Book recommendations for business leaders: 11/8/18

Nov 8, 2018 | Reading Lists

Stephen King says that if you want to be a writer, there are two things you must do: read a lot and write a lot. This is about the “read a lot” part. I include reading lists and book reviews that will help you do business more effectively and write better for business.

In this post, I point you to reviews of Humanity Works: Merging Technologies and People for the Workforce of the Future, Measure What Matters: How Google, Bono, and the Gates Foundation Rock the World with OKRs, Transforming Nokia: The Power of Paranoid Optimism to Lead Through Colossal Change, and The Happiness Equation: Want Nothing + Do Anything = Have Everything. Plus books for anyone entering the working world, new business books for November 2018

From Skip Prichard: The Future of Humans in an Increasingly Robotic World

“The professional landscape is transforming, and the only way to maintain competitive advantage is to maximize the unique skills of your workforce. In Humanity Works: Merging Technologies and People for the Workforce of the Future, consultant and futurist Alexandra Levit provides a guide to making the most of the human traits of creativity, judgment, problem solving and interpersonal sensitivity.”

From Tren Griffin: Execution is Everything

“I have wanted to write a review of John Doerr’s book Execution is Everything since it was first published five months ago. Some of you are probably saying right now: ‘That’s not the name of his book!’ This is true, but I decided to write this post as if the book had another title to attract a different audience that might not otherwise read the book. Many people who would benefit most from reading this book are the least likely to read it because the title may lead them to believe it is a book for engineers. Doerr has said a few times that my alternative title is the theme of the book, so I have not strayed too far from what he wrote and am instead trying the present the ideas from a different perspective. I do give readers the actual name of the book and a link at the end of the post.”

Thanks to Smartbrief on Leadership for pointing me to this story

From Bob Morris: Transforming Nokia

“In this book, written with Catherine Fredman, Risto Siilasmaa explains how paranoid optimism — ‘entrepreneurial leadership’ — enabled him and h is associates to transform Nokia by formulating ‘a new vision for the future,’ constructing ‘a strategy to implement the vision,’ and building the balance sheet they were determined to achieve. Most transformation initiatives fail or fall far short of original expectations. Reasons vary, of course, but those who lead these initiatives must make exceptionally difficult decisions.”

From Chad Gordon: The Happiness Equation with Neil Pasricha

“Pasricha shares research that indicates combining great work with success, doesn’t necessarily lead to happiness. In fact, it is the opposite. Being happy leads to great work, which leads to success. Coming to work with a positive mindset has been shown to increase productivity by 31 percent and sales by 37 percent. People who are happy are 40 percent more likely to get a promotion, and they live an average of 10 years longer than people with a negative mindset.”

From Ed Batista: Two Books for Anyone Entering the Working World

“If you know someone who’s about to enter the working world–particularly an undergraduate embarking upon a job search or a recent grad beginning a professional role–I highly recommend these two books.”

From Michael McKinney: First Look: Leadership Books for November 2018

Reading recommendations are a regular feature of this blog. Want more recommendations about what to read? Check out my Three Star Leadership blog, Michael McKinney’s LeadingBlog, and Skip Prichard’s Leadership Insights.