Chief Executive Magazine’s CEO Readers List Their 10 Favorite Business Books Of All Time
From inflation and recession fears to talent fights and trade wars, 2022 has been a tumultuous year for corporate leadership. Next year? Probably more of the same.
To help you prepare for whatever’s coming next, take a breath over the holiday, or at least nail down some last-minute shopping for your team, we compiled a list of the 10 best business books with the help of the CEO community nationwide.
In a poll of our readers, some 200 CEOs, owners or presidents listed books in a variety of categories that they would most highly recommend to their peers in five key categories: Strategy, leadership, operations, sales/marketing and personal development. Haven’t read some of them? Tis the season:
Good to Great was selected as the #1 leadership strategy book as well as the top overall recommendation across all categories. In this business classic, Collins and his research team identified the key common traits that companies have embodied to make the transition from good, average, or even bad, to great, and laid out a roadmap of concepts to help you get there. Order now >
Collins and Porras famously examined the history of some extraordinary long-lasting companies to find out what made them different. The result “remains one of the best strategy books ever written” as one of our poll respondents put it, a blueprint for success over the long haul. Order now >
Sinek inspired millions over the past decade to rethink the purpose of work and their business, providing a framework for how organizations can be built, movements can be led, and people can be inspired. As Sinek says: “It all starts with WHY.” Order now >
Lencioni is a frequent—and favorite—Chief Executive contributor and keynote speaker at many of our events, so we’re hardly surprised that his Five Dysfunctions of a Team makes the list. It’s an uber-useful look at what makes teams click—and break—told in a deceptively simple style that sticks with you. Order now >
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People has remained among the top business and self-help books since it was first published in 1989. In this “foundational book needed by all,” as one reader put it, Covey presents a coherent, seven-step strategy for effectively solving problems and achieving goals. Order now >
What Got You Here Won’t Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful, by Marshall Goldsmith
Executive coach and Chief Executive columnist Marshall Goldsmith’s classic What Got You Here Won’t Get You There outlines the twenty behavioral habits that hold back almost every rising executive—and details how to break free of them. Order now >
Cialdini identifies and explains the six universal principles of influence: reciprocity, commitment and consistency, social proof, liking, authority, and scarcity—how to recognize them, use them ethically in sales and marketing, and not fall prey to deceitful influences. Order now >
Described by one of our readers as “easy to digest, memorable, and practically applicable,” The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing establishes twenty-two rules that must be followed to succeed in global markets. Order now >
This fast-paced business novel about a plant manager’s fight to save his plant from corporate shutdown is required reading material in many companies and management schools. Order now >
In his candid and humorous style, Horowitz analyzes the difficulties leaders confront and offers insights on building and running a startup for veteran and aspiring entrepreneurs. Order now >
Chief Executive Group exists to improve the performance of U.S. CEOs, senior executives and public-company directors, helping you grow your companies, build your communities and strengthen society. Learn more at chiefexecutivegroup.com.
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1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
