The 5 Best Management Books To Read

 

Some people believe that being a manager means not having to do the real work. Others see the position as a chance for a pay raise. But of course, great managers are highly skilled at what they do, and they improve the performance of everyone around them.

So, let’s explore five of the best management books that can help you become a better manager. They cover essential topics, including:

• How to get up and running as a new manager
• How to help people develop and grow faster
• What the best managers all have in common
• How to unlock the full capabilities of your team
• How to discover, attract, and recruit great people

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1. The Making Of A Manager by Julie Zhuo

The Making Of A Manager by Julie Zhuo

Many new managers are surprised to find themselves in a leadership role. They didn’t set out to manage people and instead were promoted into the position as their team grew. So, one of the key challenges they face is getting clear on their new responsibilities and figuring out how to be effective in their role.

The Making Of A Manager is a practical guide to getting up and running as a new manager. It covers essential topics, including how to build trust within a team, what to focus on in the first few months, how to get better results from other people, and how to cope with increased responsibility. It’s a must-read for any new manager.

2. The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier

The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier

As a manager, when a team member is facing a difficult challenge, it’s often tempting to jump in and offer our expertise or advice. In some cases, we may even want to take direct action to resolve the issue on our own. But of course, this approach almost always limits their growth and creates a reliance on us to solve future problems.

The Coaching Habit is about how to help people develop and grow by using a coaching mindset. It covers seven powerful questions that you can use to support others as they take on greater responsibility. And, it provides tips for how you can build a habit around using this approach on a consistent basis.

3. First, Break All The Rules by Marcus Buckingham

First, Break All The Rules by Marcus Buckingham & Curt Coffman

It can be challenging to identify the best management practices. Many highly effective managers have their own unique approach, and of course, every team is different, and every organization has its own difficulties. So this begs the question, “are there proven methods or practices that can benefit all managers?”

First, Break All The Rules uncovers what the best managers have in common. It’s based on a massive study of over 80,000 managers across many types of organizations, and it included both top-level leaders and front-line supervisors. The insights from the study can help any manager become more effective in their role.

4. Multipliers by Liz Wiseman

Multipliers by Liz Wiseman

At a high level, there are two distinct approaches to managing a team. The first is to focus on being the genius that everyone else turns to when they’re in a bind. And the second is to focus on unlocking the genius that can be found in others.

‘Multipliers’ is about how great managers help everyone around them become smarter, more capable, and more effective as a team. The book provides actionable tips for getting more done with fewer resources, developing and attracting talented people, and achieving superior results through a multiplier mindset.

5. Who by Geoff Smart & Randy Street

Who: The A Method For Hiring by Geoff Smart & Randy Street

The right hire can take your business to the next level, but the wrong hire can set it back months or even years. Unfortunately, many managers have weak or non-existent hiring methods. They may look up an article regarding good interview questions, but they lack a consistent and reliable process for hiring great people.

‘Who’ introduces “The A Method For Hiring.” It’s a practical and actionable approach that covers how to define the outcomes you want, generate a flow of talented people, and ask the right questions to identify the best candidate for the role. It’s a must-read for anyone making critical hiring decisions.

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The 5 Best Productivity Books To Read

 It often feels like there just isn’t enough time to get everything done. No matter how many tasks we complete, there is always more to do. So, let’s explore five of the best productivity books. They can help you get more accomplished and free up valuable time by tackling essential topics, including:

• How to identify the one thing that will make everything else easier
• How to reclaim your time through the intentional use of technology
• How to regain the joy of deep, meaningful, and rewarding work
• How to get more done by understanding how the brain operates
• How to achieve better results through effective collaboration

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1. The One Thing by Gary Keller

The One Thing by Gary Keller

It’s easy to make the mistake of measuring productivity based on how much time we spend working. But, real productivity should be measured by the results we produce, not just the time or energy we invest. Otherwise, we can fall into the trap of working long hours with relatively little to show for it.

The One Thing is about how to increase your results through focus and prioritization. It can help you identify the one thing that you must do on a given day to make everything else in your life easier. So, if your time and energy are being pulled in a million directions and you’re feeling overwhelmed, this is a must-read book for you.

2. Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport

Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport

Today, we are more distracted than at any other time in human history. Between mobile app notifications, email alerts, and social media updates, it’s getting much harder to make productive use of our time. And, of course, things may get even worse as more and more technology is being designed to be addictive.

Digital Minimalism is about how to be more intentional when using technology. It’s packed with actionable advice for reclaiming time and improving focus. So, if you ever find yourself mindlessly browsing social media, endlessly checking email, or just being disrupted by random notifications, this book can help you take back control.

3. Flow by Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi

Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

The issues caused by digital distractions go beyond the time we spend refreshing social media or endlessly checking email. That’s because these quick interactions shorten our attention span and hurt our ability to focus for extended periods. As a result, it’s rarer for us to experience the unique satisfaction that comes from deep, meaningful work.

‘Flow’ popularized the concept of a flow-state, a mental state in which we’re fully immersed in a single challenging activity. The book explains how the flow works, how to get into the flow, and how flow relates to happiness and productivity.  So, if you want to fight back against the impact of digital distractions and regain the joy of deep and meaningful work, this book can help.

4. Your Brain At Work by David Rock

Your Brain At Work by David Rock

Two of the most valuable skills in business today include being able to do creative work and having the ability to collaborate effectively with other people. Unfortunately, many of us are experiencing increasingly high levels of stress. As a result, we’re less creative and are more likely to experience conflict when working with others.

Your Brain At Work explains how to boost creativity, collaboration, and productivity by understanding how the brain works. It’s a very approachable guide to understanding both the strengths and limitations of how our minds operate. And, it provides practical examples of how to adjust the way we work to perform at our best.

5. Who Not How by Dan Sullivan & Dr. Benjamin Hardy

Who Not How by Dan Sullivan & Dr. Benjamin Hardy

As entrepreneurs, we often have a limited view of how to improve our productivity. We learn new skills and try to get more done in less time, but we get stuck on the idea that we have to do everything or most things on our own. As a result, every time we pursue a new opportunity, our workload increases, or we have to let something go.

Who Not How is about how to achieve better results through collaboration with others. Rather than always asking, “How can I solve this?” when a new challenge or opportunity arises, this approach is about asking, “Who can help me solve this?” The goal is to tap into the skills, capabilities, and experience of other talented people to achieve more through effective teamwork.

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The 9 Best Self-Help Books For Entrepreneurs

 

It’s easy to become so immersed in running a business that we neglect personal growth. And yet, developing our abilities is one of the best ways to unlock new opportunities for the future. So, let’s explore 9 of the best self-help books for entrepreneurs.

Some of the key topics and themes covered in this list include:

• How to create daily habits that support your goals and dreams
• How to unlock your full potential by maintaining a growth mindset
• How to find passion at work by mastering a rare and valuable skill
• How to thrive in a world with artificial intelligence and automation
• How to rapidly acquire new skills, abilities, and knowledge
• How to effectively negotiate to get more of what you want

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1. Atomic Habits by James Clear

Atomic Habits by James Clear

A common misconception is that setting goals are the key to achieving success in life. But unfortunately, there is a big difference between having ambitious dreams and putting in the time and effort required to make them happen. As a result, many people have goals that are completely disconnected from the reality of their daily routines.

Atomic Habits is about how to create habits that support and contribute to the achievement of your goals. It explains how small changes in your daily routine can help you make consistent progress on even the most ambitious goals. And, while changing a habit isn’t easy, the book provides practical and actionable advice that can help.

2. Mindset by Carol S. Dweck

Mindset by Carol S. Dweck

We often set artificial limitations on our skills and abilities. For example, deep down, we may believe that we will never be good at creative writing, public speaking, or leading other people. In some cases, we reach these conclusions based on one or two attempts that didn’t go as planned and ended in a negative experience.

‘Mindset’ is about how to unlock our full potential by maintaining a growth mindset. Rather than assuming our abilities are static or unalterable, this mindset recognizes that new skills can be developed over time. So, by switching from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset, we unlock new options for ourselves and others.

