Top Eight Leadership Books — Perfect for the new & experienced manager
It’s officially here! Duuoo’s first recommendation of books chosen with you — the manager — specially in mind.
The list that we have conjured up here are books that we feel encompass qualities of our company’s philosophy that the future of the modern workplace is highly dependent on great leaders and connectivity in the workplace.
The eight titles presented contain beneficial information for any manager, no matter the stage or size of your company. Several are personal narratives from founders and CEOs, former and current, of some of the largest companies today. I even threw in an inspirational sports story for those are into that sort of thing (ahem, me). But, when you really think about it, what is the big difference between a great coach and a great manager anyways?
Get ready to sink your teeth into some good reads and get inspired!
1. Work Rules!: Insights from Inside Google That Will Transform How You Live and Lead // Written by Laszlo Bock
Let’s kick things off with a pretty well-known and aptly covered book, that is really is as good as it gets credit for. Easy to read and very relevant to what we are doing here at Duuoo, Laszlo Bock (former Senior Vice President of People Operations at Google, Inc.) provides excellent insight into the intimate workings of Google and the company’s successful strategies when dealing with employees. It provides a clear understanding of performance management — crucial when starting to develop relationships with a new team.
“All it takes is a belief that people are fundamentally good — and enough courage to treat your people like owners instead of machines. Machines do their jobs; owners do whatever is needed to make their companies and teams successful.” (Bock)
2. The Fifth Discipline: The Art & Practice of The Learning Organization // Written by Peter Senge
Kind of intimidating cover (looks more like an overview on corporal punishment or something, right?) but first impressions aside, this is great food for thought. Peter Senge is a senior lecturer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a founding chair of the Society for Organizational Learning (SoL), a global community of corporations, researchers, and consultants dedicated to the “interdependent development of people and their institutions” (source). The heart of this book focuses in Senge’s five self-identified “disciplines” that organizations should possess in order to ensure competitiveness — Systems Thinking, Personal Mastery, Mental Models, Building Shared Vision, and Team Learning.
“Our prevailing system of management has destroyed our people. People are born with intrinsic motivation, self-respect, dignity, curiosity to learn, joy in learning[…] Management by Objectives, quotas, incentive pay, business plans, put together separately, division by division, cause further loss, unknown and unknowable.” (Senge)
3. Good Strategy/Bad Strategy: The Difference and Why it Matters // Written by Richard P. Rumelt
A GREAT read on strategy (maybe one of this best of all time — too far?). This book makes you see through so much bullshit it’s not even funny. Written quite personally from the author, Rumelt discusses the failures and successes of his many endeavors as a consultant to numerous firms, non-profit organizations, and the U.S. Department of Defense. If that doesn’t seem impressive enough, Professor Rumelt also received his doctorate from Harvard Business School in 1972, having previously earned a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from UC Berkeley — clearly the guy knows what he is talking about. Each chapter focuses on a different aspect of strategy — what is “good” and what is “bad”. Useful when struggling with coordination and focus within your team.
“A leader’s most important job is creating and constantly adjusting this strategic bridge between goals and objectives.” (Rumelt)
4. One from Many: VISA and the Rise of Chaordic Organization // Written by Dee Hock
Another big name in the game, this an amazing story about how VISA came into being and founder & former CEO Dee Hock’s relentless focus on empowering every person on the floor. Side note: the term “chaordic organization” is coined Hock — how cool is that?! This personal narrative is a perfect read on what it truly means to be a leader.
“The essence of community, its heart and soul, is the non-monetary exchange of value; things we do and share because we care for others, and for the good of the place.” (Hock)
