A strong business strategy can help you achieve your goals at work. Whether you want to grow your career or close a gap in your team, the right playbook can offer solutions.
There are many such books to choose from, but the one that’s right for you will be applicable to your situation. it will contain ideas that you can use in real life as you work on a game plan.
You are reading: Best strategy books of all time
the best strategy books to read right now:
- Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncompetitive Market Space and Make Competition Irrelevant, Expanded Edition. by w. chan kim and renee mauborgne – get this book
- good strategy bad strategy: the difference and why it matters by richard rumelt – get this book
- play to win: how strategy really works by a.g. lafley and roger l. martin – get this book
- the art of strategy: a game theorist’s guide to success in business and in life by avinash k. Dixit and Barry J. Nalebuff – Get this book
- Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors by Michael E. porter – get this book
- principles: life and times of ray dalio – get this book
- the pumpkin plan: a simple strategy for growing a remarkable business in any field by mike michalowicz – get this book
- hbr’s 10 must-reads on strategy by harvard business review – get this book
- traction: take control of your business by gino wickman – get this book
- team of teams: new rules of engagement for a complex world by general stanley mcchrystal, tantum collins, david silverman, chris fussell – get this book
what to look for in a strategy book
Business books cover a wide range of topics. From books for entrepreneurs to management and leadership, there’s a book for just about any need. however, these vary in quality and accuracy.
You want a strategy book you can trust, so consider these factors before making a purchase.
author’s experience
who is the author? Are they qualified to talk strategy? you want someone who has experience in the field.
Business leaders can pass on strategies that helped them in their careers. Their knowledge and experiences can help you avoid some of the mistakes they’ve made in the past.
On the other hand, experts and analysts dedicate their lives to observing trading trends. so his advice is invaluable when an objective approach to strategy is needed.
depth of covered strategy
Creating a successful trading strategy is a gradual process. books that only tell part of the story won’t give you the full knowledge you need. instead, look for books that break down all the moving pieces that affect goal achievement.
insightful narration and personal anecdotes can help you get a better perspective of why certain steps are necessary, and will also help with implementation.
practicality of advice
You can find inspiration and clarity when you read the strategies of other business leaders. however, it is usually best to start with books that offer practical plans. if it’s not realistic for you to execute the advice, it may not be the book for you.
In addition, some strategy books are intended for a certain audience. leadership concerns depend on many variables, such as industry and size. there are no strategic solutions that work in all areas.
For example, books designed for entrepreneurs may focus on starting a business. but if you’re in a leadership position in an established company, you need different advice related to strategy.
our picks from the best strategy books
The best strategies for you depend on your situation, but we hope this list of recommendations will help you get started.
1. Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Market Space with No Competition and Make the Competition Irrelevant, Expanded Edition. by w. chan kim and renee mauborgne
- for whom? all levels
- price: on sale
If you want a fresh strategic perspective, this may be the book for you. this international bestseller focuses on creating strategies that tap into new markets rather than going head-to-head with the competition.
This is an updated version of his previously published book. contains a framework of 4 actions to help you achieve your goals. Please note that this is not a competitive strategy book and offers alternative approaches.
get this book
2. good strategy bad strategy: the difference and why it matters by richard rumelt
- for whom? beginners
- price: on sale
many readers will find this book a good starting point for learning about strategy. However, you don’t have to be a novice to appreciate this book by Richard Rumelt.
See Also: Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch Books in Order | Novel Suspects
Lauded as a strategy guru, it lays down the basics very clearly and tells you how to spot the most common mistakes. the tone of the book is informal and direct, which makes it easy to read.
get this book
3. Playing to Win: How Strategy Really Works by A.G. lafley and roger l. martin
- for whom? all levels
- price: on sale
Are you struggling under an avalanche of competition? Learn to navigate brand building with five strategic options.
The former CEO of Procter & Gamble and his adviser explain how they increased the market value by $100 billion in just a decade.
