You know what time it is… Meet’s monthly Book Club!

If you’re new here, at Meet, the saying ‘leaders are reader’ is often passed around. We’ve taken the essence of that message, and once a month introduce three wonderful members of our leadership team to find out what takes pride of place on their bookshelves.

That means that each month, the three chosen leaders reveal one book that’s touched their lives, reshaped their leadership approach, and impacted how they lead their teams here at Meet.

So, now you’re all clued up, let’s get acquainted with this month’s Big Three and dive into their top picks…

Glenn Southam, VP of Insights, Success & Marketing on The Chimp Paradox: The Mind Management Programme for Confidence, Success and Happiness by Dr. Steve Peters

A Bit About Glenn:

Glenn, or ‘Mr. LinkedIn’ as he’s memorably nicknamed, is incredibly driven, passionate, creative, and bold: qualities that have led him to an exceptionally successful marketing career and landed him as Vice President of Insights, Success and Marketing here at Meet.

Prior to joining Meet, Glenn gained 19 years of recruitment marketing experience elsewhere. Beginning as an Executive, he quickly moved his way up to multiple Managing roles, and even began his own consulting company, TwoEnds. And it was there, 4 years ago, through his own venture, that his relationship with Meet began.

Initially, Glenn worked with Meet on a freelance basis, evolving our marketing approach and advising on how to better translate our purpose to our audiences. However, since March 2022, Glenn’s been a permanent fixture in the Meet house, and we’ve never looked back.

Over the last year, he’s grown the ISM team to a strong seven. Together, they create a one-of-a-kind experience for businesses and individuals in the world of Life Sciences.

Led by Glenn, the combination of their talents and skills finds real insight and data to inform each stage of the recruitment process while simultaneously creating content to engage audiences and spark conversation all across the globe.

On top of his work at Meet (and posts on LinkedIn), Glenn hosts his own podcast, The Lonely Marketers, where he brings conversations that happen in the world of recruitment to a wider audience. Through The Lonely Marketers, Glenn has created a safe haven for recruitment marketers to connect, socialise, and share their successes, experiences, and challenges.

To learn more about Glenn’s impressive vision, head over to his bio.

A Synopsis of Glenn’s Chosen Book:

Author Steve Peters is a leading consultant psychiatrist who works with people from all walks of life, from Liverpool Football Club and the England Football Team to CEOs, students, and hospital staff. So, he knows, more than most, how impulsive behaviour and debilitating self-doubt affects both our personal and professional lives.

In his debut book, The Chimp Paradox, Peters shares his successful and sensational mind-management programme to help people conquer their fears and understand why they think and act as they do, so they can operate with greater control, confidence and focus.

In his approach, Peters considers that we are made up of two separate parts: the human and the chimp. The human side of us represents our rational and intelligent brain, while the chimp embodies our emotions and instincts.

The takeaway from this analogy is that when the chimp dominates the human, problems arise – and unless we have control over the chimp, it’s likely to happen because, after all, chimps are more powerful than humans.

Throughout The Chimp Paradox, Peters leans on neuroscience and psychology but describes these complex notions in a way that is easy for everyone to understand, referencing scenarios that we’ve all experienced at some point in our lives.

Overall, this relatable, easy read is a fountain of wisdom that lends itself as a map to understand how and why we function in the ways that we do – even if it’s not always beneficial! So, if you’re hoping to inspire some positive change in your life, The Chimp Paradox should definitely be next up on your to-read list!

Glenn’s Thoughts on The Chimp Paradox:

“Whether we like to admit it or not, self-doubt and imposter syndrome is something we all suffer from. It can manifest itself in many ways as a leader, in terms of how we work with our teams, as well as how happy we are in general.

The Chimp Paradox’s message of having the ability to control our own minds and emotions and having a choice in how we respond to situations was a real game-changer for me and something I often pass on to others. I’ve always felt that as a leader, if I’m sabotaging my own way of working (and ultimately living), how can I possibly help others with their own development and confidence?

Learning to be okay with the fact that there are two parts of ‘you’ battling each other all the time and recognising that in all of the relationships you have makes a genuine difference to your day-to-day. After reading this book, I’ve told the Glenn Chimp to be quiet several hundred times, and it’s allowed me to make decisions much quicker or, sometimes, not at all. Either way, thanks to this book, both have been done with a lot more confidence and a lot less anxiety.”

Alastair Shaw, Senior VP of Partnerships on Bounce: The Myth of Talent and The Power of Practice by Matthew Syed

A Bit About Ali:

It’s fair to say that Meet wouldn’t be Meet without Ali. He’s considerate, decisive and optimistic, with maybe the cutest dog in the office (shoutout Lola!). Plus, as one of our founders, his people-first approach is woven into Meet’s fabric. In fact, it’s down to Ali and Hannah that Meet remains true to its roots, no matter how big we grow.

Ever since his first day at Meet, opening our then-little London office, Ali has been steadfast in reshaping what recruitment means to those in the world of Life Sciences.

With his unmatched passion for the industry and unparalleled market knowledge, Ali’s spent the last 14 years recruiting into almost every market we cover. He began shaping our Contract and Interim team, spent some time supporting Direct Hire and Retained, and is the brain behind our Partnerships division, which he now leads.

From the beginning, Ali’s recognised that each of our partners has different needs, and being the quality-driven, highly attentive person he is, he helps his team reach their potential while ensuring they provide a personal, tailored service to each and every one of our partners.

Speaking of the industry he’s so devoted to, Ali says, “Despite being in the Life Sciences space for nearly 20 years now, I am still amazed at the continued innovation and excitement the industry continues to achieve. It’s undoubtedly one of the most engaging areas to hire into. It touches all of our lives at one point or another, so having a hand in creating long-lasting partnerships to develop lifesaving new therapies is incredibly rewarding.”

