Business Books

Marcus Buckingham and Donald O Clifton's Now, Discover Your Strengths proposes a unique approach to managing personnel: focus on enhancing people's strengths rather than eliminating their weaknesses. Effectively managing personnel--as well as one's own behaviour--is an extraordinarily complex task that, not surprisingly, has been the subject of countless books touting what each claims is the true path to success. Following up on the coauthors' popular previous book, First, Break All the Rules, it fully describes 34 positive personality themes the two have formulated (such as Achiever, Developer, Learner, and Maximiser) and explains how to build a "strengths-based organisation" by capitalising on the fact that such traits are already present among those within it. Most original and potentially most revealing, however, is a Web-based interactive component that allows readers to complete a questionnaire developed by the Gallup Organisation and instantly discover their own top five inborn talents. This device provides a personalised window into the authors' management philosophy which, coupled with subsequent advice, places their suggestions into the kind of practical context that's missing from most similar tomes. "You can't lead a strengths revolution if you don't know how to find, name and develop your own," write Buckingham and Clifton. Their book encourages such introspection while providing knowledgeable guidance for applying its lessons.

This book would be a great read for anyone interested in entrepreneurship and business innovation. Bruce Poon Tip's first-person account of starting and developing G Adventures will captivate you from the beginning. The most distinctive feature of "Looptail" is the author's unconventional management secrets that not only keep employees engaged but also keep customers extremely happy. It's a refreshing take on business and will inspire you to think outside the box and revolutionize your own venture.

If you've ever walked away from a conversation wishing you had expressed yourself better or dealt more effectively with someone's negative reaction, "Difficult Conversations" is a game-changer. The book is rooted in years of negotiation and conflict resolution research, providing practical, step-by-step guidance to address sensitive issues without triggering defensiveness. It could be particularly enlightening for you if you're seeking ways to improve your communication in both personal and professional relationships.

The Dilbert Principle provides a hilarious yet accurate commentary on the absurdities of corporate America. With relatable characters like Dilbert, readers will laugh out loud at the ridiculousness of management fads, bureaucracy, and performance reviews. Scott Adams uses clever humor and satire to expose the dysfunctional culture of the modern workplace, making this book a must-read for anyone who has ever worked in an office setting.