For those of you that know me, you know I enjoy reading. My iPad is now full of books that I download, and my basement has six bookcases full of books. I’m always looking for good books to read. When I came across a list of the 15 best reads for new managers (according to Twitter followers of past Etsy CEO Chad Dickerson), I thought it would be a good list to share. After reading the article I realized I have read several books on the list.
As more and more Millennials are entering into leadership positions, this list seemed very timely. In a recent survey entitled The Millennial Leadership Survey, Virtuali found that 91% of Millennials aspire to be a leader. As I mentioned I’ve read several books on the list, but I also found a few that I haven’t and now plan to read. I think this list is great for new managers, but also a good refresher for anyone currently in a leadership or executive position.
1. High Output Management: Dickerson said he is also a fan of this book and wishes he had read it sooner. I think I’ll check this one out.
2. The Essential Drucker: According to Dickerson, “Much of what he wrote 50 years ago is more relevant than anything you read today." Peter F. Drucker was considered the top management thinker of his time. This book was last published in 2008. I’ve read this book and I agree with Dickerson.
3. Creativity, Inc.: A book from Pixar founder Ed Catmull.
4. The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter: According to Eric Hellweg at Harvard Business Review, the publisher, this is one of their all-time best sellers.
5. Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity: This one appeared numerous times in his followers’ recommendations.
6. Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High: This is another one that I’ve read and highly recommend. This book has great reviews on Amazon and in the foreword Stephen R. Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, writes, “This book deserves to take its place as one of the key thought leadership contributions of our time.”
7. Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone: This New York Times bestseller is a new book published in 2017. It challenges everything we think we know about cultivating true belonging in our communities, organizations, and culture.
8. Thinking, Fast and Slow: This book has received numerous awards and is also going on my “to-read” list. The book covers the two ways our minds think. One system is fast and intuitive, and the other is slower and more deliberate. The author discusses how these two systems affect our decision making and how one can tap into the benefits of slow thinking.
9. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success: I think this book sounds ideal for Millennials or anyone else considering a move into a leadership position. The author shows how success in school, work, sports, the arts, and almost every area of human endeavor can be dramatically influenced by how we think about our talents and abilities. She also expands the mindset concept beyond the individual, applying it to the cultures of groups and organizations.
10. Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In: This an excellent book we used in my MBA class on negotiations. It’s been around for nearly 30 years and is one of the primary business books still today. Negotiation is an important skill for anyone in a leadership position. It offers readers a straight- forward, universally applicable method for negotiating personal and professional disputes.
Even if you are not new to management, I think there are several good reads in this list. As I noted, I plan to read several of these. If you have a team member striving for a leadership position or new to a management role, I encourage you to share this list with them. I have benefited from reading several of these books.
Do you have a favorite management book? If so, let me know. I’d love to share our own list from our readers. Email me at [email protected].