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11 Business Books to Read To Be An Unstoppable Boss
With the business landscape constantly changing, are you staying up to date in the best ways to lead your team? You must stay informed not only for the sake of your business but for the success of your team.
One of my favorite ways to stay informed is to read!
These 11 recommended business books are going to improve your leadership and management style so you can build, maintain, and grow a successful team for your small business. All books are personally vetted and read by myself or recommended by a fellow leader.
Disclaimer: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that if you choose to make a purchase through the links provided, I will earn
11 Business Books All Small Business Owners Should Read
1. Turn the Ship Around by L. David Marquet
Why you should read it:
Turn the Ship Around is my all-time favorite suggestion for business owners. Why? Because it helped me identify my leadership strengths.
The book is based on Captain Marquet’s experience implementing the strategies in 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Through this process, Captain Marquet took a naval submarine from having very low reenlistment and officer retention rates to one with high reenlistment and 100% offer retention rates.
Most of the time, when reading a leadership book, you feel that you don’t know how to apply the lessons to your own business. What is great about this book is that the lessons are written in a story format followed by a series of questions, so you know how to apply the lessons to your small business immediately.
Get your copy here.
Read more about this book in the post Book Recommendation: The One Book All Leaders Should Read.
2. Remote: Office Not Required by Jason Fried
Why you should read it:
In this day and age, it’s becoming more popular in the workforce to work remotely.
Remote: Office Not Required shows leaders how to break the business norms by giving their employees the option to work from home while staying successful as a business.
The longest chapter is four pages, so it’s a guaranteed fast read.
Get your copy here.
3. Dare to Lead by Brene Brown
Why you should read it:
I was very excited to read this book mainly because I love Brene’s idea that leadership is not just a title. It’s about being willing to recognize the potential of your people and their ideas and then having the courage to develop that potential.
No matter what kind of leadership role you are currently in, Dare to Lead will apply.
Get your copy here.
4. How to Say It Performance Reviews by Meryl Runion
Why you should read it:
How to Say It Performance Reviews is more of a reference book than one you’ll read cover to cover. However, it’s must-have for when you are in the process of writing performance reviews. It simply tells you how to say it!
Good or bad, this book tells you the best way to phrase feedback relating to many skills and competencies.
Get your copy here.
5. The Go-Giver Leader by Bob Burg and John David
Why you should read it:
The Go-Giver Leader is part of a series recommended to me by a member of my Facebook group. It dives into the reason why a leader should always be a giver. By finding out what your team members need helps you to reach not only your goals but theirs as well.
The one review that stood out to me while researching this book is that leadership is about other people. I fully stand by that statement!
Get your copy here.
6. 101 Tough Conversations to Have With Employees by Paul Falcone
Why you should read it:
101 Tough Conversations to Have With Employees is another reference book to have nearby when you’re about to have a tough conversation with a team member. This book tells you how to phrase it, so the other person understands, tells you how to phrase it legally, and tells you how to phrase it successfully.
All-encompassing, there are 101 examples from dress code to termination.
Get your copy here.
7. The Seven Things Your Team Needs to Hear You Say by David Dye
Why you should read it:
The Seven Things Your Team Needs to Hear You Say teaches managers how to communicate successfully with your team in seven ways.
From encouraging conversations your team needs to hear when times get tough to supporting one-on-ones so your team feels productive, energized and ready to innovate, you want your team to know that you’re always on their side while also making sure they have the tools to be inspired.
Get your copy here.
8. Walk Awhile in My Shoes by Eric Harvey & Steve Ventura
Why you should read it:
Walk Awhile in My Shoes is a quick read that landed on my desk back when I promoted into my first management position. It’s a two-sided book where one side displays notes from a manager to their employees while the other side shows the opposite- notes from employees to their manager.
As you can tell, this book is going to teach you about points-of-view. As a leader, you’ll have to step outside of your own way to consider the perception of your team and lead in a successful manner.
Get your copy here.
9. Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel H. Pink
Why you should read it:
Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us cracks the stigma around money being a key motivator for all team members.
If you want to motivate your team successfully, you have to know what motivates each team member personally. If you cannot achieve motivation individually, you will not be able to achieve motivation among your team as a whole properly.
This book goes into how to motivate your team not only as a whole but identifying the key motivators of each individual as well.
Get your copy here.
10. Managing the Millennials by Chip Espinoza
Why you should read it:
As a millennial myself, I would often hear among others in the workplace saying, “It’s so hard managing millennials.” When I was a corporate leader managing many millennials on my team. I wanted to make sure I knew how to manage my generation to not only curb the stereotype about us in the workplace but to navigate the different business norms from different generations successfully.
At one point in your lifetime, you will more than likely manage a millennial as they continue to grow in workforce numbers. I highly recommend Managing the Millennials to help lead this generation. It will also open your eyes to managing people from every new generation.
Get your copy here.
11. People Over Profit by Dale Partridge
Why you should read it:
People Over Profit talks about how to grow a profit, you have to invest in developing your people. It is not all about the bottom line. Trust me on this!
The more you take away from your team members for the sake of your bottom line, you’ll end up with an unhealthy workplace with high turnover. This, in turn, significantly impacts your bottom line.
Your team members are what make your business grow. This book helps leaders understand this fact.
Get your copy here.
There you have it! These are the top 11 business books I recommend to all leaders!
These books not only will help you manage your team, but I truly believe they will improve your leadership and turn you into an unstoppable boss. Happy reading!