Books to Enhance Your Business Acumen Skills
DRIVE
by Daniel Pink Have you ever wondered what truly motivates your employees – or yourself for that matter? In his book, Daniel Pink argues that there is a gap between what science knows and what business does. You’ll learn what he calls the three elements of true motivation (autonomy, mastery, and purpose) and why the carrot-and-stick approach can actually do more harm than good.
THE 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE
by Stephen Covey In one of the most influential books of our time, Covey outlines the “7 Habits” that successful people have mastered. Whether you are the CEO of a company, a college student, or a stay-at-home parent, this book is a must read.
GOOD TO GREAT
by Jim Collins There are a lot of good companies out there, but few companies that are truly great. Jim Collins, a master researcher, dedicated years to investigating the great firms of our time and what makes them that way. He shares his insightful findings and creates a framework that helps any company go through the good-to-great transition.
THE SPEED OF TRUST
by Stephen M.R. Covey When listing the qualities of a successful organization, the ability to build trust probably doesn’t make the top of the list, but Stephen M.R. Covey makes the case (and a very convincing case at that) that trust is necessary to build any high-performing company. This book will teach you how you can measure and improve your ability to build trust, and how this essential trait can save you time and money.
THE INNOVATOR'S DILEMMA
by Clayton Christensen Perhaps one of the most influential books on innovation, The Innovator's Dilemma explains why great companies fail, even when they don’t seem to be doing anything wrong. CEOs, employees, and entrepreneurs will all find that this book sheds a whole new light on business and innovation.
STEVE JOBS
by Walter Isaacson Walter Isaacson takes you deep into the life of one of the most interesting and inspiring leaders of our time. Although Jobs may not have done everything right, his approach to business provides countless insights into running a successful company.
CRUCIAL CONVERSATIONS
by Patterson, Grenny, McMillan, & Switzler
Much of what we are able to accomplish is based on the quality of conversations we have – whether they are personal conversations with family or friends, or business conversations with customers, employees, or your boss. Based on 25 years of research, Crucial Conversations presents a model to help you improve your conversations in any situation.
THE TIPPING POINT
by Malcolm Gladwell We’ve all heard the term “going viral,” but what are the factors that lead up to this phenomenon? And I’m not just talking about YouTube videos that go viral, but social trends, ideas, and products. This is exactly what Gladwell set out to answer when writing this book.
SEEING THE BIG PICTURE
Business Acumen to Build Your Credibility, Career, and Company
by Kevin Cope Yes, this happens to be a book that we wrote, but it is also (in my humble opinion) the best book out there on business acumen. Best described as an MBA in 180 pages, this book helps you speak the language business. After reading Seeing the Big Picture, you will understand the 5 Drivers of any successful business and have a working knowledge of the financial statements.