Best Management Books: Top 10 [Update 2023] [Recommended List]
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What are the best management books, ie books on leadership, management, entrepreneurship, and business? On this page, you will find the best recommendations in terms of business books. Both the best international and Dutch management books have been included in this list. Read along…
Find the best management books here
We have made an overview of the best management books that can help you develop your leadership qualities and self-development. We start our recommendations with the top 10 best management books of all time. This list has been updated this year, including all the recent titles.
Best Management Books Author The Making Of A Manager Julie Zhuo First, Break All The Rules Marcus Buckingham Leaders Eat Last Simon Sinek The Coaching Habit Michael Bungay Stanier Measure What Matters John Doerr The Dichotomy Of Leadership Jocko Willink & Leif Babin Multipliers Liz Wiseman The Culture Code Daniel Coyle Your Brain At Work David Rock Who: The A Method For Hiring Geoff Smart & Randy Street
Leading the Unleadable: How to Manage Mavericks, Cynics, Divas, and Other Difficult People
Every company or team has to deal with at least one person (or more, if you are lucky) that doesn’t gently follow the flow. Are you a manager and struggling with this? ‘Leading the Unleadable’ will show you how to deal with difficult people.
The First-Time Manager
If you are new to the job of being a manager, then this classic book on the subject should be your first thing to read. Learn from the mistakes of others and give yourself a head start to show that you are capable of managing your team and meeting targets.
The Book on Leadership
John MacArthur has made it clear: leadership comes from deep within. He shares the 26 characteristics of a true leader in this book with you. Discover if you have these characteristics and how to develop them.
How to Lead: Wisdom from the World’s Greatest CEOs, Founders, and Game Changers
Have you always wondered how they lead on the highest of highest possible levels? Some of the US’s most remarkable leaders are discussed in this book. Learn from them if you want to work on your leadership skills and avoid the mistakes they made in the early stages of the process.
Entrepreneurial Leadership: The Art of Launching New Ventures, Inspiring Others, and Running Stuff
The writer of this book, Joel Peterson, is an expert on leadership and entrepreneurship. If you want to be a different type of leader, learn about the skills that are needed in ‘Entrepreneurial Leadership’.
HBR’s 10 Must Reads on Managing People (with featured article “Leadership That Gets Results,” by Daniel Goleman)
Get your inspiration from these 10 articles on how to manage people with the Harvard Business Review as your main source. Several hot topics on managing your team and individuals are highlighted.
The New Manager’s Workbook: A Crash Course in Effective Management
We like this workbook, because it helps any new manager develop the skills needed to guide a team and getting results. Being a manager is not only about the fun stuff of motivating people, it also comes with hard decisions and less comfortable talks. You’d better be prepared.
Lincoln on Leadership: Executive Strategies for Tough Times
Abraham Lincoln did not have the best starting position when he became President of the United States. His leadership strategies, however, made him one of the most successful presidents in history. Find out how, and take what you have learned in this book to perfect your own leadership skills.
If you are new to contact center management, then we advise you to read this book by Brad Cleveland. He discusses everything that is needed to make a success out of CCM.
Leading from Anywhere: The Essential Guide to Managing Remote Teams
When Covid-19 turned the workplace upside down and people had to stay at home and work from there, every manager could have used this book on how to lead your team from a distance.
The Best Leadership Books For Women Leaders
The success of a business, no matter the size, often depends on its leadership. Being in charge of a team can certainly be daunting at times. Even some of the greatest leaders look for a roadmap and turn to the world’s best business leadership books to guide them.
For women in particular, there are unfortunately fewer examples of business leaders to look up to. Women comprise only 19.% of the board members for the country’s top 500 companies, and a mere 8.5% of the highest-paid positions in Canada’s top 100 companies. But nearly 85% of surveyed Canadian women are interested in leading a business. One problem is, many fear they aren’t natural leaders, and they don’t know where to begin. We’re here to help Candian women bridge the gap.
Business experts will all tell you that natural-born leaders are a myth. The fact is, anyone can become a business leader as long as they commit to learning how. One way to learn is by reading up on effective leadership techniques that can be easily implemented in any workplace, and following the example of other fearless female leaders. In and of itself, the act of reading has been shown to improve emotional intelligence, organization and communication — all characteristics that make up a good leader.
There is no shortage of books available on the subject of leadership and it can be difficult to narrow down which ones are right for you. To save you valuable time, here are the top leadership books, including the best business leadership books, that can help maximize your leadership style, improve business, shatter the glass ceiling, and enhance your personal and professional life.
