Ursula K. Le Guin has been quoted as saying, "we read books to find out who we are." There is no doubting the incredible influence that books have over our leadership abilities. While some professionals decide to pursue a full degree, like an online MBA in Management, every professional has the opportunity to study leadership from the top managers and leaders all over the world by reading or listening to the top business and management books. It has also been proven that the best students typically become the best leaders, here are several books that effective business managers should read. These titles run the gamut on topics important to the business professional: some deal with specific aspects of business while some speak into personal disciplines and social mechanics. A good manager will understand the connectedness of these areas and how they work together to create a wholeness for mental, emotional, and professional well-being.
Startup CEO: A Field Guide to Scaling Up Your Business by Matt Blumberg
This book works to explain and provide ways to deal with the complexities of being a CEO of a budding organization. Written from a mentor's perspective, the author helps the reader form a basic philosophy for business while also providing practical application ideas as well. Startup CEOS and entrepreneurs have many pitfalls to avoid when establishing a viable business due to the many tasks they are responsible for, even when working on a team. From defining a vision for your organization to communicating to investors, from prioritizing and budgeting expenses to knowing how to deal with employees from hire to fire, there are no topics that are off-limits in this comprehensive business field guide.
Love ‘Em or Lose ‘Em: Getting People to Stay by Beverly Kaye and Sharon Jordan-Evans
It is no secret that employee turnover is costly for an organization. As Jack Altman, CEO of Lattice writes, "Employee turnover, like cigarettes in the 1920s, is generally understood to be bad, but there is little awareness of its quantifiable impact. Maia Josebachvili, VP of People at Greenhouse, produced a case study where she argued that retaining a sales person for three years instead of two, along with better on-boarding and management practices, yields a difference of $1.3 million in net value to the company over a three year period." Framed as an "A to Z" structure, this resource offers the manager 26 simple strategies that will work to keep quality employees satisfied with their positions and working effectively as team players. In recognition of the book now being printed in 22 different languages, the latest edition includes even more international examples and case studies.
Now, Discover Your Strengths by Marcus Buckingham & Donald O. Clifton
Managers must be good judges of their employee's strengths and weaknesses. Unfortunately, many lack the ability to judge their own. This resource acts as a mirror of sorts for the manager, allowing him to evaluate what talents he has and work towards developing them into strengths that will benefit the organization he works for and the teams that work for him. Working in tandem with a StrengthsFinder Profile, this printed resource utilizes a web-based interview tool that interactively helps the reader learn in a comfortable and customized environment. The reader will enjoy the benefits of self-discovery by discovering their own unique personality type and leadership style including "Achiever, Activator, Futuristic, and Strategic."
These are just three prime examples of resources available to managers desiring to better themselves through study and research. While there more management tools available to business professionals than ever before, solid books which speak into the philosophy and practicality of management will always yield high results for the reader.