of openness and wellbeing, workplace pressure still silences too many voices. Brave New Leader cuts through the noise with a clear, practical roadmap to creating psychologically safe environments where people feel empowered to speak up, show up, and thrive.
Built on years of experience and a proven methodology, this book helps leaders spot the fears that fuel toxic behaviours and replace them with trust and accountability. Full of real-life insights, Brave New Leader is a valuable read for managers who want to transform pressure into performance and drive a culture of true inclusion and courage.
Leading on the Edge
Zana Goic Petricevic, (Rethink Press, 2025)
Best read for: Bold decision-making
Are you playing it safe or leading with impact? In Leading on the Edge, Zana Goic Petricevic invites leaders to step out of their comfort zone and embrace bold, purpose-driven change. It's a call to take risks, to trust your values, and to unlock the power of leading with authenticity and courage.
Packed with sharp insights, compelling stories and clear frameworks, this book is a practical companion for anyone ready to level up their leadership. If your team is looking to do more than just 'cope' - if you want to thrive, innovate and lead with conviction - this is your summer read.
Building Women
Faye Allen(Rethink Press, 2025)
Best read for: Gender equality in male-dominated sectors
The construction industry is at a crossroads. In Building Women, Faye Allen shares compelling research and lived experiences that expose the challenges women face on-site and the hidden toll it takes on men, too. But this isn't just a critique - it's a toolkit for positive change.
With over 1,000 voices represented, the book offers actionable insights on allyship, workplace culture, and systemic reform. Whether you're a senior leader, a site manager, or a team member who wants to make a difference, Building Women shows how to create a more respectful, supportive and productive environment for everyone.
The Heart of Finance
James Woodfall and Cliff Lansley, (Rethink Press, 2024)
Best read for: Mastering emotions
In the world of business, it's not just what you know, it's how you connect. The Heart of Finance bridges emotional intelligence with commercial success, showing advisers how to not only build lasting client relationships through trust, empathy, and authenticity but also how to understand and manage their own emotions with clarity and confidence.
Backed by neuroscience and real-world case studies, this guide offers practical techniques to improve client rapport, navigate difficult conversations, and become more self-aware. Perfect for financial professionals, but relevant to any customer-facing role, this book proves that emotional intelligence is not a 'soft skill', but a serious competitive advantage that can also protect employees' own wellbeing and long-term performance.