Best leadership books 2020
When it comes to success, perception is key. In this psychology book on leadership, award-winning social psychologist Emily Balcetis provides insight on four visual tactics she discovered through studying vision science, cognitive research, and motivational psychology. Clearer, Closer, Better claims to help expand your mind, so that you can see boundless possibilities.
2. More Myself: A Journey by Alicia Keys (March 2020)
This book is filled with sage wisdom from female powerhouse, Alicia Keys. In her intimate book, the award-winning musician, actor, producer, activist and entrepreneur reveals how she became the fearless performer and leader that she is.
3. No Time For Spectators: The Lessons That Mattered Most From West Point To The West Wing by Martin Dempsey (May 2020)
After spending more than four decades in the American military and serving as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin Dempsey certainly knows a thing or two about leadership. Military leadership book No Time For Spectators: The Lessons That Mattered Most From West Point To The West Wing, is one of the latest leadership books to spark action and productivity based on mutual expectations.
What books do great leaders read
1. Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue – Recommended by Oprah Winfrey
This Oprah-approved novel is a top leadership book, and is inspirational for anyone — whether you’re a student, corporate executive or prospective entrepreneur. This fictional book tells the story of a Cameroonian couple’s journey to New York City to explore the business world in the wake of a financial crisis.
2. Business Adventures: Twelve Classic Tales from the World of Wall Street by John Brooks – Recommended by Bill Gates
This is a top leadership book, recommended by Bill Gates, who said it is one of the best business books he has ever read. New Yorker contributor John Brooks tells 12 stories from Wall Street that provide insight into the dramatic and unpredictable inner workings of the financial industry.
3. Becoming by Michelle Obama – Recommended by Barack Obama
Obama may be biased, but he’s not wrong for recommending his wife’s memoir, Becoming, as one of his favourite books. This #1 New York Times Bestseller follows the fascinating life story of Michelle Obama, from the south side of Chicago all the way to the White House and beyond. She has established herself as a role model and strong leader to women all around the world.
Best leadership books for new leaders
1. Welcome to Management: How to Grow From Top Performer to Excellent Leader by Ryan Hawk
Listeners of Ryan Hawk’s Learning Leader Show podcast can now expand their knowledge even further by reading his new book Welcome to Management. This book is a guide for newly promoted managers to help them become effective in their elevated roles. With case studies, interviews and personal anecdotes from Hawk himself, Welcome to Management just might be one of the best leadership development books out there right now.
2. Great Leaders Have No Rules: Contrarian Leadership Principles to Transform Your Team and Business by Kevin Kruse
According to Kevin Kruse, almost everything we’ve been taught about leadership is wrong. So throw out the leadership rules and grab Great Leaders Have No Rules instead. Kevin Kruse will teach you “how to be both the boss everyone wants to work for and the high achiever every CEO wants to hire.”
3. The Making of a Manager: What to Do When Everyone Looks to You by Julie Zhuo
After getting the initial promotion, panic sets in and it’s hard to know where to start. The Making of a Manager is one of the best leadership books for new leaders because it’s packed with useful tips (and illustrations!) to become the manager you wish you had.
Best leadership books on accountability
1. Accountability Leadership: How Great Leaders Build a High Performance Culture of Accountability and Responsibility by Di Worrall
Accountability Leadership is one of the best leadership books on accountability, winning best leadership book at the 2015 Indie Excellence Awards. Di Worrall introduces an accountability plan that will become the “secret weapon” to your company’s success.
2. Leadership Without Excuses: How to Create Accountability and High-Performace (Instead of Just Talking About It) by Jeff Grimshaw and Gregg Baron
The key to good leadership? Stop making excuses. Leadership Without Excuses outlines three types of workers: “saints,” “sinners,” and “save-ables” to explain how to bring the best out in each and demand accountability.
3. Accountability: The Key to Driving a High-Performance Culture by Greg Bustin
Author Greg Bustin surveyed more than 3,200 renowned executives and in the process, uncovered the Seven Pillars of Accountability that are essential for effective leadership. This is one of the best business leadership books for leaders who want advice on how to take action that will grow their business.
Best leadership books from a psychology point of view
1. The Art of Choosing by Sheena Iyengar
This top business psychology book explores how both mundane and life-altering choices shape our lives and our careers. Iyengar reveals her fascinating research into the art of decision making, while encouraging readers to consider why they’ve made the choices they have.
2. The New Psychology of Leadership: Identity, Influence and Power by S. Alexander Haslam, Stephen D. Reicher and Michael J. Platow
The New Psychology of Leadership is an award-winning psychology leadership book that argues leaders need to foster a group identity amongst their team in order to succeed. This new psychological approach to leadership is the product of two decades of research showing that “we” is the most important word a leader can use.
