Best management books to read in 2021

Each member of an orchestra is skilled in playing a specific musical instrument. But to create a successful performance, a conductor must direct the members.

That is the exact role a manager plays in an organization. Having the most skilled employees is good, but unleashing their potential is vital to make the organization progress.

Management books offer the right tips and tricks to help managers get the best out of their resources. The best management books to read in 2021 are:

1. Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us – Daniel H. Pink
   It is a common notion that the potential reward is needed to motivate a person. But this New York Times bestseller challenges this belief.

   

   According to science, two kinds of motivation exist. Approach motivation steers people towards a reward, and avoidance motivation helps us avoid punishment.

   But the book suggests that human motivation is hugely dependent on intrinsic factors, and autonomy, mastery, and purpose are enough to motivate employees.

2. First, Break All the Rules: What the World’s Greatest Managers Do Differently – Curt Coffman and Marcus Buckingham
   This New York Times bestseller contains the findings from a study Gallup did by interviewing 80,000 managers. These interviews gave Gallup many career and performance lessons that managers can apply to become great managers.

   

   The most surprising finding of this study is that great managers often follow their own way of managing instead of following the traditional management rules.

   Great managers do not have much in common, except for a readiness to not go by the book. The book is an interesting take on what makes a great manager.

3. How to Win Friends and Influence People – Dale Carnegie
   This is one of the best leadership books you can buy. Dale Carnegie has pointed out how people have become successful just by learning to effectively deal with people.

   
   The author shows us that dealing with people and having them agree with your way of thinking are highly valued skills. The few who possess these skills make it big in life.
   This book offers practical advice through real-life examples. It will help improve your personal and professional life by making you a better leader, motivator, and negotiator.

4. The Effective Executive – Peter F. Drucker
   Through this book, veteran business writer Peter F. Drucker shows us how to become accountable executives. This involves getting the right things done, doing things that others may have missed out on, and not doing unproductive work.

   
   An executive’s knowledge, imagination, and skill won’t account for anything unless the executive can turn them into results. A productive executive is also great at correctly managing the team’s time and priorities.

5. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change by Stephen R. Covey
   Stephen R. Covey believed that real leadership begins from within. This book is the most popular book he’s written. Great leaders must first manage their own self, strive towards their personal plans, and observe self-control. Only then can they properly influence others.

   
   The book tells us about some simple changes you can make to become successful. Even though this book was first published in 1989, it is relevant even today.

6. The One Minute Manager by Kenneth Blanchard Ph.D. and Spencer Johnson M.D.
   The One Minute Manager offers an adaptable and practical approach to management that has worked for many managers. The authors have put in the hard work so that you can easily understand and follow the method. This one-minute method is a way of setting clear expectations for those you manage.

   
   The three components of this method are:
   – One Minute Goals
   – One Minute Praisings
   – One Minute Reprimands
   These three components perfectly complement each other to create a convenient management system. This book is a must-read for anybody that wishes to become a great manager.

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