3. So Good They Can’t Ignore You by Cal Newport

So Good They Can’t Ignore You by Cal Newport

Many people have the mistaken belief that the key to success and happiness at work is to “follow your passion.” Unfortunately, it’s rare to have an existing passion that relates to a valuable career or business opportunity. And, while many successful people are indeed passionate about what they do, it’s a mistake to assume they started that way. 

So Good They Can’t Ignore You explains that passion is often the result of first mastering a rare and valuable skill. That’s because mastery unlocks opportunities for greater autonomy, competence, and social connections. So, by starting with a rare and valuable skill, you can create the foundation for passion and happiness at work.

4. Essentialism by Greg McKeown

Essentialism by Greg McKeown

We live in a time of incredible abundance, yet never before have we had our attention pulled in so many different directions. We’re constantly trying to do too much in our personal lives, work lives, and even our social lives. As a result, we can feel both overwhelmed and unsatisfied at the same time.

‘Essentialism’ is about how to gain satisfaction through the disciplined pursuit of less. It’s not about being more efficient or more productive. Instead, it’s about being more intentional about the few things that matter most while eliminating everything else. In short, it’s about doing fewer things better.

5. Futureproof by Kevin Roose

Futureproof by Kevin Roose

Many people understand that artificial intelligence and automation are set to transform the economy. But, few realize that the process is already well underway. Not only are workers being replaced, but less visible is the fact that far fewer are being hired into many roles, compared with in the past. So, it’s essential today to identify the career & business opportunities that are likely to remain relevant.

‘Futureproof’ is about how to thrive in a world that is increasingly dominated by machines. It makes the case that the key to a happy, rewarding life in the age of automation is not competing with machines but rather strengthening our uniquely human skills. In other words, ensuring that we’re equipped to do things machines can’t.

6. Ultralearning by Scott H. Young

Ultralearning by Scott H. Young.

Many of the best and most rewarding opportunities in life require that we master new skills. But of course, developing an entirely new skill from scratch is very difficult and time-consuming. As a result, few people make the effort, even if it means staying locked in a dead-end job or sticking with hobbies that have outlived their passion.

‘Ultralearning’ is about how to rapidly acquire new skills, abilities, and knowledge. It covers nine powerful principles that you can use to learn almost anything faster and more effectively. So, if you’ve always wanted to learn a new language, start a new hobby, or even unlock a new career or business opportunity, this book can help.

7. Chatter by Ethan Kross

Chatter by Ethan Kross

We all have an inner voice that we can use to evaluate our actions, learn from past mistakes, and better prepare for the future. Unfortunately, all too often, this voice turns into a steady stream of negative thoughts and emotions. And, rather than help us improve, it can hold us back by causing rumination, anxiety, and even self-sabotage.

‘Chatter’ is about how to tame and properly harness your inner voice. It covers practical tips for enjoying the many benefits of self-reflection and introspection, while greatly reducing unproductive and negative self-talk. So, if you have a harsh inner critic that is stifling your growth or holding you back in life, this book can help.

8. Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

Few people appreciate just how often their choices and behaviors are influenced by factors that are invisible to them. We like to believe that we are in control or, at the very least, that we understand the key ingredients that make up our many choices in life. Yet, the truth is that we can easily be influenced or manipulated in many different ways.

Thinking, Fast and Slow is about how we process information and make decisions in everyday life. It explains the two distinct systems that we use while thinking and the many surprising factors and biases that influence our choices. So, if you want to dive deep into the details of how your mind works, this is the book for you.

9. Never Split The Difference by Chris Voss

Never Split The Difference by Chris Voss.

There are many times in life when we want something from somebody else and the only way to get it is to negotiate a deal.  For example, when buying a home, asking for a raise, or doing a business deal. Unfortunately, many people either don’t know how to negotiate or are just very uncomfortable with the process.

Never Split The Difference explains how to properly negotiate for the things you want in life. It covers nine proven principles that can help you be more persuasive in both personal and professional situations. And, contrary to what you might expect, many of the tools can be used without burning bridges or hurting relationships.

SIGNING OFF - MANNY!!