What makes a person a great leader? is it a magnetic personality? Is it having a bold vision or confidence?
I would say that all of these traits are possessed by great leaders. but how are these attributes acquired? After all, there is such a thing as a “born leader,” but most of us who are called to lead don’t fit into that category.
You are reading: Best books on management
Fortunately, there is a wealth of information designed to give us the skills of a great leader. In this article, we list the top 20 management books that will make you a great leader.
1. The One Minute Manager by Kenneth Blanchard Ph.D. and spencer johnson md
This is a remarkable book that tells the story of a young man in search of a good leader. while meeting different management styles, some autocratic care only about results, and workers suffer. others with a democratic approach only cared about the people, and the organization also suffered. Finally, he finds what he’s been looking for in a manager who uses the one-minute method.
The One Minute Method is basically a way of setting clear goals or expectations for the people you manage.
For example, if you were told to clean a room, does that mean sweeping the floor, dusting the shelves, or organizing the shelves? but if you are told to sweep the floor and organize the shelves, the expectations are clearer. then there is a praise minute and a reprimand minute where praise and reprimands are given immediately and quickly.
get the book here.
2. on becoming a leader by warren bennis
Regarded as a must-read for any business person, Warren Bennis was a professor at the University of Southern California Business School. he first tasted leadership during world war ii when he was one of the youngest lieutenants to serve in europe. He is a firm believer that leaders are made, not born.
This is one of the best management books out there. describes several traits that make a great leader. For Bennis, a leader is self-aware, curious, and a risk taker. a leader sees the big picture and does what is right.
get the book here.
3. Flip the Boat!: A True Story of Turning Followers into Leaders by him. David Marquet
Marquet was the captain of a submarine and was trained to lead in the typical military way of giving orders and getting results. however, he once gave an order that was impossible to follow, but his crew tried it anyway with almost disastrous results. when he asked why, the answer was “because you told me.”
It was then that he decided to try a different management style, giving his subordinates the responsibility for their work and the autonomy to do it. the results of the change in his management style were significant.
get the book here.
4. leaders eat last: why some teams come together and others don’t by simon sinek
Why do some teams come together to get the job done while other teams disintegrate into bickering, infighting, and backstabbing?
sinek addresses this question in leaders eat last after having a conversation with a marine general. he noticed that all the junior Marines ate first, while the older Marines were at the back of the line. the general explained that “leaders eat last” because what was symbolic in the dining room was deadly serious in war.
Leaders must sacrifice their own comfort and even their lives for the good of the team they lead. he continues to illustrate his ideas through examples from true stories in business and the military.
get the book here.
5. how to win friends and influence people by dale carnegie
A list of the best management books would not be complete without this Carnegie book. This is probably one of the most famous leadership books ever written, and for good reason.
Carnegie reveals some of the “soft skills” of good leadership, like making people feel important and appreciated. Implementing the ideas found in this classic will help you become a better leader, negotiator, and motivator.
get the book here.
6. sun tzu’s art of war
Written over two thousand years ago, it is still touted by entrepreneurs around the world as a must-read for leaders. Sun Tzu was a military leader who wrote down his philosophies on war and leadership.
is full of timeless wisdom like “avoid the strong and hit the weak”. and “supreme excellence lies in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.”
The book is divided into thirteen chapters and each one is dedicated to a certain philosophy.
get the book here.
7. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change by Stephen R. flock
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another classic, covey is widely known as a world-renowned leadership expert. Although he already has other published works, the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is his most famous one.
covey’s idea is that true leadership starts from within. A good leader must first manage his inner well-being, create a personal vision, and cultivate self-control. only then can they spread his influence to others.
Here’s a short video on the 7 Habits of Highly Successful People:
get the book here.
8. the 21 irrefutable laws of leadership: follow them and people will follow you by john maxwell
One of the most popular leadership books of all time, Maxwell’s 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership is one of the best management books you can find.
maxwell argues that while there may be more “laws” of leadership than 21, these 21 laws are true and necessary for anyone to be effective. Furthermore, these laws apply to all leadership roles in society, whether in the military, business, or government.
get the book here.
9. swim with the sharks without being eaten alive by harvey b. mackey
Written by a self-made millionaire, Mackay provides practical advice on how to outsell the competition and motivate your employees. is a short read full of useful and practical ideas. contains lots of helpful advice like “if you don’t have a destination, you’ll never get there”, “make decisions with your heart and you’ll end up with heart disease” and “it’s not the people you fire that make your life miserable, It’s the people you don’t fire.”
get the book here.
10. Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert B. doctorate in cialdini
dr. Robert Cialdini devoted his entire career to researching the science of influence, earning him an international reputation as an expert in the fields of persuasion, compliance, and negotiation.
In his book, Influence, The Psychology of Persuasion, he breaks down the principles of influence and persuasion into six categories that are easy to understand and implement. This book will teach you not only how to persuade others, but also how to protect yourself from misleading persuasion.
get the book here.