His book is rich in examples and he applies his five options to famous brands like gillette, olay and more.
get this book
4. the art of strategy : a game theory guide to success in business and in life by avinash k. dixit and barry j. nalbuff
- who is it for? all levels
- price: on sale
This book focuses on strategic decision making and critical strategic thinking. it may not give you step-by-step examples of how to build a successful brand.
Learning about game theory can help you shape your career as well as your personal life. the art of strategy teaches you the mindset you will need to deal with each unique situation. you will learn more about how to deal with strategy in general than with specific situations.
get this book
5. Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors by Michael E. goalkeeper
- for whom? intermediate students
- price: on sale
Written by the leader in competitive strategy Michael E. Porter, this book is a must read for anyone in a leadership position.
porter provides frameworks for important considerations such as competitor analysis and evaluating your company’s competitive structure.
However, this book is for people who have some background in business strategy. beginners may find it difficult to immerse themselves in the jargon and concepts covered in this book.
get this book
6. principles: life and work by ray dalio
- for whom? beginners
- price: on sale
If you need a roadmap to achieve your goals in life, this may be the one for you. dalio provides you with tools to create the necessary framework for success. it also introduces the reader to the principles that guided him on his life’s journey from poverty to billionaire.
Topics dalio covers include decision making as an individual and as an organization, team building, and tackling challenges.
If you want a short and light strategy book, you may need to look elsewhere. but if you’re interested in strategy advice from the creator of one of the largest hedge funds in history, this is the one to go for.
get this book
7. the pumpkin plan: a simple strategy to grow a remarkable business in any field by mike michalowicz
- who is it for? all levels
- price: on sale
See Also: The 13 Best Science Fiction Books of 2017
Can you grow your business using a farmer strategy? this author believes so, and he tried it with positive results. michalowicz outlines the 3 steps to this unconventional strategy: plant the right seeds, weed out the losers, and nurture the winners.
This is a customer-oriented strategy. so if your industry doesn’t have much customer contact, this may not be the book for you.
but if you’re planning to grow a customer-centric business, it’ll give you some much-needed inspiration and guidance.
get this book
8. HBR’s 10 Must-Reads on Strategy from Harvard Business Review
- who is it for? all levels
- price: on sale
This book contains ten must-read articles previously published by Harvard Business Review. Includes Michael E. Porter’s article, “What is Strategy?”, as well as nine others.
can help you create an action plan, and article topics include:
- create uncontested market space
- business principles
- distinguish your brand
- make decisions
- craft a vision
leadership situations can be circumstantial. so this compilation of articles is a good way to cover different perspectives on developing a leadership strategy.
get this book
9. traction: take control of your business by gino wickman
- who is it for? all levels
- price: on sale
Do you want to implement an action plan? this book has one for you. this brand strategy was successfully implemented in more than 100 companies.
has 6 main components, explained in detail. the author also includes tools to turn suggestions into action.
Please note, however, that this framework uses traditional management methods and may not be appropriate for some small business environments.
get this book
10. team of teams: new rules of engagement for a complex world by general stanley mcchrystal, tantum collins, david silverman, chris fussell
- for whom? advanced students
- price: on sale
If you want an alternative plan of action for your team, this book might be an interesting read.
written by general stanley mcchrystal, former commander of the joint special operations task force, this book highlights the importance of small cohesive units in any organization.
but the author acknowledges that organizations can’t always afford small, intimate teams. so he offers insights and techniques to expand trust and transparency models to larger organizations.
get this book
find the best strategy books
Your business needs are highly individual and strategic solutions should not be applied with a one-size-fits-all approach. As with personal finance books, not all principles or approaches work for all readers.
However, you may find that you can take points from several well-written strategy books and apply them to your own framework. having an actionable framework can help you increase productivity and achieve those long-term business goals.
See Also: TuneIn Introduces TuneIn Premium Audio Subscription Service to Listeners Worldwide | TuneIn