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Stephen Covey, author of the classic “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” talks during an event in the early 2000s. His is one of the best leadership books ever written.<\/p>\n
Corbis via Getty Images<\/p>\n
Management professionals have a challenging but rewarding job, leading their employees to new heights and encouraging their growth. The best management books for managers and leaders can help these supervisors improve at and excel in their jobs. From offering actionable ways to inspire employees to reminding managers that they don\u2019t know it all, these works can open doors to promotions and boost productivity. Anyone who aspires to achieve bigger things needs a game plan. This list of books for managers can help you create your plan and execute it to perfection while motivating your employees to bring their own A games to work.<\/p>\n
Top Books For Leadership And Management<\/p>\n
The management category includes mostly self help books<\/a>, with the occasional memoir and a few communication books<\/a>. These titles can aid current and aspiring leaders by introducing them to new strategies, providing step-by-step guidance for navigating challenging situations, and helping them gain confidence in their skills.<\/p>\n Common themes within these books include finding ways to work smarter and not harder, listening to employees\u2019 feedback, projecting confidence and following your instincts. These rankings are based on the books\u2019 commercial success, the authors\u2019 reputations and breadth of knowledge, and the works\u2019 critical acclaim.<\/p>\n 15. Expect to Win: Proven Strategies for Success From a Wall Street Vet by Carla A. Harris (2010)<\/p>\n Longtime Morgan Stanley executive Carla A. Harris, former chair of the National Women\u2019s Business Council, shares lessons in leadership that she has learned firsthand. She examines both her mistakes and successes, revealing lots of little lessons (like entering situations expecting to win) in an engaging voice.<\/p>\n Carla A. Harris, left, managing director of Morgan Stanley, poses with television host Wendy Williams at the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS. Harris wrote a standout leadership book.<\/p>\n getty<\/p>\n This book is best for those looking for a mentor. Carla A. Harris\u2019s Expect to Win is available from publisher Penguin Random House<\/a>.<\/p>\n 14. Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin (2015)<\/p>\n As the leaders of the Iraq War\u2019s most-decorated special forces unit, Jocko Willink and Leif Babin clearly know a lot about motivation and goal-setting. They share lessons sharpened in combat, illuminating how these leadership principles that helped U.S. forces topple insurgents can also be deployed in corporations.<\/p>\n This book is best for leaders in large organizations. Jocko Willink\u2019s and Leif Babin\u2019s Extreme Ownership is available from publisher Macmillan<\/a>.<\/p>\n 13. The Z Factor: My Journey as the Wrong Man at the Right Time by Pranjal Sharma and Subhash Chandra (2016)<\/p>\n Billionaire Subhash Chandra\u2019s path to becoming one of India\u2019s most successful businessmen was not linear. His family ran grain mills in a small town, and he describes himself as \u201cthe ultimate outsider\u201d as he worked to pay off his family\u2019s debts and eventually became wealthy from exporting and then starting India\u2019s first private TV network.<\/p>\n This book is best for those who consider themselves nontraditional managers. Pranjal Sharma\u2019s and Subhash Chandra\u2019s The Z Factor is available from publisher HarperCollins<\/a>.<\/p>\n 12. Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t by Simon Sinek (2014)<\/p>\n Simon Sinek\u2019s New York Times bestseller takes a page from the military, where officers eat meals last, ensuring those under them receive the nourishment they require first. Sinek applies this same idea to organizations, arguing that by \u201ceating last\u201d and building trust in tending to their employees\u2019 needs, leaders can create healthy, fulfilling environments.<\/p>\n This book is best for leaders trying to change attitudes within their workplaces. Simon Sinek\u2019s Leaders Eat Last is available from publisher Penguin Random House<\/a>.<\/p>\n 11. The AI-Driven Leader: Harnessing AI to Make Faster, Smarter Decisions by Geoff Woods (2024)<\/p>\n Artificial intelligence (AI) is unavoidable\u2014so if you can\u2019t beat it, join it. Geoff Woods argues that using AI\u2019s powers instead of resisting their encroachment can assist leaders with better decision-making. The book includes QR codes for interactive learning and lots of frameworks to apply to your own situation.