More than 11,000 business books are published every year—an overwhelming choice for busy professionals. Therefore, in partnership with getAbstract, Training brings you May’s top three business books recommended to our readers.
“O Great One!. A Little Story About the Awesome Power of Recognition” by David Novak and Christa Bourg (Portfolio, 2016, 240 pages, ISBN: 9780399562068; $13.60)
David Novak’s grandchildren call him “OGO”—meaning “O Great One.” Novak, co-founder and former executive chairman of Yum Brands, leveraged the OGO concept throughout his career by recognizing his employees when they accomplished something special. He regularly tells his friends and relatives how much he values them. In this charming business fable, Novak—writing with Christa Bourg—illustrates the power of recognition and demonstrates that acknowledging employees’ achievement is smart business and the right thing to do. In a telling example of recognition and paying it forward, Novak is donating the book’s profits to a diabetes center named for his wife, Wendy Novak. This easy-to-read, instructive parable ends with 10 useful principles for recognizing employees. getAbstract recommends this helpful tale to business owners, executives, HR managers, coaches, parents, and teachers.
Rating (out of 10): 8
Applicability: 8
Innovation: 6
Style: 7
“The Magnetic Leader. How Irresistible Leaders Attract Employees, Customers, and Profits” by Roberta Chinsky Matuson (Routledge, 2017, 168 pages, ISBN: 9781629561653; $18.99)
Consultant Roberta Chinsky Matuson shows you how to become a “magnetic leader” who attracts and retains employees and enjoys satisfied customers and healthy profits. That’s opposed to being a “nonstick”—or “Teflon”—leader who suffers high turnover and low returns. Matuson doesn’t present very much that’s new—beyond fresh examples of real-life magnetic leaders—but provides a tidy, useful compendium of leadership wisdom. getAbstract recommends her pragmatic advice to leaders in general and particularly to managers in charge of hiring.
Rating (out of 10): 7
Applicability: 8
Innovation: 6
Style: 7
“The Zombie Business Cure. How to Refocus Your Company’s Identity for More Authentic Communication” by Julie C. Lellis and Melissa Eggleston (Career Press, 2017, 224 pages, ISBN: 9781632650801; $14.23)
Many businesses act like “zombies” by behaving in ways that drive away customers. Like the will-less and speechless walking dead, they don’t care. They lack sensitivity and concern. They blunder and never consider the consequences of their actions. Communications professor Julie C. Lellis and user experience specialist Melissa Eggleston highlight the traits and behaviors that turn well-meaning companies into zombies. They explain how your institution can behave more “authentically, genuinely” and with “grace” to develop a self-awareness and a strong value-based “identity”—and to ward off dismissive, unpleasant behavior. Case studies make this cautionary manual easy to read and entertaining. getAbstract recommends it to those who want to bring their businesses alive for their customers—and to avoid zombies under any circumstances.
Rating (out of 10): 7
Applicability: 8
Innovation: 7
Style: 7
For five-page summaries of these and more than 15,000 other titles, visit http://www.getabstract.com/affiliate/trainingmagazine