3. The Inner Winner: Performance Psychology Tactics That Give You An Unfair Advantage by Simon Hazeldine
The Inner Winner lays out proven performance psychology tactics leaders can use to enhance business. Simon Hazeldine writes about how you can get focused, gain confidence and cope with stress using self-hypnosis. Hazeldine demonstrates that the most powerful performance enhancer of all is your mind.
Best book on leadership from a management perspective
For every great manager, there is at least one difficult employee. Leadership management book Leading the Unleadable teaches managers how to turn difficult employees into productive team players.
2. Management Mess to Leadership Success: 30 Challenges to Become the Leader You Would Want to Follow by Scott Jeffrey Miller
Scott Jeffrey Miller has gained a lot of wisdom from his imperfect journey through management and shares them in Management Mess to Leadership Success. This leadership management book provides stellar management tips and is packed with humour on every page.
In this top management leadership book, Gallup presents findings from his revolutionary study of more than 80,000 managers. Read it to find out what separates the greatest managers from all the rest.
Best leadership books of the past decade
1. Leadershift: The 11 Essential Changes Every Leader Must Embrace by John C. Maxwell
In Leadershift, author John C. Maxwell teaches readers how to adapt their leadership style to embrace inevitable change and maintain resilience in the face of uncertainty.
2. Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg
In what is arguably the best leadership book for women, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg examines why women are slower to achieve leadership status than men. She also explains what women can do to fearlessly go after that position.
3. Extreme Ownership: How Navy Seals Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin
In this military leadership book, two of the most highly-decorated US Navy SEAL officers share leadership tips they learned out on the battlefield that can easily apply to your office job.
Best leadership books of all time
Whether you’re in business or not, you’ve most likely heard of this classic read. There’s a reason Good to Great is widely regarded as one of the best leadership books of all time. Over the course of the novel, Collins explores and explains how some companies shift from being good to great, while others fail to do so. According to the author, a critical factor in building a successful company, is a humble yet driven leader.
2. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change by Stephen R. Covey
This book was first published in 1989, and it remains one of the most famous leadership books of all time. In The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey outlines a step-by-step guide for living a holistic life, led by principles that ensure resilience, wisdom, and power. Covey believes his principle-centred method is the key to success, both personally and professionally.
3. The Effective Executive: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Things Done by Peter F. Drucker
The Effective Executive is a timeless book on leadership and management, and is strongly recommended as an essential leadership book to read for all working professionals. In this book, Drucker explores the role of the executive, and outlines five practices that are critical to business effectiveness.
Bestselling leadership books
1. Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek
Simon Sinek is well-known for his books on leadership. In this famous work, Sinek answers questions that many of us often wonder, including: why are some people and organizations more influential, innovative and profitable than others? By studying some of the greatest leaders throughout history, Sinek unveils that they all think, act, and communicate in the same fashion. Above all, Sinek contends that every great leader started by simply asking “Why?”
This No. 1 New York Times bestselling leadership book delves into the true meaning of being a leader. Based on her research with 150 global C-suite executives, author Brené Brown explains that being a daring leader is not about status or power; rather, it’s about recognizing the potential in other people and their ideas.
3. The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company by Robert Iger
In this memoir, Robert Iger, the CEO of the Walt Disney Company, reveals the many lessons he has learned over the course of his career. This popular leadership book shows how Iger reinvented one of the most iconic companies in the world, at a time when the beloved Disney brand was starting to deteriorate. Iger shares his experiences at the helm of 200,000 employees, and how taking big risks, leading with fairness and inspiring others were all critical to his success.
Best leadership books for entrepreneurs
1. Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Wickman
Entrepreneurship is no easy endeavour. In this book on entrepreneurial leadership, Gino Wickman outlines common problems faced by entrepreneurs, and how you can avoid them. Traction shares a practical framework for running your business with more enjoyment, focus, growth and success.
2. The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level by Gay Hendricks
Facing your fears is one of the first steps to achieving success as an entrepreneur. New York Times bestselling author and psychologist, Gay Hendricks, explains how to overcome false fears and beliefs that block entrepeneurs from ultimately reaching their goals.
3. The Lean Startup: How Today’s Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses by Eric Ries
Thinking about starting a business? If so, this is a must-read. History demonstrates that most startups fail, but Eric Ries claims that these failures are preventable. In The Lean Startup, Ries outlines classic problems that startups face, as well as practical solutions. Through The Lean Startup approach, new businesses will experience increased innovation, human creativity and capital efficiency.