<\/p>\n This book is best for tech-savvy leaders. Geoff Woods\u2019s The AI-Driven Leader is available from publisher AI Thought Leadership<\/a>.<\/p>\n 10. Illogical: Saying Yes to a Life Without Limits by Emmanuel Acho<\/p>\n Former NFL player and New York Times bestselling author Emmanuel Acho lays out a plan for leaders to step up to an even higher calling: becoming changemakers. Drawing on his own improbable life story, he outlines ways to ignore conventional wisdom and limits while embracing a new mindset where anything is possible.<\/p>\n Emmanuel Acho speaks onstage during a SXSW panel. He wrote “Illogical,” one of the best leadership books.<\/p>\n Getty Images for Degree\u00ae Deodorant<\/p>\n This book is best for those who love powerful books<\/a> about life changes. Emmanuel Acho\u2019s Illogical is available from publisher Macmillan<\/a>.<\/p>\n 9. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni (2002)<\/p>\n This New York Times bestseller tells the tale of a fictional manager coming into an undesirable leadership situation and how she navigates it, recognizing the five behaviors that can negatively influence a team. Patrick Lencioni also explains ways to counteract those pitfalls and get employees back on the same page.<\/p>\n This book is best for managers trying to solve organizational dysfunction. Patrick Lencioni\u2019s The Five Dysfunctions of a Team is available from publisher Wiley<\/a>.<\/p>\n 8. Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It Chris Voss (2016)<\/p>\n When you view life as a series of negotiations, as author Chris Voss does, the way to navigate it successfully becomes pretty clear\u2014master the art of difficult conversations. Voss, a former FBI negotiator, advises on how empathy and careful listening can aid in the power of persuasion.<\/p>\n This book is best for leaders who struggle with communication. Chris Voss\u2019s Never Split the Difference is available from HarperCollins<\/a>.<\/p>\n 7. The Making of a Manager: What to Do When Everyone Looks to You by Julie Zhuo (2024)<\/p>\n When Julie Zhuo was promoted to a leadership role at 25, she felt excited\u2014and overwhelmed. She didn\u2019t know how to balance her employees\u2019 interests with her company\u2019s while maintaining her personal integrity. Over the years, she learned, and she imparts her knowledge in this easily digestible narrative.<\/p>\n This book is best for new managers or those seeking relationship books<\/a>. Julie Zhuo\u2019s The Making of a Manager is available from publisher Penguin Random House<\/a>.<\/p>\n 6. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell (1998)<\/p>\n This new edition of the classic leadership book has been updated for a new generation of leaders. It walks readers through ways to set goals while maintaining emotional balance in challenging periods. Mother Teresa Prize for Global Peace and Leadership winner John C. Maxwell shares his own anecdotes between lessons.<\/p>\n This book is best for those who want to help others become better leaders as well. John C. Maxwell\u2019s The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership is available from publisher HarperCollins<\/a>.<\/p>\n 5. Lead from the Outside by Stacey Abrams (2019)<\/p>\n A former George gubernatorial candidate and the first Black woman to deliver a response to the State of the Union, Stacey Abrams is one of the most recognizable political leaders of her generation. For most of her career, she has served in the minority party, so her book focuses on how outsiders can step forward.<\/p>\n Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams fist bumps a well-wisher on a visit to Georgia State University on November 7, 2022 in Atlanta. Abrams also wrote one of the great leadership books.<\/p>\n Getty Images<\/p>\n This book is best for those outside of traditional leadership structures. Stacey Abrams\u2019s Lead from the Outside is available from Macmillan<\/a>.<\/p>\n 4. The New One Minute Manager by Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson (2015)<\/p>\n An updated version of the classic One Minute Manager adapted for a more tech-driven workforce, the book shares three central secrets to leading people and details why they work. The usable tips translate especially well for new or young managers who want to learn more about delegation after years of doing.