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Be Unexpected: Resetting Routines to Revolutionize the Future of Work
“Marva Bailer makes the art of storytelling as approachable and engaging as she is, delivering in Be Unexpected a creative collection of real world–tested, specific strategies for communicating with each other in today’s post-pandemic, virtual-meeting world. She will inspire you to turn those boring online meetings into genuine opportunities to connect with your clients, colleagues, and friends.”
—Maryfran Johnson
CEO, Maryfran Johnson Media, Host of “CIO Leadership Live” Video Series and Podcast. “Boardroom Bound” Columnist, CIO.com
Breast cancer survivor Marva Bailer wrote her debut book Be Unexpected while she was battling her diagnosis as she was forced to think about how to reset her routines. The book is a guide to energizing routines and meetings in the workplace. Whether they are done in-person or over video chat, Bailer shows how every meeting does not have to be the same formula over and over. With psychological and field research to back up her practices, Be Unexpected is sure to help purpose-driven leaders in the business world create an enthusiastic and lasting impression, from networking one-on-one to presenting in front of a large audience. Bailer does not hesitate to break down the classic business meeting to its bare bones and give constructive and useful advice on changing it up for the best outcome possible.
Make sure the next time you find yourself in a meeting, Be Unexpected and change the way you see yourself to help foster a better human connection and create a workspace for productive conversations.
All proceeds during the month of October go to breast cancer research and rehabilitation.
—Maryfran Johnson
CEO, Maryfran Johnson Media, Host of “CIO Leadership Live” Video Series and Podcast. “Boardroom Bound” Columnist, CIO.com
Breast cancer survivor Marva Bailer wrote her debut book Be Unexpected while she was battling her diagnosis as she was forced to think about how to reset her routines. The book is a guide to energizing routines and meetings in the workplace. Whether they are done in-person or over video chat, Bailer shows how every meeting does not have to be the same formula over and over. With psychological and field research to back up her practices, Be Unexpected is sure to help purpose-driven leaders in the business world create an enthusiastic and lasting impression, from networking one-on-one to presenting in front of a large audience. Bailer does not hesitate to break down the classic business meeting to its bare bones and give constructive and useful advice on changing it up for the best outcome possible.
Make sure the next time you find yourself in a meeting, Be Unexpected and change the way you see yourself to help foster a better human connection and create a workspace for productive conversations.
All proceeds during the month of October go to breast cancer research and rehabilitation.
185 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 12, 2022
11 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 26, 2024
This book was right up my alley and a positive inspiration to read before the holiday break.
The author, Marva Bailer, highlights some fun techniques for captivating your audience for meetings large and small. I've used some of these approaches myself with great results:
* Playing music to start a meeting
* Changing up introductions (removing titles) for genuine connection
My favorite new technique is changing the overused question, "What keeps you up at night?"
I sat through way too many Town Hall meetings with employees who wanted to kiss up to management, putting no thought into asking a leader this question. As Marva points out, it keeps us focused on the negatives instead of the positives.
She recommends something more affirming and hopeful, like, "What gets you up in the morning?" I really enjoyed reading her book and her efforts to continue shifting the mindsets of leaders into a new way forward to disrupt business for a positive impact.
If you are ready to change your perspective and have a deeper connection during meetings, this book is a must-read.
The author, Marva Bailer, highlights some fun techniques for captivating your audience for meetings large and small. I've used some of these approaches myself with great results:
* Playing music to start a meeting
* Changing up introductions (removing titles) for genuine connection
My favorite new technique is changing the overused question, "What keeps you up at night?"
I sat through way too many Town Hall meetings with employees who wanted to kiss up to management, putting no thought into asking a leader this question. As Marva points out, it keeps us focused on the negatives instead of the positives.
She recommends something more affirming and hopeful, like, "What gets you up in the morning?" I really enjoyed reading her book and her efforts to continue shifting the mindsets of leaders into a new way forward to disrupt business for a positive impact.
If you are ready to change your perspective and have a deeper connection during meetings, this book is a must-read.
May 13, 2023
Personally I have met and sat on an advisory council with author, Marva Bailer. My interactions led me to want to pick up this book for what I know and have experienced through our connection. She knows how to make human a connection a mutual benefit for business and life. In this book she shares the secrets to her skillset and challenges you as reader to take the chance to make the most in your own connections. There are some tangible actions I took from reading this book with my top item being to identify my walk up song and use it whenever I speak.
June 11, 2025
Read as part of a work assignment and it was pretty cheesy. I like the overarching themes of being authentic, having fun and really honing your craft and how you show up at work just didn’t love some of the implementation of examples on how to do it. I.e stand out by what you wear and be bold with a purple suit or shoes. Ummm what?
December 26, 2022
I found nothing new or ‘unexpected’ in this book. Wrong name!
July 1, 2023
Had to read this for work - very meh. Shockingly Christian, which I didn’t appreciate in a business book I was forced to read for work.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews