The World's Best Book Summaries
Are your team members more interested in their personal success than the team’s success? If so, what can be done about it? Patrick Lencioni identifies inattention to results as the fifth dysfunction of a team. He argues that employees too often direct their attention toward their own interests at the expense of the team’s interests. Keep reading to learn how to get your team to focus on results instead of themselves.
Why is discipline in management important? Can discipline save a business in decline? In How the Mighty Fall, Jim Collins has a few suggestions to help a floundering company thrive and succeed. One of his prescriptions is to uphold disciplined management practices so you can evaluate big business decisions with a clear head. Continue reading for more on why discipline in management can be a lifesaver for businesses.
How well does your team function? Is it hitting on all cylinders, or does it need a tuneup (or even an overhaul)? “Teamwork” is one of the most common buzzwords in the modern business world. But, what does it actually mean, and how do you foster it? In Overcoming the Five Dysfunctions of a Team, Patrick Lencioni answers those questions and teaches you how to turn a group of individuals into a true team. Continue reading for an overview of this book that every manager should read.
Would you like to be more effective at convincing people to believe or do certain things? Are you a leader who struggles to get your team members on board? In Words That Change Minds, communication and influencing language expert Shelle Rose Charvet identifies eight Productivity Patterns. She says that these patterns explain how an individual does their best work after they’ve decided to solve a problem. Keep reading to learn several persuasive language techniques that take these Productivity Patterns into account.
Is your team unified? What role does communication play in getting people to buy into team decisions? In his business fable The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, Patrick Lencioni identifies a lack of commitment as the third dysfunction. In his follow-up book, Overcoming the Five Dysfunctions of a Team, he shares ways you can break through this challenge. Read more to learn Lencioni’s advice for getting each member of your team wholeheartedly on the same page.
Do you feel like your business is too far gone? What are the best solutions to business failure? In How the Mighty Fall, Jim Collins contends that if a company still has a worthy goal and the potential to make a meaningful impact, it should commit to putting in the time and effort required to recover and rise. Collins emphasizes that reversing decline isn’t about looking for a miracle cure but about playing a long, steady game. Here, we outline what Collins prescribes for a floundering company: putting the right people in place, sticking to what your company does best,
What are the four qualities of a good leader? How can you optimize the strengths of your team? In Strengths Based Leadership, Tom Rath and Barry Conchie argue that the best leaders invest in their personal strengths while building a diverse team to make up for their weaknesses. This way, each individual contributes unique strengths to create a well-rounded team. Read below for a brief Strengths Based Leadership book overview.
Do you want your employees to listen to you? How can you gain respect as a leader? Before you can lead anyone successfully, your team must respect you, and that starts with having certain universal qualities. Strengths Based Leadership by Tom Rath and Barry Conchie explains that if your team respects you, they’ll be willing to follow your lead. We’ll explore the four qualities to exhibit so you learn how to gain respect as a leader.
What’s Gallup’s leadership philosophy? What are the best Gallup strengths for leaders? Gallup is a business research and consulting company that Strengths Based Leadership by Tom Rath and Barry Conchie bases most of its research on. Their book lists four strengths that leaders should capitalize on based on their innate talents, with the help of a well-balanced team to fill in the gaps. Keep reading to learn more about the best Gallup strengths for leaders.
What’s the core work of your business? Have you let important matters get in the way of the single most critical matter? Paul Jarvis warns business leaders about the pitfalls of growth. While growth can be an important aspect of business success, the most important priority is too often sacrificed on its altar. Growth creates many complications that you can and should deal with, but you mustn’t let it chip away at the core. Read more to understand how growth can make it difficult for you to tend to your top business priority in the way you should.