<\/p>\n This book is best for inexperienced leaders. Ken Blanchard\u2019s and Spencer Johnson\u2019s The New One Minute Manager is available from publisher HarperCollins<\/a>.<\/p>\n 3. Power to the Middle: Why Managers Hold the Keys to the Future of Work by Bill Schaninger, Bryan Hancock and Emily Field (2023)<\/p>\n From three well-known leaders at McKinsey, this book challenges leaders to reimagine their roles. Middle managers, they argue, are perfectly positioned to close the ground between upper management and employees while carrying organizations through periods of dramatic change. It also invites these managers to become shapers of the new world of work.<\/p>\n This book is best for middle managers. Bill Schaninger\u2019s Bryan Hancock\u2019s and Emily Field\u2019s Power to the Middle is available from publisher Harvard Business Review<\/a>.<\/p>\n 2. Harvard Business Review Manager’s Handbook: The 17 Skills Leaders Need to Stand Out by Harvard Business Review (2017)<\/p>\n Harvard Business Review is one of the most respected business-focused media organizations, and this book compiles much of its knowledge related to becoming a better manager. It includes self-assessments that can guide managers to the right strategies and exercises to help work through new approaches alongside first-person stories from managers.<\/p>\n This book is best for new managers looking to develop management philosophies. Harvard Business Review\u2019s Harvard Business Review Manager’s Handbook is available from publisher Harvard Business Review<\/a>.<\/p>\n 1. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey (1989)<\/p>\n There is a reason The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People has sold more than 40 million copies. The enduring wisdom of this book has spanned generations of workers and a tech revolution because it is so sound. It recommends core habits\u2014from being proactive to sharpening the saw\u2014to stay motivated and move forward.<\/p>\n This book is best for those struggling with productivity or connection. Stephen Covey\u2019s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is available from publisher Simon & Schuster<\/a>.<\/p>\n Bottom Line<\/p>\n The best books for managers and leaders educate while also entertaining. All of these authors write in an engaging manner that will help you fly through the book while learning many things you can apply to your professional life.<\/p>\n Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)<\/p>\n What Are Good Books On Productivity?<\/p>\n Leaders can become better managers by increasing their own productivity and giving their employees tips. Two valuable books on productivity are:\u00a0<\/p>\n Deep Work<\/a> by Cal Newport (2016) gives tips for avoiding distractions and staying on task in a high-tech world.\u00a0<\/p>\n Atomic Habits<\/a> by James Clear (2018) guides readers through ways to adopt new habits while avoiding the pitfalls that often prevent such habit-forming.\u00a0<\/p>\n What Are Good Time Management Books?<\/p>\n Managing your time better will benefit you and your employees, giving you more time to lead. Great time management books include:\u00a0<\/p>\n Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity<\/a> by David Allen (2002) includes organizational tips and tricks to show readers ways to focus their time more effectively.\u00a0<\/p>\n Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals<\/a> by Oliver Burkeman (2021), a New York Times bestseller, advises people to use their extremely limited time prioritizing what\u2019s important and avoiding gimmicky \u201clife hacks.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n What Are Good Project Management Books?<\/p>\n What Are Good Product Management Books?<\/p>\n Product management ranges from ideating and hatching a product to guiding it through its lifecycle. Two informative books about product management include:<\/p>\n Crossing the Chasm<\/a> by Geoffrey Moore (2014) explains the selling and marketing side of bringing a product to market, with some excellent insights into managing the product\u2019s rollout.<\/p>\n Understanding Michael Porter: The Essential Guide to Competition and Strategy<\/a> by Joan Magretta (2011) tells the story of business consultant Michael Porter and his five forces, explaining many misconceptions about product management.<\/p>\n What Are Good Books For New Managers?<\/p>\n Good books for new managers prepare them to lead and challenge them to think strategically. Two terrific options include:\u00a0<\/p>\n