Short, brilliant books on management?

November 17, 2013 7:27 AM

My software management roll is expanding, looking for those rare, insightful, better than average books on the subject.

There are a number of threads on this topic. Hopefully this one can highlight new titles in the last couple of years, and/or the very best of the best.

I think I've got a pretty good handle on the obvious "hire great people and get out of their way," "praise in public, criticize in private," "focus on goals and priorities," etc. I've read the gimmes like Peopleware, Deathmarch, Switch, etc

I'm looking for books (hopefully shortish) that have better-than-average insight.

Thanks

posted by colin_l to Work & Money (7 answers total)

Best answer: William Bridges, "Managing Transitions". As a manager, you'll be involved in lots of transitions, most small, a few large. This book approaches transition from the people side, and goes a step beyond the obvious. A key takeaway that applies widely is that you have to sell the problem first. People aren't in the market for solutions to problems they don't believe they have.
posted by dws at 9:02 AM on November 17, 2013

Best answer: Michael Lopp - Managing Humans.
posted by chookibing at 9:04 AM on November 17, 2013 [2 favorites]

Best answer: Peter Drucker. He pretty much started it all.
I found "The Effective Executive" very good.
posted by PickeringPete at 9:35 AM on November 17, 2013

Best answer: What got you here won't get you there

It is about communication, and how our little flaws add up to us not being effective.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 3:27 PM on November 17, 2013

Best answer: I just attended a 2-day Leadership workshop last week (part of a 9-month Leadership program I am participating in). Stephen Hacker, who co-authored several books on leadership, facilitated our workshop (books listed here). This workshop, and associated reading materials, provided some really crucial insights into our modern workplace. I highly recommend any of the books that are linked above. There are also a few white papers that are available to view as PDF from his website-they are all wonderful. Amazing person. Great concepts. Wonderful approach.
posted by W.S (disambiguation) at 10:53 PM on November 17, 2013

Best answer: I highly recommend (in spite of the kind of odd title) Behind Closed Doors by Johanna Rothman and Esther Derby. It's accessible and fast, and focuses on practical ideas for different scenarios you encounter as a manager. I've found it really helpful for figuring out the management style I want to have.
posted by hukka at 9:45 AM on November 18, 2013

Best answer: A couple of books I haven't seen referenced in these threads:

Switch: How to change things when change is hard -- very readable, much more prescriptive than Bridge's book on transitions, useful metaphors that help you remember the key concepts.

Leading Geeks: How to manage and lead the people who deliver technology -- best book I have seen on the challenges of being a manager of technical people.
posted by elmay at 10:50 AM on November 19, 2013