Starting a Work Book Club: Tips for Corporate Reading Groups

Why Workplace Book Clubs Matter

Corporate book clubs are having a moment. Companies from startups to Fortune 500s are discovering that reading together builds better teams, develops leaders, and creates shared language for organizational challenges.

Benefits of Workplace Book Clubs

For Employees

• Professional development opportunity
• Networking across departments
• Intellectual stimulation
• Sense of community
• Break from daily routine

For Organizations

• Shared vocabulary and frameworks
• Cross-functional relationship building
• Leadership development
• Cultural reinforcement
• Employee engagement

For Teams

• Improved communication
• Common reference points
• Deeper understanding of each other
• Structured collaboration time

Getting Started

1. Secure Leadership Support

Before launching:

• Present the business case
• Highlight ROI of reading programs
• Request budget for books
• Ask for participation (leaders reading too is powerful)
• Secure meeting time during work hours if possible

2. Define Your Focus

Workplace clubs often emphasize:

• Leadership and management
• Industry-specific topics
• Innovation and creativity
• Communication and teamwork
• General professional development

Or go broader to include fiction that builds empathy and perspective.

3. Find Your Members

• Send company-wide invitations
• Target specific teams or levels
• Keep groups manageable (8-15)
• Consider multiple groups for larger organizations

4. Set Practical Parameters

• Meeting frequency (monthly is typical)
• Length (45-60 minutes works well)
• Location (conference room, virtual, or hybrid)
• Book procurement (company provides or expense?)
• Time commitment expectations

Choosing Books for Work

Great Categories

• Business strategy and leadership
• Communication and influence
• Industry trends and innovation
• Personal effectiveness
• Emotional intelligence
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion

Selection Considerations

• Relevance to current challenges
• Accessibility (not too academic)
• Reasonable length
• Available in multiple formats
• Discussion potential

Popular Workplace Picks

• Atomic Habits by James Clear
• Dare to Lead by Brené Brown
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni
• Think Again by Adam Grant
• Radical Candor by Kim Scott

Running Effective Work Book Clubs

Structure Suggestions

Opening (5 min)

• Welcome and housekeeping
• Quick personal check-in

Discussion (45 min)

• Key takeaways
• Application to work
• Challenges and questions
• Action items

Closing (5 min)

• Next meeting details
• Book announcement
• Feedback opportunity

Discussion Questions for Business Books

• "What's one thing you'll do differently after reading this?"
• "How does this apply to our current challenges?"
• "What would implementing these ideas look like here?"
• "What did you disagree with? Why?"
• "Who else in the organization should read this?"

Making It Practical

Work book clubs should connect to work:

• Identify actionable takeaways
• Create implementation commitments
• Follow up on past action items
• Share learnings beyond the group

Overcoming Workplace Challenges

"I Don't Have Time"

• Keep meetings focused and efficient
• Provide audiobook options
• Suggest reading schedules
• Consider shorter books
• Emphasize that this IS work

Limited Participation

• Get leadership to participate
• Highlight professional development value
• Make joining easy and welcoming
• Create a compelling first book experience

Cross-Level Dynamics

• Establish equal ground rules
• Focus on ideas, not hierarchy
• Rotate facilitation
• Encourage honest discussion

Virtual/Hybrid Challenges

• Use video conferencing effectively
• Create engagement opportunities
• Consider asynchronous elements
• Build connection intentionally

Measuring Success

Track these metrics:

• Attendance rates
• Participation levels
• Feedback scores
• Books completed
• Actions implemented
• Cross-department connections formed

Scaling Your Program

As your club grows:

• Create multiple groups by interest or level
• Develop facilitator training
• Build a recommended reading list
• Document best practices
• Celebrate successes company-wide

Advanced Ideas

Author Engagement

Many business authors do virtual talks—often free for book clubs reading their work.

Cross-Company Clubs

Partner with other organizations for broader networking.

Leadership Deep Dives

Create intensive programs around specific leadership books.

Book-Based Projects

Implement ideas from books as team projects.

Your Workplace Book Club Action Plan

Week 1: Get leadership buy-in Week 2: Recruit founding members Week 3: Select first book Week 4: Hold kickoff meeting Ongoing: Build momentum and culture

Launch your workplace book club with Readfeed's corporate tools for discussion facilitation and progress tracking!