Starting a book club may seem trivial, but it can be an effective way to build connection and compassion among your team.

Making time to sit with our colleagues and have a conversation around a shared interest (in this case, books) strengthens relationships as we learn about each other outside of work roles and hierarchies. Groups can share wisdom and laugh in a relaxed environment, developing camaraderie that reduces loneliness, increases peer support, and fosters a more effective team. Several book clubs have emerged within our organization over the past seven years, and they have been some of our most successful team-building and morale-boosting programs.

We know time is at a premium in family medicine practices, but book clubs are very flexible. Groups can be any size, in person or remote, and meet at whatever interval works best. Here are some tips for starting and growing a book club.

STARTING A BOOK CLUB

First, define your intentions: Do you want to read books relevant to medicine or business that might help improve your practice? Or is it all about building rapport, in which case any good book will do? Be upfront about the goal so participants know what to expect.