BP Editors
Business can be challenging. Having a successful business career takes skill, dedication, hard work and a degree in business administration certainly doesn’t hurt. The more you learn new information and strategies about being a great business person, the faster you can help advance your career. Business books can help you grow as a person and professionally, while motivating you to work smarter instead of harder. So it makes sense to prioritize some time in your life to learn from some of the most knowledgeable people in business. The list below features some of the most popular business books that can be beneficial in any industry.
1. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
If you haven’t already read this book, then you should invest in a copy as soon as possible. This book is on countless best seller lists and has sold millions of copies around the world. Why is it so popular? Stephen Covey provides timeless information on how to become a successful business person. Originally published in 1990, it gives practical lessons on how to be effective in your working environment and in your personal life. Topics like time management, productivity and positive thinking are discussed in addition to the seven habits featured in the book.
Click here to read reviews of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
2. Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap….and Others Don’t by Jim Collins
Have you ever wondered why some companies never grow beyond being a small business? Jim Collins believes that there is a reason why some companies achieve greatness and others stay average. During a five year span of research, Collins examined over a thousand companies to analyze what made certain businesses surpass others in revenue and size. The book gives a detailed look at the results of his research and which characteristics are necessary to help any business become great.
Click here to read reviews of Good to Great
3. First, Break All the Rules: What the World’s Greatest Managers Do Differently by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman
First published in 1999, this book gives insightful information from over 80,000 business leaders in a span of over 25 years. The authors were careful to study managers in various positions and industries to discover what made them so successful. Buckingham and Coffman revealed to readers that despite the differences that may be found among managers, none of them were afraid to break rules in order to help themselves and their company succeed.
Click here to read reviews of First, Break All the Rules
4. Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler
Businesses rely on communication to get the job done correctly so it’s important to understand how to communicate effectively with your superiors, coworkers and clients. Saying or doing the wrong thing at work can harm your reputation and stall your career. This book gives tips on how to communicate with others and productively resolve office communication issues.
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5. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
This classic book is still relevant today despite being originally published in 1937. Having great people skills can propel your business career to a new level. This book is a great manual for giving ideas on how to influence others and gain their trust. Even though a significant part of business communication is done electronically, every successful business person should have some people skills.
Click here to read reviews of How to Win Friends and Influence People
You don’t need a lofty educational background to become successful in business. If you constantly try to improve your business education, the more tools you will have to successfully navigate your career. Learning from the best and brightest can significantly impact how you think about success and give you ideas on which goals to strive for and how to reach them.
