Recommended Reading
These are books I recommend for the ideas they offer about people, conversations and managing well. Choose the one that speaks to the challenge you are working through.
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Radical Candor
Kim Scott
For me, good feedback needs both care and clarity. I recommend this for its reminder that being kind and being honest can sit together, even when a conversation feels uncomfortable.
Setting the Table
Danny Meyer
The 51% personality principle is one I have used in my own work. It reminds me to look beyond technical skills and pay attention to the human qualities people bring to a team and how they make others feel.
The Coaching Habit
Michael Bungay Stanier
I like the emphasis on asking better questions before jumping in with an answer. A useful reminder that supporting someone does not always mean solving the problem for them.
The New One Minute Manager
Ken Blanchard & Spencer Johnson
I recommend this as a straightforward starting point. Clear goals, recognising what is going well and dealing with problems promptly are everyday management habits that are easy to underestimate.
The Making of a Manager
Julie Zhuo
I recommend this for anyone finding their feet as a manager. It makes space for the questions and uncertainty that come with taking responsibility for other people, rather than assuming you should already know it all.
Crucial Conversations
Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler & Emily Gregory
The conversations that matter are often the ones we are most tempted to avoid. I recommend this for thinking about how to stay clear and respectful when emotions are high and the outcome matters.
Good to Great
Jim Collins
Getting the right people on the bus is another principle I have used in my own work. For me, it is a reminder to think carefully about who is in the team and whether people are in roles where they can contribute well.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Stephen R. Covey
I recommend this for taking a step back and looking at your own habits, priorities and choices. Managing other people also means being honest about how you manage yourself.
The Culture Code
Daniel Coyle
For me, culture is built through what people experience every day. I recommend this for thinking about the small signals that help people feel they belong, trust one another and speak up.