Book clubs are a boon for an organization's learning and development (L&D) strategy, especially with leadership involvement.

According to a 2024 survey conducted by OverDrive and HR Dive, one in three HR executives believe L&D participation would increase if employees in their companies had more encouragement from top management or supervisors. 

Leaders at Situation Group — a collective of marketing and advertising companies — have understood that for some time. For several years, they’ve organized a leadership book club that unites leaders, clients, community members and emerging talent, fostering a culture of continuous learning.

Jordan Person, the managing partner at Situation Group agency, Town Hall, shares the reason behind launching the book club and how it advanced their learning culture, engaged employees and helped leaders lead better. 

Why Situation Group started a leadership book club

Creating intentional space for thoughtful conversation, reflection and learning has always been a core part of what Situation Group aims to offer its community, explains Person. "We can learn so much when we break down silos and come together," she notes.

Building on the success of their internal book club, Situation Group established a new, leadership-focused book club and extended invitations to clients, prospects, influential community members and junior team members. Expanding participation gave employees a unique opportunity to network with impactful leaders and learn from the material.

Building engagement with continuous and shared learning

Person recalls how their book club began with a mix of people who were talkers and those who were less talkative but still clearly engaged. By establishing a regular cadence, they built a great dynamic even with those who weren't as comfortable sharing.

“Once people attend, the experience alone convinces them to return,” says Person, who adds that participants greatly value the sense of community.

Participants also frequently suggest books, leading to some of the group’s most engaging discussions. Person highlights titles such as Crucial Conversations (Kerry Patterson), Never Far From Home (Bruce Jackson), Trust & Inspire (Stephen M.R. Covey) and Creativity, Inc. (Ed Catmull).

Person acknowledges that book clubs are not for everyone. After all, there's a big barrier to joining: you have to read a book. However, the advent of ebooks and audiobooks has made participation more accessible.

She also emphasizes to participants not to let an unfinished book be a barrier to joining, noting that their perspective will still be valuable even if they’ve been staring at the book on their nightstand.

Creating a space to drive innovation and foster deeper connections

Learning is foundational to Situation Group’s culture, and they constantly upskill to master new technologies, media platforms and measurement tools. Their leadership book club further supports this by promoting big-picture thinking and creating space for discussions on innovation and transformation for their organization and their clients.

In creating this space, team members have introduced new ways of thinking and developed a shared language, enhancing collaboration and teamwork. Person shares that discussions can often spark new ideas, unlock concepts or shift perspectives. 

The benefits of the book club extend beyond its immediate participants, too. After being inspired by a particular book in the club, Person recommended it to her team. One of her team members took up the recommendation, and after finishing the book, they met over coffee to discuss it. “It was a great opportunity for me to connect with someone on my team in a different way,” says Person.

The book club has also inspired other learning initiatives, like Podwalk, designed to optimize remote workdays in a hybrid working environment. Podwalk invites employees to take a walk while listening to a podcast, then join a conference call to discuss it, creating another avenue for flexible, engaging learning.

Launching a leadership book club: 6 tips for success

• Get leadership buy-in. “Ensure your leadership team is excited about it and willing to help organize and endorse it,” advises Person, who co-facilitates the book club with another Situation Group leader. 
• Include diverse voices in the room. To Person, the discussions are always better when there is diversity of thought, professional experience, expertise and identities in the room.
• Allow flexible formats. Encourage preferred reading formats like audiobooks, ebooks or hard copies. Person mentions how, while some group members still prefer physical books, most people use multiple formats.
• Encourage vulnerability. “Leaders must show up ready to be vulnerable,” says Person. “When leaders model this, it shifts the dynamic in the room and creates a foundation for deeper connections.” She also recalls that some of their most insightful discussions have been about heart-driven vs. tactical material. 
• Start small. It’s OK if your leadership book club is small. Person firmly believes a club doesn’t require many people to participate to be successful.
• Repeat. “This is not a one-and-done strategy...You must commit to it and give people space to get comfortable,” advises Person. 

Insider advice: Including varying formats is key, as our research shows that 3 in 10 HR leaders believe offering more options to enhance accessibility would be crucial to providing the best possible L&D program.

Turning the page on your learning culture: next steps

Launching a book club with leadership involvement is an effective way to activate a learning culture. This initiative also works because it hits on one of the most critical ways to enhance L&D: presenting fresh content, continuously. 

Our research reveals that 31% of HR executives believe ongoing learning has the most significant impact on L&D programs. Similarly, external studies show that 76% of employees are likelier to remain with a company that offers continuous training.

To uncover how you can create a more consistent learning environment and turn your L&D program into a competitive advantage, download the survey report for insights on maximizing your L&D program.