3 Business Books That Every Ballroom Dancer Must Read

3 Business Books That Every Ballroom Dancer Must Read 

Dancing is as much about the movement, as the people executing that movement. With that in mind, these 3 business books are secret self improvement guides for dancers.

That is, if you know what to look for.

There may not be any new Salsa variations listed in these great reads, but you may find the tools to improve your mindset as a dancer, your communication skills as a partner, and the tricks to avoid all the general human nature that can interrupt a great night of dancing.

Book:  “Switch”

Authors: Dan Heath & Chip Heath

Quick Summary: Using great research and excellent writing, The Heath Brothers cover “how to make changes when change is hard.”

How This Helps Your Dancing: The book focuses on the relationship between our emotional brain (“The Elephant”), and the rational brain (“The Rider”) – and the tools necessary to motivate and guide you beyond challenges.

Dancers Can Utilize This Book For:

• This quote: “it is our inclination to attribute people’s behavior to the way they are rather than to the situation they are in.”  Translation:  People labeling themselves as “without rhythm” or “unteachable” are probably not in a “situation” where they have taken any dance lessons.
• How often have we labeled someone, based on how they danced, without any regard for their level, or responsibilities?
• Learn how to manage your “showcase elephant” so it doesn’t trample the rider, and all those in its path.

[Click Here For more information on this book, and the authors Dan Heath & Chip Heath]

Book: “Crucial Conversations: Tools For Talking When Stakes Are High”

Written By: Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, & Al Switzler

Summary: These bestselling authors have created a primer for dealing with the most difficult conversations, and, in turn, have equipped the readers with a strategy that goes well beyond “silence or violence”. 

How This Can Help Your Dancing:

Dancing may be a conversation set to music, but learning to dance requires a lot of effective communication.  Enter: Crucial Conversations.

Dancers Can Utilize This Book For:

• Communicating concerns about their dance progress
• Working through dance related disappointment in a productive way
• Finding better strategies for healthy dialogue with your dance partner

[Click Here for more information on this book, and the authors, Kerry Patterson, Josephy Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler]

Book:  QBQ: The Question Behind The Question

Author: John G. MIller

Summary:  How to practice personal accountability, avoid blame, or make excuses.

How This Can Help Your Dancing:

When your dance confidence improves, it’s easy to feel invincible. Unfortunately, it’s that same feeling that can stop you from taking accountability.

Dancers Should Use This Book When: 

• Bumping into someone on the dance floor
• Stepping on your partner’s foot
• Receiving feedback from your Arthur Murray instructor, a visiting dance consultant, or your next dance partner

[Click Here for more information on this book, and the author, John G. Miller]

Final Thought:

By this point, you may have noticed that the goal of these books isn’t to make people better at reading business literature.   Additionally, you may have noticed that the goal of Arthur Murray isn’t to simply teach people a bunch of dance moves.

In both cases, it boils down to something bigger:  Self improvement.

So we apologize if there weren’t any new Salsa moves in the books we highlighted, but one thing is for sure:

Your dance skills may get you on the dance floor, but it’s your people skills that will keep you there.