Head over to Ali’s bio to learn more about him and his commitment to Life Sciences.

A Synopsis of Ali’s Chosen Book:

Matthew Syed (as previously mentioned by Claire, with her recommendation, Black Box Thinking) is an award-winning journalist and author, and in his book Bounce, he reveals the hidden clues to success – in every department.

Writing from his own experiences (as the #1 table tennis champion), and referencing other champions’ stories, Syed reaches some eye-opening conclusions about what it takes to excel in your chosen field. His thoughts, backed up with scientific evidence, debunk the myth that people are simply born with talent; it’s actually dedication and hard work that breeds results.  

Split into three sections, The Talent Myth, Paradoxes of the Mind, and Deep Reflections, Bounce takes the reader on a journey to realisation that any human being has the capacity to achieve excellence at what they commit their time to.

But, besides focusing on purposeful practice, Bounce also breaks down other factors that foster success, such as quality feedback, learning from failure, environmental factors, breaking away from the comfort zone, belief systems, and the placebo effect.

As Syed pens his thoughts, he presents his principles in a clear, enjoyable manner, helping us understand the profound connection between mindset and high performance. By doing so, organisations and individuals can unlock their untapped potential, and drive innovation and agility in a complex, ever-changing world.

After reading Bounce your view on success, talent and hard work will undoubtedly change. Plus, with six bestselling books dedicated to mindset and performance, Syed should most certainly be an author to look out for if you’re hoping to succeed at your craft!

Ali’s Thoughts on Bounce:

“Bounce is a fantastic book that references the author’s own table tennis success as well as other sports analogies from the likes of the Williams sisters to Tiger Woods. His ideas about what it takes to achieve world-class success are fascinating – particularly the idea that 10,000 hours of practice can make anyone excel at anything.

And so, how does this all lend itself to our world of recruitment? Well, it’s the point that no one is naturally gifted at anything. Instead, all skills are learnt through repetition, experience, and, ultimately, hard work and effort.

That’s no different in our world. No one is born a natural recruiter (that would be a scary child!), but through focus, effort, commitment, and yes, some repetition, anyone who enters our industry can be world-class with the right attitude and application. These are all factors that I stress to our team, and those who have taken it onboard have always achieved success in their roles.”

Alex Banks, Contracts & Compliance Manager on The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

A Bit About Alex:

Based in our London HQ, Alex is the living embodiment of cool, calm and collected. With that said, he still loves getting involved in an endless Hub debate – no matter the topic!

Alex joined Meet in March 2022, but with his super hardworking nature, meticulous attention to detail, and nine years’ experience in the Contract and Compliance sphere, his expertise is second to none.

Some might say he has arguably one of the most serious jobs in the business. That’s because his job is critical for our Contract management strategy, and along with his team, they’re responsible for ensuring Meet and our partners adhere to the terms and conditions of our contracts, meet our shared goals, and most importantly, comply with the law.

As the business continues to grow, so does the number of contracts we need to keep track of. Thankfully, having Alex here ensures all our people, internally and externally, are protected. On top of that, Alex makes sure our teams and partners execute their contracts properly and reliably, keep up with best practices and conform with everchanging regulations.

Today, Alex has three direct reports, who, like him, all take pride in the ongoing planning, implementation, measurement and continuous improvement Contract and Compliance takes.

Looking toward the future, Alex hopes to continue growing and supporting his team, having team members in each of our locations who are individually dedicated to their region’s procedures and regulations.

A Synopsis of Alex’s Chosen Book:

The bestselling The Alchemist is what some would call a modern classic. It’s a cocktail of magic, mysticism, wisdom and wonder that has transformed the lives of countless readers across the globe.

In this novel, author Paulo Coelho tells the story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who longs to travel in pursuit of worldly treasures. His adventures lead him to riches much different – and much more satisfying – than he’d ever imagined.

By following Santiago’s journey and spiritual quest, the reader learns about the wisdom of listening to our own hearts, following our dreams, recognising opportunity when it’s presented to us, and learning to read the signs that are scattered along life’s path.

The people Santiago comes across, the dreams he has, the omens he encounters, and the nature he speaks to are things that we can all relate to in one sense or another. While most of us try to do what’s expected of us, The Alchemist teaches us to quieten our fears of failure, trust in the universe, and face the challenges necessary to reach the places we’re destined for. Doing so is a recipe for true happiness, fulfilment, and purpose.

This short, philosophical novel has created a movement of its own around the world, inspiring passion into all of its readers. Composed in a simple scripture-like manner, if you’re in the process of self-discovery, need some encouragement to help you reach for the stars, or a nudge to set you back on the right track to achieve your dreams, The Alchemist might just be the book for you.

Alex’s Thoughts on The Alchemist:

“Ever since I first read The Alchemist, it’s stayed with me. It’s a powerful story about the journey of self-discovery and following your dreams, which is crafted in a way that is incredibly simple to follow. It doesn’t offer any complications for the reader to fully grasp the message, which will ultimately change your perspective on life.

When I first finished reading The Alchemist, I remember feeling that everything then ‘just made sense’. For that reason, the perspective the book offers is truly unmatched.

This book impacted my leadership style by enabling me to approach everything with much more openness and transparency, keeping things as simple as possible to offer each member of my team the best path for them to proceed.

It also made me realise that encountering issues is not something that should be seen as a negative; instead, a simple redirect needed to help you reach your goals.

Personally, I cannot recommend The Alchemist enough and can guarantee that if you read it, you’ll definitely take something valuable away.”

If you’re just joining our very own version of Book Club this month, make sure you check out our previous posts, with even more recommendations that have shaped different Meet leaders’ lives and leadership approaches. You can jump to Part I here, Part II here, and Part III here. Happy reading!