Practical Performance Improvement ... with Impact

Rod Matthews
2005 Impact Publishing ISBN 0975706608

• How to reduce the stress associated with leading a team of people
  
• How to improve the likelihood that things get done right ... first time
  
• How to be an exceptional leader
  

Obviously I'm a bit biased ... however ... This is a highly practical book that takes you through the 'how to' of setting direction, objectively analysing performance, coaching, counselling, developing and what to do when all else fails. An easy read for those who are looking for application over academia.

Precision Recruitment Skills ... with Impact

Rod Matthews
2005 Impact Publishing ISBN 0975706616

How to find the right person for the right job, first time

Once again, another '... with Impact' book.

Precision Recruitment Skills provides tips tools and techniques for before during and after the interview. Essential reading for those dedicated to being "an Employer Of Choice" and attracting the right people. Another practical and easy read.

Good to Great

Jim Collins
2001 HarperCollins Publishing Inc. ISBN 0066620996

Why some companies make the leap and other don't

Another management classic from the best selling author of Built To Last. This book takes running a great company out of the ownership of the superhuman CEO and puts into the reach of mere mortals.

A very reassuring read.

The Art of the Long View

Peter Schwartz
1996 Currency Doubleday. ISBN 0385267320

The definitive text on Scenario Planning. Provides an exceptionally usable tool for unlocking fresh perspectives of the future.

A must for anyone interested in the area of strategic planning.

Managing the Human Animal

Nigel Nicholson
2000 Crown Publishing. ISBN 1587990318

While society has evolved beyond recognition from the days of prehistory, the biology of people has not. People are largely physically the same now as they were thousands of years ago.

Nigel Nicholson takes our basic human behaviours, puts them into the corporate context and then builds a compelling management philosophy.

What to Ask When You Don't Know What to Say

Sam Deep & Lyle Sussman
1993 Prentice Hall. ISBN 0139539859

555 Powerful Questions to Use for Getting Your Way at Work

Very practical and very specific. Provides example situations and lists possible questions to ask and how the receiver could respond.

Misses the opportunity to identify the principles of a designing a good question. This means it is of most value if your specific situation is in the book.

Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make Competition Irrelevant

W. Chan Kim & Renee Mauborgne
2005 Harvard Business School Press. ISBN 1591396190

The sub title of this book “How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make Competition Irrelevant” says it all.

Most organisations spend their precious resources trying to increase market share in an already saturated market.

This book identifies some very practical ways of growing your business into a new market space where there are no direct competitors.

The Tipping Point

Malcolm Gladwell
2002 Back Bay Books. ISBN 0316346624

How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference

This book is brilliant.

It looks at what is required to take an idea, product, service or social behaviour and move it beyond the tipping point where it spread like wildfire and becomes the norm. The book is filled with dozens of mind blowing experiments, findings and conclusions.

Influence

Robert B. Cialdini Phd
1993 Quill Publishing. ISBN 0688128165

The Psychology of Persuasion

A must for anyone who needs to persuade or influence large numbers of people from a distance.

Cialdini has identified key principles around influence that are undeniably powerful.

Influencing with Integrity

Genie z. Laborde
1987 Syntony Publishing. ISBN 0933347103

Management Skills for Communication & Negotiation

An incredibly detailed, insightful and skilful book. Genie's expertise is astonishing!

Learned Optimism

Martin E.P. Seligman, PH.D.
2002 Random House. ISBN 1400078393

Yes. Optimism is a skill and it can be learned.

In this book there is a questionnaire to test you level of optimism and the results will probably shock you even if you like to think you are already a pretty optimistic person.

There are also some clear principles that optimists use for you to learn.

Flow

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
1991 Harper Perennial. ISBN 0060920432

The Psychology of Optimal Human Experience
This book is awesome. It looks at how people can get themselves into 'the zone,' the flow state.

It is the culmination of years of research by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (Yes that is the authors name).

It is not easy going but very rewarding.

In Praise of Slow

Carl Honore
2005 Orion Publishing Group. ISBN 0752864416

Not everything is better fast. Sounds obvious and yet it is all too easy to get caught up in the speed addiction.

Fast food, fast exercise, speed dating … In this book Carl Honore takes you on his personal journey to rediscover the happiness that can be gained out of taking your time with certain aspects of your life.

A great one for people interested in work/life balance.

Six Thinking Hats

Edward de Bono
1995 Penguin. ISBN 014013784X

A classic.

How to manage you own and your teams thinking in a highly imaginative and practical way that will produce excellent results.

A must have on anyone's bookshelf.

Edward de Bono's Textbook of Wisdom

Edward de Bono
1996 Viking. ISBN 0670870110

An arrogant title ... and it delivers! More about thinking and how to approach issues from a 'lateral logical' aspect. A little light on the interpersonal/emotional side.

Still a fascinating read.

Think and Grow Rich

Napoleon Hill
2004. ISBN 1593302002

An absolute classic. Few books could be said to change people … this is undoubtedly one. It teaches thousands of people a year practical steps to achievement and financial independence.

A must read for anyone who wants more out of life.

Right & Wrong

Hugh Mackay
2004 Hodder. ISBN 073361549X

How to Decide for Yourself

This book does not preach morals it provides some tools to analyse some of the big questions around relationships, how we should live and of course business ethics. An easy read philosophy book.

The Consolations of Philosophy

Alain De Botton
2001 Penguin. ISBN 0140276610

This book makes philosophy accessible.

Alain De Botton examines the work of some of the worlds greatest philosophers by starting with very human issues: Being unpopular, not having enough money, frustration, inadequacy, a broken heart and difficulties.

It is a great read.

Critical Mass: How one thing leads to another

Phillip Ball
2005 Arrow Publishing. ISBN 0099457865

Phillip Ball shows how shallow we are. By applying the laws of modern physics to the social sciences Ball gives us some astonishing insights into human behaviour. Concepts such as phase transitions, flocking behaviour, chaos, preferential attachment networks and evolutionary game theory are applied to market behaviour, voting habits and even town planning.

If you enjoy a steep learning curve this book will reward your persistence.