Some great reading for professionals
Professional development means breadth as well as depth. Here are some useful publications my clients have valued.
David Maister: Managing the professional services firm. Amazon page
One of the few systematic texts on professional services as distinct from other organisational forms.
Joel de Luca: Political Savvy Amazon Page
Without hyperbole and easily understood deLuca sets out an incisive, balanced way to work with the natural politics of complex groups.
Bill Cowan: Building a winning career Amazon Page
A veteran of executive outplacement, Bill's text is a valuable, immensely practical walkthrough of successful executive transitions.
Greg McKeown: Essentialism Amazon Page
In an era of accumulating 'stuff', this book brings clarity and some good (obvious, but not done...) advice for simplifying life and work effectively.
Lafley & Martin: Playing to Win - how strategy really works. Amazon Page
Based on a set of powerful questions that force decision-makers to cut through the chaff and focus on what a strategy has to deliver and how to construct the right one.
Victor Perton: Optimism, the how and why. Amazon Page
A much needed book, that is a great antidote to the gloom that can be more visible than the light.
Cal Newport: Deep work, rules for focused success in a distracted world. Amazon Page
Asks the right questions and doesn't fluff the emotional and intellectual task of deciding what the right career is, even when you've already had one.
Tony Crabbe: Busy, how to thrive in a world of too much. Amazon Page
Faces the issue of information and task overload and gives solid ways to address them.
Anthony Scott: The little black book of innovation: how it works, how to do it. Amazon Page
Demystifies 'innovation' and sets out many practical ways to actually innovate on something.
Carolyn Taylor: Walking the talk: building a culture for success. Amazon Page
Makes culture something more than just 'what we do (or have done) around here' and places responsibility for and action on culture in your hands.
Soozey Johnstone: I am the problem. Amazon Page
Soozey's methodology of leadership gets straight to the biting question of being one, in real life.
Julie Garland McLellan: Dilemmas, Dilemmas (vols 1 & 2 and a special volume for not-for-profits) Case studies of real board decision making. Amazon Page
A compilation of practical wisdom from around the world on real issues faced by leaders and boards.
Julie Garland McLellan: Presenting to boards. Amazon Page
A slim but high-impact volume that builds on the reality of what a board must do, but also the mindset of the individuals you're presenting to.
The changing nature of leadership in law firms. Roland B. Smith and Paul Bennett Marrow (Link Here )
Although 10 years old, the issues of leadership addressed here are still sharp.
McKinsey: 8 lessons in preparing to be CEO. (Link here)
Useful ideas from CEOs of large corporates. It's also worth looking at other CEO role articles in the McKinsey periodical.
HBR: Dorie Clark on finding time for strategy.
Download the McKinsey article here