In her role as family services lead for the Cathy Family Office, part of the Chick-fil-A Corporate Support Center, Beth Chapman runs a book club for the family. All generations can participate, though she has a separate book discussion for the rising generation as part of the educational curriculum she has put together for that generation.
The books cover a range of topics, from business to time management to communication. Discussions help family members relate the topics to their own experience.
“Those ‘aha’ moments give an opportunity for cross-generational conversations on problem-solving, or just a recognition of, ‘Oh, we’re experiencing that,’” Chapman says.
The format also allows family members to practice their leadership skills by suggesting books and leading the discussions.
“I wanted it to be led by the family members — I didn’t want to impose all the ideas,” Chapman says.
A sampling of the books the family members read in their first year:
- A Legacy that Lasts: Preserving and Transferring Your Family Values, by Trudy Cathy White
- The Little Book of Boards: A Board Member’s Handbook for Small (and Very Small) Nonprofits, by Erik Hanberg
- Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, by Greg McKeown
- Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High, by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler
- Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It, by Chris Voss
