The World's Best Book Summaries
What are the qualities of a good manager? Do all managers share the same traits? In The Making of a Manager, Julie Zhuo explains that great managers motivate people to work toward a shared goal. They do this by upholding an inspiring vision, establishing trust, and communicating clear expectations. Learn the qualities that good managers exhibit.
What’s Stage 4 culture? What do cohesive teams have in common? How do you create one? According to Tribal Leadership, any organization succeeds or fails on the culture of its tribes—groups of individuals that share ways of thinking, interacting, and working—and we can improve our organizations by upgrading the cultures of those tribes, progressing from one stage to the next. Stage 4 culture involves a cohesive team. Tribal Leadership outlines three characteristics of cohesive teams and three strategies for building one. Keep reading to learn these characteristics and strategies for how to build a cohesive team in your organization.
What is the meaning of a handshake deal? Are handshake deals a realistic way to conduct business, or are they too risky? Author and former CEO Stephen Covey wrote The Speed of Trust to illustrate the importance of building high-trust relationships in business and in your personal life. Covey’s great depth of experience lends credibility to his argument for trusting and using handshake deals in business. Read on to learn why Covey says handshake deals can be less risky than convoluted contracts.
Why does sharing a vision matter? What are the features of a good vision statement? One critical function managers must perform is sharing and reinforcing a powerful vision. In The Making of a Manager, Julie Zhuo discusses why a vision matters for a successful business. Continue reading to learn how to share a vision with your team.
Does your organization have specified values and a clear purpose? Are they known and embraced throughout the organization? Tribal Leadership explores how a tribe or an organization develops, getting stronger and more healthy as it progresses from Stage 1 to Stage 5. At Stage 4, the tribe comes together around shared values and pursues a well-crafted mission. They explicitly recognize themselves as a tribe, and they unify under a strong leader to pursue ambitious goals. According to authors Dave Logan, Halee Fischer-Wright, and John King, a tribe must establish values and purpose to stabilize at Stage 4. Continue reading to
Why is the importance of a vision statement? What happens when people don’t believe in your vision? A vision statement clearly states the end goal of your team’s coordinated efforts. Ultimately, a good vision statement tells team members what they’re working toward, not how they’ll do it. Read why it’s important for a company to reinforce a vision statement.
How important are long-term business relationships when it comes to creating wealth? Should you rely on active income or passive income? Should you specialize or generalize? The Almanack of Naval Ravikant shares Ravikant’s wisdom on creating wealth and achieving financial freedom. He explains the difference between wealth and money, the importance of passive income, three types of leverage, what it means to exercise good judgment in business, and more. Let’s look at seven pieces of Ravikant’s advice on how to create wealth, along with a practical exercise to get you moving in the right direction.
How does idea sharing in the workplace benefit an organization? How can you inspire your team to get involved and share ideas? Author Simon Sinek believes everyone, no matter their role or status, deserves to find fulfillment at work. According to Sinek, discovering the core purpose that inspires your team to do the work they choose to do will promote team engagement and idea sharing. Read on to learn Sinek’s approach to encouraging team idea sharing in the workplace, including a thought-provoking exercise.
Does your team need to be stronger and more productive? Do you need to put more people on your team? In The Making of a Manager, Julie Zhuo explains that great teams are led by even better managers. The managers have to build the team from the ground up, starting with the hiring process. Learn how to build an effective team that will make your business successful.
Does your organization’s culture need an upgrade? Are employees unhappy and unproductive? Some organizations are more effective than others. Tribal Leadership authors Dave Logan, Halee Fischer-Wright, and John King contend that culture makes all the difference. Their book is an in-depth exploration of how to improve company culture. To make that improvement, tribal leaders coach their people through five stages. Let’s look at Stage 1 and explore paths you can take to get to Stage 2.