Three Star Leadership

Great Business Books Less than 250 Pages

These are frantic times. Here are a few short business books, packed with insight and take-aways. Each of them can easily be read on most business trips.

The Effective Executive by Peter F. Drucker
My nomination for the best single business book ever. Even after re-reading it since the sixties I always find something to take away.

Performance Talk: The One-on-One Part of Leadership by Wally Bock
My own book that uses a story to teach basic leadership principles. Complete with a resource section.

The Art of Problem Solving: Accompanied by Ackoff's Fables by Russell L. Ackoff
A short, easy-to-read book on problem solving methods by one of the best business writers ever. Powerful, usable techniques in understandable language.

Geeks and Geezers by Warren G. Bennis
Don't let the title put you off. This book is an excellent look about how leaders grow and make use of crises to shape their character and leadership style.

Leading Change by John P. Kotter
This is the book where John Kotter first laid out his Eight Step Process for Achieving Change. It's a great guide for what to do and how to think about change initiatives.

Moments of Truth by Jan Carlzon
A "moment of truth" is the encounter between one of your people and your customer. Moments of truth are was customer service and satisfaction are all about.

The One Minute Manager by Kenneth H. Blanchard
The first of the "fable" books, but also the first easy-to-understand, book that made behavioral science usable by working managers.

Warfighting by U. S. Marine Corps Staff
For my money, the best book on strategy that there is. It's better than The Art of War for Western managers because it's written in a straightforward, Western style.