I’m one of the world’s leading experts on the maximization of talent, who is the author of six books on leadership and talent. I’m also a LinkedIn Top Voice in Leadership and Workplace, and one of the few people who was a guest on The O’Reilly Factor, with Bill O’Reilly, who left the show unscathed.
I wrote...
Can We Talk?: Seven Principles for Managing Difficult Conversations at Work
By
Roberta Chinsky Matuson
What is my book about?
Having difficult conversations at work is a necessary discomfort. Instead of avoiding these conversations with our boss, colleagues, or direct reports, you need a strategy that won't leave you feeling like you were being talked at or ignored.
The key to solving this problem starts and ends with changing the conversation. Recognizing that it takes two people to engage in meaningful conversation, Can We Talk? outlines what each contributor needs to do to achieve the best possible result. Illustrated with scenarios from everyday work situations, the author offers guidance on how to create the right conditions for a meaningful discussion as well as defining the seven key principles (confidence, clarity, compassion, curiosity, compromise, credibility, and courage) that enable both parties to gain a deeper understanding of what the other person may be thinking and establish their point of view more clearly.
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The Books I Picked & Why
What Got You Here Won't Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful
By
Marshall Goldsmith,
Mark Reiter
Why this book?
I love this book because Marshall Goldsmith doesn’t hold back. He speaks the truth. The skills and relationships that got you a particular job aren’t necessarily the same skills and relationships you need to take your career to the next level. This explains why many people find themselves stuck in a particular position. Marshall explains exactly what you need to do to advance in the corporate world of work and he does so in a way that makes it easy for readers to implement his advice.
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How Women Rise: Break the 12 Habits Holding You Back from Your Next Raise, Promotion, or Job
By
Sally Helgesen,
Marshall Goldsmith
Why this book?
This book is another top pick of mine. Helgesen and Goldsmith provide advice for leaders who are ready to move forward, but are confused by what is holding them back. The book breaks down the 12 habits that hold women back (and some men) and prevents them from taking their careers to new heights. I love their direct no nonsense approach and pragmatic suggestions. A must read for women who are ready to break through and achieve greatness.
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Leading with Noble Purpose: How to Create a Tribe of True Believers
By
Lisa Earle McLeod
Why this book?
All too often, managers try to motivate their employees with money and outrageous perks. If that stuff worked, these companies would have a fully engaged workforce. Leadership expert Lisa Earle McLeod tackles the employee engagement crisis by showing leaders how to put workplace meaning front and center. Lisa’s book includes plenty of examples of how to put her words into action. It’s an easy read, with a very important message.
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Power in Organizations
By
Jeffrey Pfeffer
Why this book?
Power in Organizations changed my life. This book was required reading for me in grad school. What I learned from this book is that there is office politics in every organization and that the company I was working for had way more politics than any one person should have to handle. Upon completion of this book (and grad school), I quit my job and traveled around the world, where it took me a year to recover from the politics that was going on all around me. I wish I read this book before I entered management. I’m sure I would have been better prepared to manage the people above me, as well as my peers.
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Edge: Turning Adversity Into Advantage
By
Laura Huang
Why this book?
I can’t recall the last time I read a business book in less than a week’s time. Laura’s book is so well written that I didn’t want to put it down. I loved this book so much, that I made it a point to meet the author. Laura Huang shows that success is about gaining an edge: that elusive quality that gives you an upper hand and attracts attention and support. She teaches you how to find a competitive edge when the obstacles feel insurmountable. Having met Laura, I can tell you she writes exactly how she speaks. Great book. Grab a copy.
