13 Books You Need To Read This Summer [Book Giveaway]
byAs challenging as it can be to truly disconnect — from the office, your email, and managing a team — it’s important to take a step away from work. With warmer weather and ample opportunities to enjoy time outside, summer is the perfect season to relax. A real break with a beach chair and a good book will leave you feeling restored and ready to tackle new challenges.
To make the most of this leisurely time, explore some big business ideas. We researched the best books to take with you to the lake or the beach. Chock-full of actionable advice, these must-reads will inspire you to strengthen your management skills and grow your business.
Win one of these books by using the [Click To Tweet] buttons below.
Leadership
Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 on Amazon
A lot of business owners talk about what their businesses do and how they do it. But they forget to talk about the why. Simon Sinek makes the argument that the best leaders actually start with the why behind their business. By bringing a sense of purpose to the workplace, these influential leaders inspire action among their team. Through powerful case studies, Sinek shows you how it’s done.
Boss Life: Surviving My Own Small Business by Paul Downs
Rating: 5 out of 5 on Amazon
It’s no surprise that “Boss Life” won Forbes’ Best Business Book of 2015. Paul Downs writes with candor and humility about what it’s like to be the owner of a small business. Rather than speaking hypothetically about leadership, Downs grounds his narrative in real-life stories from his own custom furniture business. You don’t want to miss this book.
Management
The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Head Forever by Michael Bungay Stanier
Rating: 5 out of 5 on Amazon
Coaching is an essential skill for leaders. But for most busy, overworked managers, coaching employees is done badly, or not at all. They’re just too busy, and it’s too hard to change. But what if managers could coach their people in 10 minutes or less? In this book, coaching becomes a regular, informal part of your day so managers and their teams can work less hard and have more impact.
How Performance Management Is Killing Performance – and What to Do About It by M. Tamra Chandler
Rating: 5 of out 5 on Amazon
Do you hate giving annual performance reviews? Chances are your employees dread them too. One study found that almost all people hate their yearly reviews. Chandler suggests a simple alternative that works: move away from a one-size-fits-all review program and develop your own process. She walks managers through a framework for building an employee-focused review system that motivates.
Relationship and Conflict Management
No Jerks on the Job: Take Back Control of Your Workplace by Ron Newton
Rating: 4.8 out of 5 on Amazon
An expert at working with juvenile delinquents, Ron Newton coaches small business owners on taking back control from troublesome employees. His method empowers leaders to eliminate destructive behaviors and reinforce accountability. Don’t miss the powerful anecdotes about working with teenagers — they’re the perfect analogy for dealing with challenging employees.
People Management Handbook by Chad Halvorson
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 on Amazon
This guidebook for managers demystifies the practices that create a thriving workplace. From boosting employee satisfaction to firing bad apples, Chad Halvorson breaks down each aspect of building a loyal, happy team into small, actionable steps. At less than 100 pages, it’s the perfect beach read.
Inspiration
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 on Amazon
More so than IQ or innate talent, grit is a key indicator of success. In this bestseller, Angela Duckworth not only dives into the research behind grit, she gives readers a four-step process to strengthen their tenacity. Just as with every skill, grit takes practice to ramp up this must-have trait.
#GIRLBOSS by Sophia Amoruso
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 on Amazon
This fast-moving read narrates Amoruso’s unconventional path from college dropout to CEO of a thriving retail business. At the crux of Amoruso’s success is her willingness to trust her instincts and an incredible work ethic. If you’re looking for inspiration about defying the odds and building your own business, this book is for you.
Small Business Success Stories
Small Giants: Companies That Choose to Be Great Instead of Big by Bo Burlingham
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 on Amazon
Most business owners define success by their growth trajectory. Bo Burlingham offers a different perspective, highlighting 14 companies that embraced more meaningful business metrics. These companies overturn the notion that “bigger is better” — they thrive because they’re true to their mission and values.
Productivity
Smart Faster Better: The Secrets of Being Productive in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg
Rating: 4 out of 5 on Amazon
Everyone wants to be more productive. Rather than reading everything you can find about productivity, pick up this book. Charles Duhigg distils academic research into actionable life hacks. Complete with compelling examples from creating Frozen to landing a jet with one wing, Duhigg keeps you engaged on every page.
Finance
MONEY Master the Game: 7 Simple Steps to Financial Freedom by Tony Robbins
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 on Amazon
When it comes to money management, Tony Robbins’ book should be your go-to resource. He interviewed finance gurus like Warren Buffet to create a clear blueprint for transforming your financial outlook. This book is a sizable read, so make sure to give yourself more than enough time to soak in all the details
Customer Service
It’s My Pleasure: The Impact of Extraordinary Talent and a Compelling Culture by Dee Ann Turner
Rating: 5 out of 5 on Amazon
Dee Ann Turner believes that a company culture is based on relationships with employees and customers. This former executive talks about fostering this community by surpassing the expectations of customers. Based on her over thirty years at Chick-fil-A, Turner speaks with authority and brings a deeper meaning to the idea of customer service.
What’s Your Purple Goldfish? How to Win Customers and Influence Word of Mouth by Stan Phelps
Rating: 5 of out 5 on Amazon
To grow, retain, and market your business successfully, you need to add additional value to the customer experience. Stan Phelps successfully argues that by incorporating extra acts of kindness into your regular business practices, you give your business a competitive edge. Check out his 12 ways to win more customers — they’re relevant to any business model.
These 13 books offer food-for-thought that will shape every aspect of your business. By taking the time to invest in big ideas, you empower your small business to soar this fall.
Thank you to all the giveaway entrants! Congratulations to the following winners: Jennifer Binns, Geoff Cadorette, Mike Baroo, Blake Ward, Holly Gunderman, Melanie Behm, Brenda Etheridge, Chris Champion, Paul Sohn, Tanner Tweten, Hector Sandoval
