Top 10 Business Books of 2006
Posted By Rob Millard - 0 Comments -
Well, I suppose that it is possible that somebody might publish something earthrending in the last two weeks of 2006 but, presumably working on the assumption that the best is already with us, Harvey Schachter of The Globe and Mail in Toronto has just published his list of the top ten business books of 2006. They are: 1. Hard Facts, Dangerous Half-Truths & Total Nonsense
Analyzing modern management practices using surveys and studies, two business and engineering Stanford professors debunk many of modern management practices that they say simply don't work. Pay-for-performance is at the top of their list.
2. Managing the Dynamics of Change
This action-oriented book presents the revolutionary J Curve model, which tracks people's performance, thoughts, and emotions at each of the five stages of the change process, from resistance through positive acceptance-key knowledge you need to lead your team and speed implementation.
3. The Ultimate Question
This book takes the importance of customer/client satisfaction in business to two extremes. First, it claims that customer satisfaction is more important than any business criterion except profits. Second, it argues that customer satisfaction is best measured by one simple question, "Would you recommend this business to a friend?"
4. Questions of Character
Badaracco, an academic specializing in business ethics, presents eight fundamental challenges that test a leader's character and proposes exploring them through literary works. His questions include testing the moral compass of individual leaders, who their role models are, and their dedication and commitment to their mission; he explores the emotional and psychological strength needed to actually take command of a situation; and he focuses upon the never-ending challenges for successful leaders.
5. Leading Leaders
Jeswald Salacuse is Professor of Law at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He questions whether military style models of leadership work in profession service firms and argues that leaders in such firms must "lead leaders" and not "troops" or "employees" or "players." By leaders, he refers to people who have an independent power base outside their organizational roles. That power base might be the marketability of their own talents, their network of contacts, their stature within their professions, their wealth, their ability to access clients/funding sources.
6. Get Them on Your Side
Learn how to build coalitions, understand agendas and how they can work for you, and utilize minds and talents of those who can help with the aid of Get Them On Your Side: Win Support. Convert Skeptics. Get Results. From how organizations process new information to change how they operate to understanding regulations and justifying actions, Get Them On Your Side tells how to understand underlying politics.
7. Working With You is Killing Me
People at work too often get emotionally hooked into tolerating and taking care of co-workers who are unproductive, annoying, needy, or destructive. Break free of such energy drains with the strategies offered by these two authors, who are both passionate and full of energizing ideas. They suggest stress management to help restore composure and balance but also ask you to carry out remedies such as documenting misbehavior and insisting that policies be enforced to correct problems.
8. Questions That Sell
Simply knowing the right questions to ask can make the difference between finalizing a sale or losing it. Most salespeople have extensive knowledge of their products, but many fail to ask the questions that will help them uncover the real needs of their customers. Questions That Sell helps readers use advanced questioning techniques to sell their products based on value to the customer, not on price--and increase their success rate as a result.
9. A Leader's Legacy
In this provocative book, Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner take on a unique challenge and explore the question of leadership and legacy. They examine the critical questions all leaders must ask themselves in order to leave a lasting impact. These powerful essays are grouped into four categories: Significance, Relationships, Aspirations, and Courage.
10. The Box
How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger.
Still time to get a last-minute letter in to Santa!
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