If you’re in the process of training a new manager or you yourself are looking to better your management skills there are many great resources available that you can use to do so. One of the best resources for teaching and learning is by reading books. There are some really knowledgeable authors that not only have a skill in writing but have had management experience as well and lessons that can be passed on to other readers. If we take that knowledge and utilize it to the fullest we too can learn and move forward in becoming the best managers we can be. The top five management training books I have found to be the most helpful and influential when trying to undergo management training are Don’t Bring it to Work by Sylvia Lafair, The Art of War by Sun Tzu, Give and Take by Adam Grant, True North; Discover Your Authentic Leadership by Bill George and Radical Inclusion written by Martin Dempsey.
Don’t Bring it to Work
Don’t Bring it to Work is a great read for anyone trying to figure out how they can be a better manager by letting go of things going on at home. As a manager, you are in charge of other employees’ success therefore it is crucial that you are able to make a good example for them as well and practice what you preach. One of the hardest things for employees to do is leave their stress and home-related issues at the door and start fresh each new day while on the job. In this piece of literature, Sylvia Lafair does a great job explaining how we as managers can instill this mentality to our staff while also teaching ourselves the same important lesson.
The Art of War
If you’re an avid reader then I am sure you may have heard of or have already read the Art of War by Sun Tzu. This book is a great book to use if you are training a new manager or even if you are just looking to better your own skills because it uses powerful leaders from the past to teach current day relevant skills. The book is long and powerful but certainly worth the read.
Give and Take
Give and Take by Adam Grant is a spectacular read for management trainees as it is one of the only works of literature that details how other people can drive our individual success. So often we focus primarily on ourselves and forget that without others we would not be able to achieve the success we so desire. In finding a way to use other people in order to drive our own goals and ideas we are more likely to follow through with our plans and in turn be more effective.
True North; Discover Your Authentic Leadership
True North, a novel by Bill George is a great beginner book to use for a management training book because this book focuses on being true to your own values and mission and how discovering your own strengths can help bring out the strengths of others too. The reason this is such a great read for young, new managers is that it really dives into the basics of being a great leader and how good leadership will drive the rest of the team to success.
Radical Inclusion
Radical Inclusion by Martin Dempsey is one that I truly feel everyone should read at some point in their lives. It details the importance of including everyone in the team as one whole unit as opposed to building small cliques that specialize in their own skill. When we utilize the great team we are given we are able to stay organized and better motivate our team.