"Leadership is a process, not a position" John C. Maxwell
There are countless publications centered on the idea of becoming a superior manager in the workforce setting. Business school accreditation places heavy emphasis on thought leadership and social impact, so typically at least one ethics/leadership class is part of the curriculum. Plus administrative workshops are typically offered by companies that want to develop internal talent.
I’ve gone through a lot of books (as well as an MBA) in an effort to improve myself as a leader. This limited list of recommended readings are in my opinion the best to start with when moving towards developing tactical abilities and emotional intelligence for those in supervisory roles.
If you are so inspired to add any of these to your Amazon cart, you can do so by clicking below on the image of the cover.
So my top 5 management books in no particular order….
Radical Candor
Kim Scott provides a framework for guiding your conversations towards challenging directly yet caring personally for individuals and teams in the workplace setting. The second part of this book is a compilation of techniques for those that want to run effective performance reviews, 1-on-1s, and other common managerial functions.
This was the first book I’ve come across that really broke down the managerial vs individual contributor career paths. The author refers to these two employee types as “rockstars” and “superstars”. How to recognize the difference between these two motivating mindsets and setting up each for success.
There is also a really constructive section on recognizing when it is time to fire somebody and how to handle the situation with empathy.
Multipliers
This book performs a deep dive on the dichotomous approach of two types of leaders, diminishers and multipliers. Diminishers deplete the motivation and drive from their employees. Multipliers enhance productivity and workplace satisfaction via empowering their employees. A key principle is Diminishers can be and usually are rock stars, but they become a bottleneck or even a hindrance the rest of the group.
There is a chapter on “why” and a chapter on “how” to become a Multiplier. The other 5 chapters contrast the approaches of a Multiplier vs a Diminisher on various managerial topics such as aligning resources, talent acquisition, challenging employees, and decision making
No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention
Reed Hastings, founder of Netflix, lets us behind the curtain and educates the reader on the seemingly unorthodox policies that drove the initial culture and success of the company.
Imagine encouraging your employees to interview with other companies actively recruiting them. Then turning round and telling you how much the offered salary was to ensure you are paying top end of the market. Tell you employees you value them by not compelling them to start a bidding war over salary.
Efficiencies are derived by maximizing the pool of talent in your organization. Are you willing to fight for every single employee because of their high commitment to their role and the valuable contributions they have made? Average employees at Netflix don’t last and are provided a severance package to help them along as Netflix strives to only surround themselves with the best.
Rework
I suppose a re-occurring theme with me is thinking-outside-the-box. This book is like a movie loaded with amazing one-liners. There is a just a lot of easily digestible thoughts that are glorious because of their simplicity or attention grabbing due to what is seemingly unconventional.
Topics covered include: Entrepreneurship, Strategic Thinking, Operational Effectiveness
“Everything is debatable. But when you stand for something, decisions are obvious.”
“The way to find the epicenter is to ask yourself this question: If I took this away, would what I’m selling still exist?“
“In business, too many people obsess over tools, software tricks, scaling issues, fancy office space, lavish furniture, and other frivolities instead of what really matters. And what really matters is how to actually get customers and make money.”
Fifth Book - To Be Determined....
Well this is slightly embarrassing. As of the original published date I’m only at 4 titles so far. I agree it is hard to have a top 5 management book list without a fifth book. There are a few books that are in the mix. I would consider it a little shameful to drop 3-4 more affiliate linked books and call it a “tie”. So while I try to focus on getting this out quickly I’ll revisit this again when there is a clear 5th favorite book.
In Conclusion
In my opinion these books will provide the largest ROI on time spent and will be referenced repeatedly in times of need, or should be referred back to until the experiences and wisdom shared becomes a natural part of your managerial philosophy.