How to Start a Book Club at Work

There are many benefits to joining a book club at work. Workplace book clubs are engaging. I’ve participated in one and I’ve started workplace book clubs at both my current and former companies. Many executives and employees want to start book clubs to encourage emerging and existing leaders to learn from others, think differently, and apply knowledge from multiple industries to their daily roles.

how to start a book club at work

Benefits of Joining a Book Club at Work

  • Engaging a different part of your mind at work

  • Meet coworkers you might now usually interact with

  • Build your network and find career advocates and mentors

  • Grow your career by learning new skills and philosophies


How to run a successful book club at work – and keep it going?

It’s not as daunting as you think. Companies of different sizes present different challenges. Starting a corporate book club is relatively easy at smaller companies where you’re more likely to know everyone. It might be more difficult for larger, more bureaucratic organizations, or you may have more hoops to jump through.

First, you should determine the interest level of your coworkers. I like creating a survey. Ask a few questions:

  • What types of books do you like to read?

  • Do you want to have book discussions? If yes, how often?

  • If you don’t want to discuss books, would you prefer regular emails with book suggestions?

  • If you’re at a larger company, you may want to coordinate with HR, Talent, or your in-house “fun committee” to propose the book club. You know your workplace culture best.



How to Encourage Participation in a Company Book Club

Start with ground rules. Establishing ground rules and expectations for everyone participating in the office book club is beneficial. Here are several to consider.

  • If you hold discussions, how often will they occur, and will the meetings be based on mutual availability or held at a consistent time and day (ex: the last Wednesday of each month at 4 pm)?

  • Will these discussions occur during regular business hours or outside?

  • Who is responsible for obtaining the books? Will the company buy them, or will individuals be responsible for getting a copy? (Side note: I encourage people to obtain the books themselves to get the format they want)

  • Are the books “company-approved” or individual/small group suggestions?

  • What types of books will you suggest?



A few things to consider:

  • Adult content. How comfortable will you and others be if a book suggestion contains sex, drugs, or other adult themes? Mature themes show up more in fiction than non-fiction.

  • Religious Objections. Will people reject Harry Potter books or The Witcher? Will people object to LGBTQIA+ books and authors? Will people object to books with religious themes? I’m not encouraging you to shy away from these books, but it’s essential to plan your approach to these books and topics.

  • DEI Books: Book clubs are a great place to begin difficult conversations around Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion. However, DEI conversations bring up many unconscious biases within people and some of those people may react poorly in a discussion setting.

Providing Employee Book Suggestions vs. Book Club Meetings

The advantage of a monthly email with no set discussion is that any reading is the sole responsibility of those who choose it. The advantage of having honest discussions is the connection and growth that can come with those interactions. If you have meetings, be prepared to help the conversation along. Many of your coworkers have good intentions to read, but life happens and gets in the way, yet they still want to be part of the book club.

If you’re nervous about starting a book club at work, here are my best tips:

  • Offer a survey to gauge interest

  • Offer business books, leadership books, and other non-fiction to keep things grounded in facts and research

  • If you have meetings to discuss, come prepared with prompts and themes to keep dialog alive, even when people haven’t finished (or started) the selected book.

  • Over time, determine what interest there is in expanding the suggestions to fiction, thriller, memoir, etc. You may have book club off-shoots for romance novels, legal thrillers, or even physics and statistics.

  • Finally, be sure to put your ego aside. People will say the wrong things, express themselves poorly, and inadvertently reveal their biases. Show grace and empathy to your coworkers.

How to Keep the Book Club Going

Book clubs are awesome for career development, networking, and career growth. To encourage ongoing participation in employee book clubs, get others involved.

  • Have different employees, team leads, and even executives lead the discussions.

  • Ask open-ended questions to encourage participation.

  • Stick to consistent timing of meetings.

It’s worth noting that if your company has a busy season, plan ahead. Encourage reading as a way to decompress from the busyness or on the flip side, don’t offer a staff book club during the busier times so no one feels pressure to participate.

Book clubs can be a great part of company culture and can actively build a culture when you align the book club with the company’s mission and values.

 

Best Books for Your Workplace Book Club

How to choose books for a corporate book club? Look no further than this list. All of these are great book club recommendations for networking and career growth. Here’s a quick and easy list for you to save and refer to anytime you find yourself stumped when suggesting books.

See all books on the Amazon Idea List*

Business and Leadership Books*


Book Club Ideas for Team Building*

Non-Fiction Books*

Diversity, Equality, Inclusion (DEI) Books*

As you read, it’s easier to find out what people like and dislike and go from there. Remember to choose books that challenge the group from time to time. Book clubs should be fun, but at work, they should also build culture and camaraderie.

Company Book Club