By EMS1 Staff
At the Pinnacle EMS conference, many speakers quote from or mention books that have informed or inspired them.
Those books are used to illustrate key concepts, support the speaker’s principles or conclusions or call on other paramedic chiefs and EMS leaders to be lifelong learners.
Here are the books that have been mentioned at Pinnacle EMS conferences.
1. Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action
This book was mentioned by Ed Racht, MD during his session about how the quality movement got hijacked and what EMS leaders can do about it. The book shows that leaders who have had the greatest influence in the world all think, act and communicate the same way. “The Golden Circle” idea provides a framework upon which organizations can be built, movements can be le and people can be inspired.
2. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change
This book was mentioned by Jay Fitch, Ph.D. during his leadership session about finding the higher ground. The book presents a holistic, integrated, principle-centered approach for solving personal and professional problems.
3. The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness
This book was also mentioned by Jay Fitch, Ph.D. during his leadership session about finding the higher ground. The book challenges people to find their voice and inspire others to find theirs. It was written to motivate people to thrive, innovate and lead in order to move beyond effectiveness and into greatness.
4. The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact
This book was mentioned by keynote presenter Martha Hayward as she discussed what EMS leaders can learn from the IHI about patient-centered care. The book explains how brief experiences can change lives and delves into fascinating mysteries of experience. It claims that many of the defining moments in our lives are the result of accident or luck.
5. Punished by Rewards: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A’s, Praise and Other Bribes
This book was mentioned by Mike Taigman during his session about how the quality movement got hijacked and what EMS leaders can do about it. The book claims that the basic strategy we use for raising children, teaching students and managing workers can be summarized in six words: Do this and you’ll get that. It presents a more successful strategy based on working with people instead of doing things to them.
Bonus books
Many Pinnacle speakers have written books. Here are a few of those titles:
- Energy Rising: The Neuroscience of Leading with Emotional Power, by Dr. Julia DiGangi, a 2024 Pinnacle keynote speaker.
- Permission to Screw Up: How I Learned to Lead by Doing (Almost) Everything Wrong Kindle Edition, by Kristen Hadeed, a 2024 Pinnacle keynote speaker.
Do you have any other must-reads?
This article, originally published on August 16, 2017, has been updated.