11. leadership and self-deception: getting out of the box by the arbiger institute
This book can be a difficult read, not because of the concepts involved or the language used, but because it forces the reader to confront responsibility for the problems. most of us like to blame things outside of us for the problems we have. but to actually find solutions, you need to be able to see your role in the problem.
the arbiger institute is recognized as a world leader in improving organizational effectiveness and conflict resolution.
get the book here.
12. multipliers: how the best leaders make everyone smarter by liz wiseman
A Wall Street Journal bestseller, this relatively short 292-page read discusses two styles of leadership.
In this book, leadership expert liz wiseman explores these two leadership styles and persuasively shows how multipliers can have a resoundingly positive and profitable effect on organizations.
Multipliers are those who do more with fewer resources, develop and attract talent, and cultivate new ideas and energy to drive organizational change and innovation. on the other hand, diminishers are the kind of people who drain creativity and innovation from their teams.
get the book here.
13. my years with general motors by alfred sloan jr.
This is another management book that is considered a “classic.” First published in 1963, My Years with Sloan’s General Motors became an instant bestseller. the author talks about the “management discipline” that he has practiced for decades and that made him an effective leader.
still relevant today, bill gates praises this book as the best book on management. even business week named it “the number one choice for your must-read shelf.”
get the book here.
14. creative, inc.: overcoming the unseen forces that stand in the way of true inspiration by ed catmull and amy wallace
This New York Times bestseller was produced by the co-founder of Pixar Studios, the people behind some of the most famous and successful movies of all time. In this book, the authors explore the leadership qualities that have made Pixar so successful.
Readers can find a lot of great ideas in this book, like “if you give a mediocre team a good idea, they’ll screw it up.” but give a mediocre idea to a great team, and either they’ll fix it or you’ll come up with something better”, and “it’s not the coach’s job to prevent risks. it’s the manager’s job to make it safe for others to take them.”
get the book here.
15. radical candor: be an awesome boss without losing your humanity by kim scott
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kim scott was an executive at google and then at apple. In this insightful book on leadership and management, he shares his years of knowledge on how to be an effective leader.
his core belief is that a leader must truly care while directly challenging employees. if you really don’t care, he’s bossy. if you don’t challenge, it’s bad for the company. and if you do nothing, it’s just manipulation.
get the book here.
16. Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us By Daniel H. pink
another new york times bestseller, unit: the surprising truth about what motivates us crushes the notion of the carrot-and-stick method of management.
In this book, Pink examines the difference between what science knows motivates us and what most companies do. he posits that people are motivated by three things, autonomy, mastery, and purpose. so if you can provide those things to them, you will have a productive and efficient team.
get the book here.
17. Primal Leadership: Unleashing the Power of Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman, Richard Boyatzis & annie mckee
what is the most important attribute of a leader? intelligence, motivation, vision?
The authors of this book present the argument that “emotional intelligence” is the critical factor for leadership. For them, qualities such as enthusiasm, empathy, relationship management, and intuitive understanding are qualities that great leaders possess.
Using many real-world examples, the authors attempt to define and explain these key qualities. good leaders create “resonance” within a team, while bad leaders create “dissonance.”
get the book here.
18. The Truth About Leadership: The Basic, Unfashionable Facts You Need To Know By James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. poser
In this book, the authors explain ten “truths” about leadership. one of them is credibility, which is the basis of leadership. a leader values and drives engagement, and the best leaders are the best learners.
According to the authors, you either lead by example or you don’t lead at all. All of these truths must be understood by any great leader and you neglect them at your peril.
get the book here.
19. delivering happiness: a path to profit, passion and purpose by tony hsieh
tony hsieh is the founder of zappos, an online retailer that generates more than a billion dollars in sales a year.
In this book, he explains his secrets to success. Some of the strategies he outlined include giving employees control over their jobs (autonomy), recognizing and encouraging progress both professionally and personally, connecting personally with your team, and being someone people want to work for, among many others.
If you’re interested in owning your own business or just managing people, this is a great read.
get the book here.
20. The Leadership Challenge: How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations by James Kouzes and Posner
Last but not least, we have The Challenge of Leadership, which is one of the best management books ever written.
Considered the “gold standard” of leadership manuals, the Leadership Challenge explores the difference between good leaders and great leaders. the authors outlined 5 exemplary leadership practices: model the way, inspire a shared vision, challenge the process, enable others to act, and encourage the heart.
Anyone looking for great management and leadership books should add this to their list.
get the book here.
the end result
Leadership is both an art and a skill. And while you can’t teach the artistic side of leadership, you can learn the skills of a leader.
This list of the 20 best management books is not exhaustive, but by gaining the knowledge they possess, you’ll be better equipped to lead.
Indeed, the knowledge you can gain from these books will put you standing on the shoulders of giants.
more books on leadership
- 15 Inspirational Books Every Leader Shouldn’t Miss
- 15 Best Leadership Books Every Leader Should Read For Success
- 20 Best Entrepreneur Books Ever the times to make your business successful
featured photo credit: daria nepriakhina via unsplash.com
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