Recommended Reading List for Leaders and Project Managers

If you're like me, there are a lot of books you'd love to read but they just seem to stack up in a pile of good intentions. I don't consider myself a fast reader and I can honestly say that I don't particularly enjoy reading.

But this I know for sure: leaders are learners.

And one very beneficial way to further your learning is to fill your mind with books and other resources that will teach, challenge, and encourage you to be more effective and make a greater impact on your career, family, and the world.

Hosting The People and Projects Podcast provides an opportunity to interact with some of the greatest thought leaders in leadership and project management. Podcasts can be a great way to blend your learning while you're driving, exercising, etc. If you do not currently subscribe to The People and Projects Podcast, I strongly encourage you to do so today. Here are some options:

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The Recommendations

Here's a quick way to jump to my recommendations, based on categories:

[Most Influential] [PMP Prep Resources] [Andy's Books] [My Guest Authors]

The Most Influential Books in My Career

Over the course of my career, these books have had the greatest impact on my ability to lead people and deliver projects:

 

	By far the single most influential book in my life is the Bible. Though I have clients of every faith, the perspective I've gained by reading the Bible significantly impacts every aspect of how I treat relationships and view life. Since 1992 I've read the Bible cover-to-cover each year. Regardless of your faith or where you are at on your faith journey, getting a fresh dose of the Good Book can provide you with perspectives to help you lead. The way I do it is through a one-year guide, such as The One Year Bible NLT (New Living Translation).
	How to Win Friends & Influence People is a timeless classic. If you haven't read the book, do it. If you haven't read it in the last 5-7 years, do it again. Since everything comes down to people and relationships, this is a book that's worth the time to read. Don't think you got the "people gene"? Are you more introverted and want some skills to help you feel more comfortable in social settings? Dale Carnegie has some great insights for us all! You can also get this book in an audio format here.
	John Maxwell says "Leadership is influence." What's the best book on influence? Robert Cialdini's Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion (Collins Business Essentials) is my number one recommendation. I have found his principles completely applicable to everything from running projects to leading teams to working with my kids. For an even shorter version of the principles, try Yes!: 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Persuasive. Project managers, team leaders, individual contributors, parents, business owners, pastors: everyone can benefit from improving your influence skills.
	There's seemingly never enough time to do all that is required. David Allen's work changed my life. I've had the opportunity to interview him a couple times as well as participate in his workshops. Here's his classic book on the topic: Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity. Get the audio version here. By the way, David's methodology was developed along with Sally McGhee, who now runs a productivity company as well. You can hear an interview I had with Sally's co-author John Wittry on this podcast episode.
	I had the opportunity to interview Keith Ferrazzi for my People and Projects Podcast and found his insights on relationship building fresh and helpful for anyone serious about their success. Get a copy of Keith's books, reading them in this order: Who's Got Your Back: The Breakthrough Program to Build Deep, Trusting Relationships That Create Success--and Won't Let You Fail followed by Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time.
	Early in my management career I received a one-minute butt-kicking from a lady in Marketing because I showed up late for a meeting. Though the penalty seemed a bit strong for the crime, I did learn to never show later for her meetings! She later explained the technique was from a book called the One Minute Manager. There are plenty of management fables available now but these were the pioneering ones years ago. This particular book in the series has been influential for me because it laid out the case for situational leadership, a concept that is still foundational to how I manage teams.
	I remember the first time I was exposed to Stephen Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. I listened to the audio version and had to replay it over and over. I got something new each time, which is true about all of these most influential books. Though the 7 Habits is not a new book, the principles within it can significantly impact your ability to deliver projects and lead people if put to use.
	Patrick Lencioni does a masterful job of weaving a tale that keeps you engaged long enough to really understand and apply the material. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team was helpful for me to understand what issues to focus on first when (not if) team problems arise. Another helpful Lencioni book is Death by Meeting: A Leadership Fable...About Solving the Most Painful Problem in Business. Though you may not end up running meetings exactly as he directs, the book can at least stretch your thinking that there are ways to reduce the excessive time wasted in meetings.
	Michael Roberto was a pleasure to interview and his book is a true gem. We don't need to be better problem solvers. Rather, we need to become better problem finders. Of course that's easy to say and more difficult to actually do. However, in Know What You Don't Know: How Great Leaders Prevent Problems Before They Happen, Roberto does a masterful job of providing practical insights to help leaders put this concept into action. I highly recommend this book!
	John Medina's Brain Rules is a more recent book but has been very influential for me. We continue to learn more about the brain each year. Leaders who can tap into how the brain works can better manage themselves and those around them. Medina is hilarious and makes the material completely accessible. If you have any interest in learning how the brain works, get this book!
	I speak for a living but there was a day when I abhorred being in front of people. I avoided speaking opportunities with great vigor. Between then and now there were many experiences and resources that helped, but my favorite book on the topic is from Bert Decker: You've Got to Be Believed to Be Heard, Updated Edition: The Complete Book of Speaking . . . in Business and in Life!. You can find more recently published books on speaking by a seemingly endless number of authors. I can only tell you that this book had a significant impact on the craft I practice today.

