Weekend Reading: November 2

I wanted to share some of my favorite leadership development links I came across this week, including some advice on innovation, motivation and how to improve your presentation skills. What stories caught your eye? Please share your picks in the comments.

• Why Corporate Culture Is Important for Innovation. Innovate on Purpose. “Corporate culture exists at the intersection of corporate memory, corporate history, business context and operational effectiveness,” writes Jeffrey Phillips. “Corporate culture is what defines what a company is, why it does what it does, and in many ways sustains a presence and a facade to the outside world. Corporate culture is what directs how people work and think, what creates tangible and intangible restrictions, establishes risk tolerances and sets attitudes and behaviors. There’s probably no more powerful intangible force in any business than corporate culture.”

• Free Range. Seth Godin’s blog. External stimuli can help you raise your game, writes Seth Godin. “They are fences to be leaped, opponents to be defeated. The alternative is to compete against nothing but yourself. To excel merely because the act of excelling without boundaries or incentives thrills you. And the good news is that once you find that, you’ll always have it.”

• The Real Meaning of Success. Life Hack. “In order to lead the life that you desire, you must set your own goals and idea of success according to what you want — not what television or your parents want. This is all about you, your life, and idea of success,” writes Paul Jun.

• 18 Secrets To Giving A Presentation Like Steve Jobs. Business Insider. Among them: “Develop a messianic sense of purpose. Where is your passion for this subject coming from? Convey that.”

• Structure Your Presentation Like a Story. HBR Blog Network. “After studying hundreds of speeches, I’ve found that the most effective presenters use the same techniques as great storytellers: By reminding people of the status quo and then revealing the path to a better way, they set up a conflict that needs to be resolved,” writes Nancy Duarte.