Why am I passionate about this?

Michael Beck is an executive coach, business strategist, author, and president of Eliciting Excellence. Over his 20 years as a professional executive coach, he has helped leaders improve their interpersonal skills, sharpen their strategic thinking, and enhance their judgment. Although he started his career as a poor leader, over the years, he learned how to be a good communicator, came to understand human nature, and developed into a business strategist. His engineering and business degrees, combined with his executive experience in a wide range of industries allows him to bring keen insights to readers and clients.


I wrote

Eliciting Excellence: Bringing Out the Best in People

By Michael Beck,

Book cover of Eliciting Excellence: Bringing Out the Best in People

What is my book about?

Eliciting excellence is the essence of exceptional leadership. Everyone accepts that good leadership is important, but rarely is the question…

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion

Michael Beck Why did I love this book?

This is an excellent book on how to influence people. He explains how six factors influence people’s decisions to buy or take action. The principles can be applied to selling a thing or selling an idea. I find I am able to effectively apply these ideas when persuading people as a leader.

By Robert B. Cialdini,

Why should I read it?

24 authors picked Influence as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The foundational and wildly popular go-to resource for influence and persuasion-a renowned international bestseller, with over 5 million copies sold-now revised adding: new research, new insights, new examples, and online applications.

In the new edition of this highly acclaimed bestseller, Robert Cialdini-New York Times bestselling author of Pre-Suasion and the seminal expert in the fields of influence and persuasion-explains the psychology of why people say yes and how to apply these insights ethically in business and everyday settings. Using memorable stories and relatable examples, Cialdini makes this crucially important subject surprisingly easy. With Cialdini as a guide, you don't have…


Book cover of The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom

Michael Beck Why did I love this book?

A short but meaningful book on how to be a better communicator. In this book, the author helps readers understand the four principles to communicating and interacting effectively. Easy to put into action and important principles. I find I am always mindful of each of the four agreements in my communications.

By Don Miguel Ruiz,

Why should I read it?

20 authors picked The Four Agreements as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In The Four Agreements, bestselling author don Miguel Ruiz reveals the source of self-limiting beliefs that rob us of joy and create needless suffering. Based on ancient Toltec wisdom, The Four Agreements offer a powerful code of conduct that can rapidly transform our lives to a new experience of freedom, true happiness, and love.

•  A New York Times bestseller for over a decade
•  Translated into 46 languages worldwide
 
“This book by don Miguel Ruiz, simple yet so powerful, has made a tremendous difference in how I think and act in every encounter.” — Oprah Winfrey

“Don Miguel Ruiz’s…


Book cover of The Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal

Michael Beck Why did I love this book?

This book shares the secrets to being highly productive. In the book, the authors explain that the key to high performance isn’t time management, but energy management. Applying these insights will allow a person to accomplish far more than most people. I know, because I have been applying them for over 20 years and they work!

Book cover of Good Strategy Bad Strategy: The Difference and Why It Matters

Michael Beck Why did I love this book?

The insights help readers understand how to develop effective strategies. The author explains the difference between strategies, tactics, goals, and platitudes. This understanding makes all the difference in strategy development (and achievement)! It has allowed me to help many clients develop strategies that are meaningful, but can actually be implemented and produce results.

By Richard Rumelt,

Why should I read it?

9 authors picked Good Strategy Bad Strategy as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

When Richard Rumelt's Good Strategy/Bad Strategy was published in 2011, it immediately struck a chord, calling out as bad strategy the mish-mash of pop culture, motivational slogans and business buzz speak so often and misleadingly masquerading as the real thing.

Since then, his original and pragmatic ideas have won fans around the world and continue to help readers to recognise and avoid the elements of bad strategy and adopt good, action-oriented strategies that honestly acknowledge the challenges being faced and offer straightforward approaches to overcoming them. Strategy should not be equated with ambition, leadership, vision or planning; rather, it is…


Book cover of Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make the Competition Irrelevant

Michael Beck Why did I love this book?

This book shares insights into why some strategies are far more effective than others. The authors explain the difference between a “red ocean” strategy and a “blue ocean” strategy. The book is filled with real-world examples of both strategies and the results they produced. I like this book because it is thought-provoking. It helps me think “outside the box”.

By W. Chan Kim, Renée Mauborgne,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Blue Ocean Strategy as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

OVER 4 MILLION COPIES SOLD
WALL STREET JOURNAL AND BUSINESSWEEK BESTSELLER
RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC AND IMPACTFUL STRATEGY BOOKS EVER WRITTEN

The global phenomenon that has sold over 4 million copies, is published in a record-breaking 46 languages and is a bestseller across five continents--now updated and expanded with new content. Named by Fast Company as one of the most influential leadership books in its Leadership Hall of Fame. A strategy classic.

In this perennial bestseller, embraced by organizations and industries worldwide, globally preeminent management thinkers W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne challenge everything you thought you…


Explore my book 😀

Eliciting Excellence: Bringing Out the Best in People

By Michael Beck,

Book cover of Eliciting Excellence: Bringing Out the Best in People

What is my book about?

Eliciting excellence is the essence of exceptional leadership. Everyone accepts that good leadership is important, but rarely is the question raised as to why and how good leadership makes a difference.Although developing good strategies and making smart decisions are important,bringing out the best in people is the most important ability a leader needs in order to produce great results.

Book cover of Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion
Book cover of The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom
Book cover of The Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal

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Uniting the States of America: A Self-Care Plan for a Wounded Nation

By Lyle Greenfield,

Book cover of Uniting the States of America: A Self-Care Plan for a Wounded Nation

Lyle Greenfield Author Of Uniting the States of America: A Self-Care Plan for a Wounded Nation

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve always been fascinated by group dynamics, large and small. Why things functioned well, why they didn’t. It’s possible my ability to empathize and use humor as a consensus-builder is the reason I was elected president of a homeowners association, a music production association, and even an agricultural group. Books were not particularly involved in this fascination! But in recent years, experiencing the breakdown of civility and trust in our political and cultural discourse, I’ve taken a more analytical view of the dynamics. These books, in their very different ways, have taught me lessons about life, understanding those with different beliefs, and finding ways to connect and move forward. 

Lyle's book list on restoring your belief in human possibility

What is my book about?

We’ve all experienced the overwhelming level of political and social divisiveness in our country. This invisible “virus” of negativity is, in part, the result of the name-calling and heated rhetoric that has become commonplace among commentators and elected leaders alike. 

My book provides a clear perspective on the historical and modern-day causes of our nation's divisive state. It then proposes easy-to-understand solutions—an action plan for our elected leaders and citizens as well. Rather than a scholarly treatment of a complex topic, the book challenges us to take the obvious steps required of those living in a free democracy. And it…

Uniting the States of America: A Self-Care Plan for a Wounded Nation

By Lyle Greenfield,

What is this book about?

Lyle Greenfield's "Uniting the States of America―A Self-Care Plan for a Wounded Nation" is a work of nonfiction and opinion. Incorporating the lessons of history and the ideas and wisdom of many, it is intended as both an educational resource and a call-to-action for citizens concerned about the politically and culturally divided state of our Union. A situation that has raised alarm for the very future of our democracy.

First, the book clearly identifies the causes of what has become a national crisis of belief in and love for our country. How the divisiveness and hostility rampant in our political…


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