There are more than a million business books in print, and thousands more published every year. But what if, for some reason, you were only allowed to read seven books about managing people?
After giving it a lot of thought, here are the seven that I would recommend:
The Making of a Manager by Julie Zhuo
Being a first-time leader may, quite possibly, be the scariest position within an office. Leadership can feel like getting thrown into the deep end without anything to hold onto. The Making of a Manager shows how you can transform impostor syndrome into newfound confidence and benefit your team along the way.
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
People are ultimately just a collection of the habits and activities they engage in on a daily basis. If you’re wanting to change your life for the better, it’s often necessary to start with the things you do without thinking. Atomic Habits is a great guide for improving your life by starting with the small stuff in order to make big changes.
Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek
In Leaders Eat Last, Simon Sinek explains where we've gone wrong and puts out an urgent call for real leaders to step forth to make a positive difference. Often cited as a leadership bible, the author forces us to examine how leadership even became necessary and teaches readers the importance of putting yourself first as a leader to ensure the well-being of your community.
A Great Place to Work For All by Michael C. Bush
Great Place to Work CEO Michael C. Bush and his team connect the dots to show how human potential is the name of the new game, fairness is the playbook, and the leaders who reach all of their people win. Today's business climate is defined by speed, social technologies and people expecting "values" besides value. As a result, leaders have to create an outstanding culture for everyone, no matter who they are or what they do for the organization. They have to build a Great Place to Work For All.
The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell
The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire. Just as a single sick person can start an epidemic of the flu, so too can a small but precisely targeted push cause a fashion trend, the popularity of a new product, or a drop in the crime rate. This widely acclaimed bestseller, in which Malcolm Gladwell explores and brilliantly illuminates the tipping point phenomenon, is already changing the way people throughout the world think about selling products and disseminating ideas.
Originals by Adam Grant
In Originals, Adam Grant upends what we think we know about the many commonly held thoughts about creative thinkers. In what will be a much-loved section, Grant points out that procrastination often triggers the most creative and productive results. It seems that the brain wants to process the problem right up to the deadline. This is just one of the many examples flipped on it’s head by this New York Times bestselling author.
Trust Rules: How the World’s Best Managers Create Great Places to Work by Bob Lee
We all know that creating a great place to work is critical to a company's long-term success, but how do managers actually accomplish this? Bob Lee's book provides sixteen clear, concise principles and guidance for how to apply them to build employee trust in any organization. A must read for managers at every stage in their career.
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