Best leadership books for sales managers
1. Sell or be Sold: How to Get Your Way in Business and in Life by Grant Cardone
This bestselling leadership book on sales explains that everything in life can and should be treated as a sale. Sales expert and author Grant Cardone contends that knowing the principles of selling will benefit you in all aspects of your life. He shares how to master the art of selling in any industry, and how to accept rejection and turn around negative circumstances.
2. Sales Management. Simplified: The Straight Truth About Getting Exceptional Results from Your Sales Team by Mike Weinberg
Sales Management, Simplified is a top sales leadership book that tells it like it is. Expert sales consultant Mike Weinberg calls out the many problems that plague sales managers, providing useful insight on how these issues can be transformed into success. The book explains that sales problems typically start with how the sales team is led, making this a must-read for sales managers and executives.
3. To Sell Is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others by Daniel H. Pink
Bestselling author Daniel Pink explores the power of selling in our everyday lives. To Sell Is Human explains that regardless of industry, everyone spends their days trying to sell ideas to others; in some way, we are all in sales. This top sales leadership book offers a fresh perspective on the art of selling, accompanied by useful tips for doing it efficiently and effectively.
You can start your journey to becoming a better leader today — all you have to do is hit the books. By reading some of the best business leadership books, you will be better equipped to tackle daily dilemmas and larger challenges — particularly as a female leader — both at work and at home. One of the key messages reinforced in many of these top leadership books is to start somewhere — and a good book is always a good place to start.
About the Author:
Newsworthy Co. is a woman-owned and operated content development agency, and the creators of The Bullet, a quick shot of daily news. The team brings 20+ years of digital business experience to the creation of branded editorial content (covering everything from fashion to finance). Learn more at
The Top CEO Books for Executives to Read in 2022
7 min read
Being a successful business leader requires much more than good instincts.
Key Takeaways Developing Business Acumen: How Much Time Should Business Leaders Spend Reading?: According to research published in The Harvard Business Review, successful CEOs spend about 15% of their time reading…
According to research published in The Harvard Business Review, successful CEOs spend about 15% of their time reading… Top 10 CEO Book Recommendations: Instead of letting the everyday problems in a business run you, this system can help you take charge of your business, eliminate the daily problems, and…
Instead of letting the everyday problems in a business run you, this system can help you take charge of your business, eliminate the daily problems, and… How CEOs Can Continue Developing Their Business Acumen and Leadership Skills: Excellent leadership – the kind that gets to write and sell books – takes a combination of exceptional business acumen, outstanding communication skills, and…
Although good instincts can come in handy, to be a successful and well-rounded business leader, you must also possess business acumen, communication skills, and emotional intelligence.
While some of these traits you might have picked up in business school or developed naturally during the course of your life, you might need to put time into working on others more deliberately.
Developing Business Acumen: How Much Time Should Business Leaders Spend Reading?
According to research published in The Harvard Business Review, successful CEOs spend about 15% of their time reading. [1]
This time is typically split between studying industry-specific literature, economic news, and reading books that help executives develop their business management and leadership skills.
Top 10 CEO Book Recommendations
1. Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Wickman
In this book, Gino Wickman defines and outlines the Entrepreneurial Operating System. This system was designed specifically to help business owners get a grip on their businesses to improve focus, productivity, growth, and enjoyment in operations. Instead of letting the everyday problems in a business run you, this system can help you take charge of your business, eliminate the daily problems, and create a workflow and culture that's perfectly aligned around short and long-term goals.
Traction is the perfect read for any CEO who is looking to vastly improve their management skills while overhauling and streamlining operations for an overall better business model.
2. Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone by Brené Brown
This guide from noted author, research professor, and lecturer, Brené Brown, illuminates a path to authentic leadership that comes from a place of empathy, honesty, and strength. The guide helps readers understand, define, and defend their own principles while mustering the courage to stand up for those beliefs – even when facing disagreement, dissension, and criticism.
Braving the Wilderness is an excellent choice for business leaders looking to increase their emotional IQ and empower their own voice while finding a refreshed leadership perspective.
3. The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned From 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company by Robert Iger
Gleaning from the wisdom he gained over a decade and a half at the helm of one of the world's most beloved, profitable, and well-known companies, in his New York Times Bestselling book, Robert Iger presents a collection of lessons on leadership. Among these lessons is the importance of understanding "the power of respect," "betting on talent," and innovation. He also touts core leadership values such as decisiveness, optimization, fairness, and courage, and provides a roadmap for instilling values like these in your leadership style and company.
