The Four Management & Leadership Books You Probably Haven't Read Yet

I have been managing teams for more than ten years, but it wasn't until more recently that I felt I was actually managing well. In the last three years or so, I have shifted my focus away from reading only books and articles about how to be a great manager & leader, and I have begun to dedicate time to why I love to manage and how I can become a better human.

Don't get me wrong, I still read and listen to books that are focused on business (recent favorites include Simon Sinek's The Infinite Game and Patty McCord's Powerful), but the four books below will help you transform and elevate yourself, and that is where I have learned great people management must begin.

The Power of Intention (2004) by Dr. Wayne Dyer is first on my list because it has shifted my mindset most profoundly. I have now listened to the audio book three times through, and each time I take away something new.

The book explores intention not as something you do, but as an energy you are part of. Dyer writes of this energy from many angles, showing us how this force is present in all areas of our life. He presents the four steps to Intention: Discipline, Wisdom, Love, and Surrender. And then he writes of the ways in which we can purposefully move through these steps to reach a state of connectedness:

"For Connectors...everything that shows up in their life is there because the power of intention intended it there. So they're always in a state of gratitude. They feel thankful for everything, even things that might seem to be obstacles... Connectors appreciate the world and everything in it... Connectors are highly inspired people."

In his book, Dyer says "There is no way to happiness; happiness is the way." The author of the next book, Nataly Kogan, holds our hand on this path.

Happier Now (2018) will change your life. Yes, of course I am biased given that the author is my wife :-) But the reason I say it will change your life is because I have watched my wife evolve as a human, and the anchors of her evolution are the pillars of this book. It begins with her personal story, struggles, and breakdown in part one; and then, in part two, she shares the five skills of the Happier Method: Acceptance, Gratitude, Intentional Kindness, The Bigger Why, and Self-Care.

For me, there are two radically powerful aspects of Nataly's book. The first is her introduction of the five skills as SKILLS -- they are not abstract ideas, but rather the opposite: You can practice them and train your brain and being to pursue your happiness in new ways. This is a serious mindset shift for many of us. The second is how she helps the reader adopt these skills through dozens of practical practices that we can all employ.

Kogan's message for leaders is that you must begin with yourself, saying "You cannot give what you don't have." To be a great leader, you must practice these skills and model the behaviors you want your team and organization to emulate. To do so, you must start with your own emotional well-being.

The Art of Communicating (2013) by Thich Nhat Hanh. What can a Vietnamese Buddhist monk teach us about great management & leadership? Turns out, everything. Because how we communicate, which is both how we speak and how we LISTEN, is at the essence of how we treat ourselves and our teams.

In this slim but incredible book, Hanh provides simple methods to get more in touch with ourselves through the practice (noticing a trend here?) of communication. Surprisingly, even though he lives in a monastery, he is very attune to modern life, writing of the busyness that has consumed most of us and the ways we fall victim to social media scrolling.

He presents three ways in which you can master the art of communication: By taking deep breaths before speaking or writing, and becoming more aware of your breath; By using loving speech, and he shares specific words to express this love; and By listening with compassion, which for many may be the most challenging (and one that I must commit to every day).

These steps are far easier to read than they are to consistently practice, but their importance is undeniable. Because as a manager & leader, Hanh reminds us that every time we interact with another human being it's an opportunity to be a better communicator.  

The Four Agreements (1997) by Don Miguel Ruiz shares a similar tone and style with Wayne Dyer. It is also a practical and spiritual guide to living your best life. Ruiz literally presents four agreements that you must make with yourself, and if you can commit to them, you will find (and stay on) your path of happiness.

These are the four agreements, which hold true in all aspects of your life:

• Be impeccable with your word. I wrote previously about how my team uses "impeccable commitments" within our work; I have no doubt that Fred Kofman borrowed this phrase from Ruiz. Because your word can be very powerful, and you must learn to use your word impeccably. I am still working on this one every day.
• Don't take anything personally. Wayne Dyer shares an anecdotal joke about "Rule number 6" that echoes Ruiz's second agreement. Put another way, there is a quote to live by, often attributed to Plato: "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." Every human has a story, a struggle, a difficulty in their path. If someone is negative towards you, it is due to their negativity, not yours. Rather than feel reproached, you can find ways to help them.
• Don't make assumptions. The problem with assumptions is that once we have made them, we believe they are the truth. And then we have a difficult time unwinding ourselves from this "truth." As a middle-school teacher once told us (and it stuck): "When you assume, you make an ASS out of U and ME." Never assume. Free yourself from mis-communication and you will live more simply.
• Always do your best. And finally, do your best. Always. Easy to say and write, very hard to accomplish and be honest with yourself. Life is hard (especially in these times!) and getting everything right every time is impossible; the important thing is to continue to do your best in every moment. If you can be true to yourself in this way, you will pull from the power of the first three agreements and make this fourth one true.

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I hope you found at least one new suggestion from my list and you will find time to read or listen to it soon.

Do you agree, disagree, or have other books to add to my list? Please let me know!

Thank you for reading and be well.