Recommended PMP® Certification Resources

If you are considering going for PMP® certification, here are some examination preparation materials that I recommend:

 

	PMP Exam Prep, Sixth Edition: Rita's Course in a Book for Passing the PMP Exam is one of the best prep books out there. You might just learn some things about project management while you go through it, but you will definitely get the insights you need to pass the exam.  You'll find many other resources offered by the author to help you pass the examination.  If you're serious about passing the exam, use the link on the right and get the book today.  I've yet to have a friend, client, or associate use this reference and not pass the test.
	A must-have reference comes from PMI: A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (also referred to as the PMBOK® Guide). If you join PMI (I recommend you do), you can get a free electronic version of the PMBOK® Guide. Having a paper one can be helpful for studying and the best price is usually on Amazon. The PMBOK® Guide doesn't read like a novel!  It's also not sufficient by itself to help you pass. I know a good project manager that only used this document, reading and re-reading it multiple times, which would be enough to put the best of us to sleep.  Unfortunately, he didn't pass the examination.  You need this guide for reference but you'll need other prep material to supplement it.
	I was one of the reviewers for  the Head First PMP book. I like the learning style of the book--particularly for those who don't like traditional textbooks. The test questions aren't as difficult as Rita's book but the content will help in your preparation. If you're looking for a study approach that is uniquely different from the typical boring reference, give this one a try!
	A final book I recommend is Kim Heldman's exam prep book. My favorite part of Kim's book is that it comes with a CD that can very nicely supplement your studying. The CD has chapter summary audio, which you can listen to during your commutes. In addition, the entire book is available in .pdf so you can easily search it. It also has flash cards that can be run from a PC, PocketPC, or Palm handhelds. Finally, it has a test engine that allows you take a couple practice tests using the computer. My recommendation is you use one of the other books as your primary text and supplement your studying with Kim's excellent resource.
By the way, if you're looking for insights on how to get your PMP® certification, please visit our page packed with tips, tricks, and resources!

Books by Andy Kaufman

Not the dead comedian, mind you! These are the books I've had the privilege to write:

 

	With the winds of change blowing in from all directions, there’s a lot of theory out there about how to manage change personally and how to lead it organizationally. But how do you implement those ideas in the real world where conditions aren't perfect, problems are complex, direction is unclear, and there are conflicting priorities and risks. Navigating the Winds of Change provides practical lessons on how to manage and lead change using tools and techniques proven in the real world.
	Sick of spam? Is e-mail taking too much of your time? Learn how to spend less time doing e-mail and how to get rid of the stress of a bulging inbox. Click here to purchase and download this easy-to-read e-book today!
	A new self-help bestseller takes the world by storm. Millions learn they can acquire their dream home and shed extra pounds sing an ancient secret, formerly reserved for a select few. How do you discern if the latest secret is the path to fulfillment or a recycled lie? In Shining the Light on The Secret, author Andy Kaufman responds to Rhonda Byrne's best-selling book The Secret from a Biblical worldview. Does the Bible teach the Law of Attraction? Is the Universal Mind just another way to refer to God? When a friend or family member asks questions about The Secret, are you prepared to respond?

From My Podcast Guests

I have the true pleasure of interacting with some of the most forward thinking authors in project management in leadership. Below are books that I strongly recommend to continue improving your ability to deliver projects and lead teams.

 

	I'm convinced that one of the key skills that we must all develop is our ability to influence. Often we don't have direct authority over those we must influence, and even if we do, using our role power to force our will is usually not the best starting point. Dr. Allan R. Cohen's book Influence Without Authority provides practical insights on how to improve your ability to influence when you don't have authority.
	John G. Miller's formula for personal accountability seems simple--perhaps even too simple at first. Yet it is a practical, powerful approach to living and leading with greater personal accountability. QBQ! The Question Behind the Question: Practicing Personal Accountability at Work and in Life is a highly recommended book for you and for your team! Here's a link to my interview with John G. Miller.
	I'm amazed at the small things we do (or don't do) that impact our ability to develop trust and rapport when we're interacting with others. Dr. Nick Morgan is an expert in this area. Particularly if you're looking for insights to help you be more effective in making presentations, check out Nick's book Trust Me: Four Steps to Authenticity and Charisma. Here's a link to my interview with Nick Morgan about the book.