21 Essential Books For Small Business Leaders

Broader Views of Intelligence

1. Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ – Daniel Goleman

Business Leadership

1. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable – Patrick Lencioni
2. Overcoming the Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Field Guide for Leaders, Managers, and Facilitators – Patrick Lencioni
3. Tribal Leadership: Leveraging Natural Groups to Build a Thriving Organization – Dave Logan, John King, Halee Fischer-Wright
4. Transparency: How Leaders Create a Culture of Candor – Warren Bennis, Daniel Goleman, James O’Toole

Business Basics

1. The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It – Michael E. Gerber
2. Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business – Gino Wickman (to be read after The E-Myth)
3. Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It…and Why the Rest Don’t (Rockefeller Habits 2.0) – Verne Harnish (to be read after Traction)

Business Tools

1. Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High, Second Edition – Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler, Laura Roppe

Disruptive Thinking

1. The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich – Timothy Ferriss

Happiness

1. The Happiness Advantage: The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work – Shawn Achor

Happy Workplaces

1. Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose – Tony Hsieh

Inspired Businesses

1. Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies (Good to Great) – Jim Collins
2. Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t – Jim Collins

Life Planning

1. Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life – Bill Burnett, Dave Evans

Making Decisions

1. Thinking, Fast and Slow – Daniel Kahneman

Marketing Basics

1. Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die – Chip Heath & Dan Heath

Personal Growth

1. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change – Steven R. Covey

Personal Integrity

1. The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book) – Don Miguel Ruiz

Product Launch

1. Crossing the Chasm: Marketing and Selling High-Tech Products to Mainstream Customers – Geoffrey A. Moore

What Motivates People

1. Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us – Daniel H. Pink