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Our consultants have reviewed and selected some of the best business books on the market, focusing on topics which have influenced business trends or introduced concepts in management which leading firms have incorporated into their own training programs. We’re sure that you will find all the books entertaining and enlightening.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
(Stephen R. Covey)
The 7 Habits was a groundbreaker when it was first published in 1990 and continues to be a business bestseller with more than 10 million copies sold. Stephen Covey focuses on ideas to improve personal and professional effectiveness and draws upon anecdotes from family situations as well as business challenges. The training company Franklin Covey bases many of its programs on the book’s philosophies.
Emotional Intelligence
(Daniel Goleman)
Daniel Goleman believes that having a high IQ is not a guarantee of success or happiness and that having a high Emotional Intelligence may be more important for enjoying success in relationships, work, and even physical well-being. This best seller kicked off a new school of thought amongst many corporate leaders about what makes a good employee and some management training companies offer courses based on the principles of identifying and building emotional intelligence.
Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make Competition Irrelevant
(W.Chan Kim, Renee Mauborgne)
An international best seller, Blue Ocean Strategy focuses on expanding competitor-free markets and creating untapped market space leading to opportunities for highly profitable growth, as opposed to operating in "red oceans," which are well explored markets and crowded with competition. Using dozens of examples-from Southwest Airlines and the Cirque du Soleil to Curves and Starbucks, the authors present the tools and frameworks they've developed specifically for the task of analyzing blue oceans.
The Tipping Point: How little things can make a difference
(Malcolm Gladwell)
The tipping point theory has been around since the 1960’s and defined as the point when something unique becomes common. In his best seller, Malcolm Gladwell puts forward the idea that little changes can have big effects; when small numbers of people start behaving differently, that behavior can ripple outward until a critical mass or "tipping point" is reached, changing the world. He believes that ideas, products, messages and behaviors spread just like viruses do and sometimes in epidemic proportions.
The Goal
(Eliyahu Goldratt)
The Goal launched the concept of “Theory of Constraints” which is based on the premise that the rate of revenue generation is limited by at least one constraining process such as a bottleneck. Only by increasing throughput or production rate at the bottleneck process can overall throughput be increased. This book is a must for any manager, especially if involved in production control or supply chain management. An easy and enjoyable read.
Six Thinking Hats
(Edward de Bono)
Edward de Bono is a well known psychologist and physician who is famous for his work on thinking and how to think. He has written prolifically on the subjects of lateral thinking and many leading global firms use his principles to train their managers and employees in problem solving. In his book, Six Thinking Hats, Edward de Bono presents a simple but effective way to become a better thinker. He separates thinking into six distinct modes, identified with six colored "thinking hats". “Putting on a hat” focuses thinking; “switching hats” redirects thinking. With the different parts of the thinking process thus clearly defined, discussions can be better focused and more productive.
The E-Myth
(Michael Gerber)
Michael Gerber is a business consultant whose work is especially useful for entrepreneurs and small business owners. Gerber observes that most people go into business for the wrong reason. They are skilled technicians who believe they can earn more by doing it on their own and usually find themselves in trouble once they start because of their lack of business planning and management skill. Many of the concepts and ideas in this book focus on the value of the turnkey or franchise model. An excellent book for anyone who is interested in starting their own business in the future.
Adversity Quotient at Work
(Paul G. Stoltz)
In 1997, Paul Stoltz unleashed a revolution with his groundbreaking Adversity Quotient, introducing the concept of the AQ to the public. In Adversity Quotient at Work, Stoltz applies the principles of his theory to the workplace and explains not only how to measure AQ—one's ability to handle adversity—but also how to improve it. The Adversity Quotient at Work clearly demonstrates how workers and managers can use the concept to their own advantage, and to the benefit of their clients, customers, and organizations.
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