If you want to be educated and entertained while bolstering your business leadership, then The Ride of a Lifetime is the right CEO book for you.
4. It's the Manager: Moving From Boss to Coach by Jim Clifton and Jim Harter
From the CEO (Jim Clifton) and Chief Scientist (Jim Harter) of the world-renowned research company, Gallup, comes this science-backed book on the vital role of managers in businesses. The book provides sweeping business management advice that covers everything from hiring, onboarding processes, and employee performance evaluation to managing your middle managers.
If you want to supercharge your company's growth, starting with its leadership, then we suggest taking a page out of – or just picking up the whole book – It's the Manager.
5. Invent and Wander: The Collected Writings of Jeff Bezos by Jeff Bezos and Walter Isaacson
This book is a collection of Jeff Bezos' letters, interviews, and speeches with a forward written by Walter Isaacson, an American author, CEO, journalist, and Aspen Institute leader. This book offers a behind-the-scenes look into the formation, growth, and success of Amazon. Plus, it's a great read for busy business owners who enjoy reading in short doses.
If you love success stories and want to take a look inside another entrepreneur's head, then pick up a copy of Invent and Wander to get a glimpse into one of the most successful entrepreneurial brains.
6. Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike by Phil Knight
This straightforward memoir from Phil Knight is honest, open, remarkable, and sprinkles absolutely zero sugar-coating on the hardships that he struggled through in order to build a business around his creation, one of the most famous brands in the world, Nike. In his book, Knight shares the lessons he learned from his experiences and personal leadership journey.
If you're looking to learn about starting and growing a business – and all the honest, gory details of the failures and struggles that happen along the way – then you'll enjoy Shoe Dog, an honest story with a happy ending.
7. Business @ the Speed of Thought: Succeeding in the Digital Economy by Bill Gates
This book from Bill Gates was published just before the turn of the millennium, but it is still highly relevant today. In the book, Gates reflects on the impact technology has on businesses and its place in business, while forecasting the future of business tech. Additionally, he discusses the importance of business leaders being willing to continuously learn, adapt to, and adopt new technologies.
If you're looking for a retro yet relevant read from one of the world's most successful entrepreneurs, pickup Business @ the Speed of Thought.
8. The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter by Michael D. Watkins
This book is written with first-time or new CEOs in mind. Drawing from the past experiences of thousands of executives, the book is designed to help professionals transition into new leadership roles while taking on more responsibility. While focusing on shifting into a leadership mindset, jumping into an accelerated learning process, practicing self-management, and building key professional relationships, this book also points out the common mistakes new business leaders make and helps readers take steps to avoid falling into avoidable problems.
If you've recently been promoted to your first position in the C-suite or are an aspiring executive, then The First 90 Days can help ensure a smooth transition into your new leadership position.
9. Rework by Jason Fried, David Heinemeier Hansson
The authors of Rework were once just like you, at the helm of their own startup company, Basecamp. With Basecamp no longer a startup but a fully-fledged and successful company, the authors are here to share their wisdom and experience with you. Their book includes simple strategies that can be applied in any industry for simplifying your business, eliminating procrastination, maximizing productivity, and achieving success. The solutions the authors present are both simple, efficient, and successful.
If you're thinking about starting a business or are already an entrepreneur with your very own startup company, then now is the time to read Rework for advice when the odds of business success are stacked against you.
10. The Biggest Bluff: How I Learned to Pay Attention, Master Myself, and Win by Maria Konnikova
Most CEO book recommendations are written by successful CEOs, this gem comes from a professional gambler who wins her bets around the poker table. The book provides a crash course in the art of persuasion and human psychology as it teaches you how to read people and hold your cards close, so to speak.
If you're in the mood to take a break from the board room and step into the cardroom to learn skills that translate seamlessly from poker to negotiation, then take a break with The Biggest Bluff.
How CEOs Can Continue Developing Their Business Acumen and Leadership Skills
When running a company, good instincts can only go so far. Excellent leadership – the kind that gets to write and sell books – takes a combination of exceptional business acumen, outstanding communication skills, and finely honed emotional intelligence. In order to continue developing yourself as a business leader, it's good to maintain a growth mindset with which you realize that you are never done learning and that there is always room for improvement.
As a business leader, be sure to schedule ample time to continue developing your own leadership skills, sharpening your business acumen, and learning how to increase your emotional IQ. By continuously improving these three aspects of yourself, you can become the kind of boss you would want to work for and the kind of boss that's capable of leading a company to a highly successful future.
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