There are far too many books on marketing and leadership, so how do you know what’s good and what’s bad. Well, you’re going to have to trust that I’m critical and know what I’m talking about. Below are the essential reads I recommend.
Crossing the Chasm by Geoffrey A Moore
This is the seminal classic for anyone trying to break into or understand products go from concept to mainstream adoption.
Start With Why by Simon Sinek
If you haven’t seen Simon Sinek’s Ted Talk – Start With Why – now is the time to check it out. His book is about leadership and how to inspire leaders to do their best work. (If you’re looking for a summarization, you can find one here).
Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
Every marketer needs to be a story teller – from the PR manager to the marketer deep in the weeds of data, knowing how to tell the story of your business, product, marketing strategy, or the results are critical to success. In Made to Stick, Chip and Dan Health break down what is is that makes a story resonate.
Bargaining for Advantage: Negotiation Strategies for Reasonable People by G. Richard Shell
Negotiation is an essential skill for anyone who wants to get ahead. From contracts to obtaining consensus on your marketing strategy, you are constantly negotiation. This is the best book written on the topic and by understanding the framework, you’ll only become more efficient at getting what you want.
Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert B. Cialdini
Another seminal book that goes into the science of persuasion and influence by laying out the 6 principles and how to leverage them (and when to not).
Measure What Matters: How Google, Bono, and the Gates Foundation Rock the World with OKRs by John Doerr
For anyone wanting to accomplish more and keep focused, OKRs have changed the way fast paced businesses operate. This explains what good objectives and key results look like and how to permeate them throughout your teams and business.
Header Photo by Tom Hermans on Unsplash