Six quick business book recommendations that really helped

In honour of the upcoming Booker Prize, the accolade awarded to the best novel of the year, we have collated our own list of books worthy of accolade, or at least a mention in our ‘top reads for businesses’ blog…

These books have all been read and recommended by either us, or people whose opinion we respect…

1. Lucy Lavers, MD, Push Start Marketing recommends Leaders Eat Last – Simon Sinek

‘My business coach recommended I read this book as I was concerned, I didn’t fit the managerial ‘leader’ profile that I thought was required to manage a successful team; she was convinced I was a natural leader, I wasn’t so sure.

The summary on simonsinek.com states ‘Leaders Eat Last is for those who want to feel they and their work matter and for those who want to inspire others to feel the same. Too many workplaces are driven by cynicism, paranoia, and self-interest. But the best ones foster trust and cooperation because their leaders build what Simon calls a “Circle of Safety” that separates the security inside the team from the challenges outside.’

It is a fantastic book that uses real life case studies to illustrate how leaders can utilise inspiration and cooperation to inspire and unite individuals to ensure they’re all pulling in the same direction within the business. It’s been a while since I read the book but the ideas within it reassured me that to show vulnerability can be a powerful leadership tool, not a weakness, and that if you have a natural tendency to put others first it doesn’t automatically make you a bad business person.

I would recommend it to anyone looking for guidance and insight into alternative leadership styles.

2. Rhys Skym, MD of SWJ Consulting Ltd. recommends They Answer you Answer – Marcus Sheridan

‘What I enjoyed about the book was that it made me think about the power of an open and honest opinion about what our business can offer and who is the most appropriate match for our clients’ needs.

It has also made us think about how we can use our knowledge to make us a more attractive choice to our clients by sharing that knowledge and giving them comfort that we do know what we are talking about.’

3. Ellis Bardsley, Action Coach at Power Play Coaching Ltd. also shared his thoughts about They Ask You Answer…

This book has become a staple, a 'must read' for all clients of Power Play Coaching Ltd.

Every successful business must master Team Management and Targeted Marketing and They Ask You Answer offers a wonderful insight in to both areas. Its main focus centres on Inbound Marketing, understanding it, developing strategies and managing the necessary ingredients of a successful In Bound campaign. It also focuses the reader on the essential need for a high quality, capable team, internal and external, that is able to align with the Target Market, carry out relevant and targeted strategies and crucially, be able to qualify enquiries.

Positioning your business as THE destination in your sector for compelling, emotive information that is given away freely, openly and without fear is the back story behind the book. Removing 'hope' and attracting truly relevant potential clients that are increasingly likely to engage in genuine, meaningful, commercial conversation is what They Ask You Answer is all about.’

4. Dom Knight, Oxfordshire Web Services recommends Don’t Make me Think – A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability by Steve Krug

‘It is a no nonsense, common sense approach to how you should view your company’s website. In essence, understand why your potential customer comes to your site and make it as easy and as simple as you can to help them find what they came for.’

5. Hilary Nightingale, Project Manager at Push Start Marketing recommends The Busyness Delusion – Chris Gardner (A local business coach)

‘If you’re looking for a book to help you get to sleep, this is not the one for you. The Busyness Delusion is aimed at people in service industries who can easily reach their maximum capacity and begin to feel like they are moving further away from the goals they set themselves when they went into business – more time, more money.

The easy to absorb novel-style writing introduces you to two main characters, the busy fool and the business coach who holds the formula to success. You move through the stages of development along with the characters as simple exercises are revealed, that once implemented will bring you closer to your goals.

If you went into business so you could serve your clients better but find yourself missing out on the things you really need in life, then give The Busyness Delusion a try.’

6. Straight Line Leadership – Dusan Djukich (no that’s not meant to be Susan!)

Thanks to Chris Gardener for this insight: ‘When you're at Point A and you want to get to Point B, we all know the shortest route is a straight line. However, the most USED route is zigzag, sometimes with inbuilt circles. This is not so much a "business book” as a “mental bible”. It's not a book to be read once and shelved, it's one to be read and re-read time after time after time. Each chapter presents a "distinction" to make a single point ... usually a profound insight. Fair warning - it tells the truth, which can sometimes feel brutal. For example, one chapter focuses on the distinction: "How to" vs "Choose to": When we want to move forward, and yet delay or procrastinate, we can tell ourselves "I need to know a bit more ..."; "I need to do a bit more research ..."; "I need to learn HOW TO ...". In reality, there's only ONE reason why you haven't/don't take the action ... because (so far) you haven't CHOSEN TO. When you CHOOSE TO ... you DO. I'm on my (roughly) 20th reading of this book now. You can dip into ANY chapter, as each stands up on its own. It's VERY smart, very insightful and, when applied gets you to Point B with WAY less drama and confusion that seems normal.’

Any prize-winners on your bookshelf?

Now you’ve heard from us and our friends, we invite you share your favourite business books with us. Hit us up on social media LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter…