Books that I have read recently. Good reads that inspired me and, in my opinion, are worth checking for self-aware tech leaders.
Heroic Leadership: Best Practices from a 450-Year-Old Company That Changed the World
“Heroes extract gold from the opportunities at hand rather than waiting for golden opportunities to be handed to them.”
Chris Lowney describes the practices, which the Jesuits owe their success – the application of the four simple principles:
- self-awareness,
- ingenuity,
- love
- heroism
Extreme Ownership – How U. S. Navy Seals lead and win
“The most fundamental and important truths at the heart of Extreme Ownership: there are no bad teams, only bad leaders.”
The book was written by two ex-soldiers: Jocko Willink and Leif Babin. They gain leadership experience when they served, command and then train other soldiers during their military career. When they retired they established a consultancy company where they share their combat leadership experience and help many companies to grow and overcome leadership challenges.
The One Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results
The Focusing Question:
“What’s the ONE Thing I can do such that by doing it
everything else will be easier or unnecessary?”
I invite you to read this position because nowadays we have the wrong concept of the productivity that assumes, or even promotes:
- multitasking
- having many priories – (priority should always be in the singular form, no?)
- and in general – lack of focus on one activity at hand.
Multipliers How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter
There are two types of leaders: people who develop talents. Lis Wiseman calls them Multipliers. The other type people who exploit, drain the talents of others, using their authority and position is called diminishers. The book “Multipliers” describes both types. It’s full of concrete examples, exercises and practical knowledge.
Questions to ask when you spot talent:
- What do they do better than anything else they do?
- What do they do better than the people around them?
- What do they do without effort?
- What do they do without being asked?
- What do they do readily without being paid?
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k
A few weeks ago, one of my friends recommended me a book with provocative, straight to the point title: “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k”.
“If you want to change how you see your problems, you have to change what you value and/or how you measure failure/success.”
― Mark Manson
I thought that it was a joke and the screenshot was fake. But this book exists, and it’s good. I highly recommend this to everyone. Especially if you feel like something is not right with your priorities, things that you do, or are asked to do, are not align with your values, or you just intuitively know someone need to kick you out of your conformity box.
“The desire for a more positive experience is itself a negative experience. And, paradoxically, the acceptance of one’s negative experience is itself a positive experience.”
― Mark Manson
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
The book explains how “psychology” of habit works, what we can do to help us to create and sustain good habits, and how to get rid of bad habits from our lives.
The book “Atomic Habits” also introduces the concept of habit stacking. You try to build one habit. You should focus on one practice at the time to help yourself to be successful.
Once you create one, and you execute it automatically, you can add, chain or stack another thing that you would like to change or add into your life.
The Unicorn Project: A Novel About Developers, Digital Disruption, and Thriving in the Age of Data
The Unicorn Project by Gene Kim is a captivating exploration of the challenges and triumphs in the world of software development. Set against the backdrop of a fictional company, the narrative follows Maxine, a talented engineer, as she embarks on a journey to transform a struggling organization into a dynamic and innovative powerhouse.
The book delves into the complexities of modern technology, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, automation, and a DevOps culture in the face of digital disruption. Gene Kim skillfully weaves a narrative that not only provides valuable insights into the world of software development but also offers practical lessons on overcoming obstacles and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. With its engaging storytelling and insightful lessons, “The Unicorn Project” is a must-read for anyone navigating the rapidly evolving landscape of technology and business.
Do you have any recommendations for books for self-aware tech leaders?