Here’s the 2021 edition of my recommended reading list where I share a few books that have made an impact on my year.
For the same reason I wasn’t writing a lot this year, I didn’t get to read a lot as well, but there were a select few that I really enjoyed. I do believe they’re considered classics now as well, so this might not be news at all. Whatever may be the case, here’s my annual list for your consideration!
P.S. These books were not necessarily published in 2021, just that I’ve read them this year. That said, here’s the list!
"Radical Candor"
By Kim Scott
As a manager, the framework presented by Kim Scott in Radical Candor makes complete sense. I personally found it can be simplified as “doing the right thing” by your people and I think that is all there is to it to be a decent leader. Read this if you are struggling or just curious to find out how to communicate in a way that’s kind but still keeps your team accountable at the same time.
"Holacracy: The New Management System for a Rapidly Changing World"
By Brian Robertson
I already heard a lot about Holacracy after reading the book “Reinventing Organizations”, where it was described as one of the schools of thought on self-managed teams. There were criticisms of it in other material, so I had the advantage of going into reading this with the adverse view already in mind. (I highly recommend you read up the criticisms before reading this book, as well.) That said, I found the principles and practices described in this book to be very sensible. In fact, I do think a lot of it would really help boost accountability and initiative in most workplaces. If you’re looking for a fresh new approach to leading your team, this might just be for you to read.
"The Lean Startup"
By Eric Ries
I’ve actually written a more detailed article on this particular book, so read that if you want to really get an idea what’s in this. Suffice to say, as much as the title might imply this is for entrepreneurs only, I have actually found this to be the most practical book I have read this year. In fact, a lot of the things I’ve learned I have already set in motion with the team I work with at Synacy. It’s too early to tell how that works out for us, but the general feeling is really promising. Read this if you are worried about “building the wrong thing” (whether it’s your own business, or if you’re leading a team creating new products).