Making time to read regularly does more than temper stress and help you sleep better at night. As a small business owner, absorbing the knowledge, insights, and advice of successful, like-minded people can improve your decision making and round out your leadership skills. Whether your focus in 2020 is on personal or professional growth, you’ll benefit from including at least one of these top 5 business books in your reading line-up this summer.
The Connector Manager: Why Some Leaders Build Exceptional Talent — and Others Don’t
By Jaime Roca and Sari Wilde
A recent, first-of-its-kind management study led research and advisory firm Gartner to conclude there are four types of managers: Teachers, Cheerleaders, Always-on, and Connectors. And according to authors Roca and Wilde, which type you model yourself after matters a great deal to the success of your business. Connector managers not only excel at enabling productive interactions across their companies, they consistently outperform all other manager types by a substantial margin. The Connector Manager will help you discover which type of manager you are, and how you can incorporate more Connector behaviours into your leadership style.
Upstream: The Quest to Solve Problems Before They Happen
by Dan Heath
From time management to supply chain logistics, if you’re looking for a revolutionary spin on problem-solving and achieving your goals, you’re going to want to read Upstream. New York Times bestselling author Dan Heath mixes innovative behaviour research with interviews of hundreds of outside-the-box thinkers to arrive at a unique set of principles for preventing problems before they happen – both in life and in business.
Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World
by Cal Newport
Digital noise and the relentless pull of online distractions are everywhere. And while technology is critical for running a successful business, most of us struggle daily with the idea of how much is enough – especially in our personal lives. Digital Minimalism is your key to decluttering your days in an increasingly tech-saturated world. Best-selling author Newport provides a thought-provoking look at what tools you should use, for what purpose, and under what conditions – so you can get back to focusing on what’s really important.
The Bezos Letters: 14 Principles to Grow Your Business Like Amazon
by Steve Anderson
What do you get when you transform 20 years’ worth of shareholder letters from the world’s most successful entrepreneur into 14 growth principles? You get a roadmap for making your business as efficient, productive, and impactful as Amazon. As founder of the fastest company to ever reach $100 billion in sales, Jeff Bezos claims experimentation and failure are essential for growth and success. But while a certain amount of risk-taking is a must in business, it can prove disastrous without the right knowledge base to support it. Let The Bezos Letters inspire you to step outside your professional comfort zone the right way.
Built, Not Born: A Self-Made Billionaire’s No-Nonsense Guide for Entrepreneurs
by Tom Golisano
Billionaire businessman and author Tom Golisano is well-versed in the risks and fears faced by most small business owners. After all, he’s experienced – and overcome – those same challenges himself. Having launched and grown an incredibly profitable payroll and HR services business (Paychex), Golisano wrote Built, Not Born as a straight-shooting must-read for every entrepreneur with a burning desire to do better at building their company.
Looking for more winter reading for your business?
Check out last year’s list of top business books every entrepreneur should read.
