Recently, a colleague asked
me what books I would recommend as an essential reading list. I have become quite a fan of many different business books over time, and I’d like to share them with you.
I present my Essential Reading List for Aspiring Information Technology Leaders:
Business Reading
The Personal MBA by Josh Kauffman: This is not the typical “learn everything MBAs learn in 48 hours” book. Kauffman takes essential knowledge from literature and research in business and compiles it into a book stacked with practical information. This book covers critical business topics like value creation, marketing, sales, and finance. It also covers topics that are essential in business but not found in an MBA program, including psychology and an entrepreneurial mindset. This book does not replace an MBA. This book helps IT managers and leaders understand business fundamentals so they can speak the language of executives and customers.
Playing to Win by Roger Martin and A.G. Lafley: This book is the entry point to understanding the creation of business strategies. Playing to Win illustrates the differences between a business plan and strategic management. The information in this book comes in very handy for aspiring information technology leaders learning how to align corporate strategy with the strategy of your team.
Leadership and Service Reading
Good to Great
by Jim Collins: A classic business book examining the real-life qualities of leadership that build enduring companies. Collins uses real empirical data mixed with business models, demonstrating the authentic leadership needed to forge a great company.
Be Our Guest: Perfecting the Art of Customer Service
from The Disney Institute: This is a book I urge teams to read. It is a quick, easy read that highlights the customer service approach at Disney Parks. Be Our Guest explains guest service, the business reasons behind it, and the principles that provide stellar customer experience. Many consider IT professionals as back-office personnel. Actually, the truth is that we all have customers, even inside of our organizations, so provide them with outstanding service.
Personal Development and Growth Reading
Getting Things Done
by David Allen: This book, commonly referred to as “GTD,” was life-changing for me. Keeping your to-do list and action items in your head is a barrier from actually accomplishing anything at all. The GTD system is brilliant, showing you how to organize best all the “action items” of your life. Get them done without fear of forgetting something somewhere down the line.
How To Win Friends and Influence People
by Dale Carnegie: Yes, this book is old, and the stories Carnegie tells feel very old-fashioned. Despite that, this book is essential for learning how to engage people you encounter in any situation.
Optional (though still essential) Reading List:
Rework
by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson: The authors are the founders of Basecamp and creator of Ruby on Rails. Rework is a collection of essays that underscore fundamental themes. Limit office distractions, emphasize less over more, simplify instead of adding more features, realize that planning is guessing, get started now instead of later, and learn from your successes instead of your mistakes.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
by Stephen Covey: A classic book that I recommend reading immediately after How to Win Friends and Influence People.
Clean Code: A Handbook of Agile Software Craftsmanship
by Robert C. Martin: If you write code, this is the book for you.
