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15 Books Every Manager Should Read
Leadership 7 min read

15 Books Every Manager Should Read

Our list of 15 management bestsellers that are sure to help you find your leadership style.

Make Wrike a Part of Your 7 Habits for Becoming Highly Effective
Productivity 5 min read

Make Wrike a Part of Your 7 Habits for Becoming Highly Effective

Even at home, even at the airport waiting for your plane, Wrike will keep you organized and let you track the results of others. Wrike lets you schedule your life and delegate tasks to other people, so that you can spare time for the most important things like: leadership, recognizing new opportunities, defining the goals and having a rich private life.

15 Under $15: Business Books to Gift to Your Colleagues This Holiday Season
Leadership 7 min read

15 Under $15: Business Books to Gift to Your Colleagues This Holiday Season

It's that time of year again. When you're so busy scrambling around at  the last minute trying to buy gifts for your family that you completely forget about your colleagues! The biggest challenge in colleague gifting is finding something that is both useful and inexpensive.  Our solution? A business book! A book that inspires leadership, entrepreneurship, passion, and creativity can help propel their career, and possibly benefit your team as a whole. Here's a curated list of 15 great business books under $15 to give as 2015 holiday gifts: 1. Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products by Nir Eyal What turns products into habits? And how do you make those habits long-lasting? Author and entrepreneur Nir Eyal unlocks the secret to building habit-forming products with his four-step process called the Hook Model. We were even lucky enough to interview Eyal about his book and how the Hook Model helps you better understand your customers.   2. Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert B. Cialdini  An oldie but goodie: Dr. Robert B. Cialdini reveals the psychology behind why people say "yes" and how to put the art of persuasion into practice. This book explores the six universal principles of persuasion, and teaches you how to use them as well as how to combat them.  3. Compelling People: The Hidden Qualities That Make Us Influential by John Neffinger & Matthew Kohut As required reading at both Harvard and Columbia Business School, this book has a lot to offer. Everyone wishes they could be as influential as Oprah Winfrey or Taylor Swift. However, since most of us do not fall under the international celebrity category, what qualities make us influential? Neffinger and Kohut discuss how the balance of strength (root of respect) and warmth (root of affection) is the key to becoming charismatic and influential, and they reveal ways to apply that balance in your daily life. 4. So Good They Can't Ignore You by Cal Newport Have you ever heard the phrase "follow your passion?" Well, Newport says stop. He claims that pre-existing passions usually have nothing to do with why people end up loving their jobs and can be a source of anxiety and stress. In this book, Newport explores the welcoming world of people who love their jobs. He shares their strategies and experiences, as well as the obstacles they've faced and lessons they've learned along the way. 5. Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success by Adam M. Grant Praised by Amazon, Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post as one of the best books of 2013, this book really brings home the spirit of the holidays. Grant shows how the secret to success is not necessarily talent or passion, but how we interact with others. He reveals how giving without receiving anything in return can positively impact success and transform organizations.  6. Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi In Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's account of psychological contentment, he describes "flow" as being a state of consciousness that makes our experiences easier to manage and more enjoyable. During flow, a person may experience joy, creativity, and feel completely engaged with whatever they're doing. In this book, he explains in-depth about how to reach this state, and even control it, on a regular basis.  7. The Lean Startup by Eric Ries Today, innovation is more important than ever. With more and more technologies readily available at our fingertips, the battle between the young startups and the tech giants continues to grow. Ries uncovers why some startups fail and others don't, and why it's important to have an even balance of efficiency and uncertainty in your startup mix. His scientific approach helps growing teams maximize their strengths, recognize their weaknesses, and embrace agility.  8. Purple Cow by Seth Godin Cow are pretty much everywhere. And once you've seen one cow, you've seen them all. Unless you see a Purple Cow; you'd probably remember where and when you saw it. In this book, Godin talks about the qualities that make companies like Starbucks, Netflix, and Apple into Purple Cows. He urges you to put the Purple Cow into everything you create, dream, and think. 9. Drive by Daniel H. Pink This book argues against the idea that people are motivated by material items such as money. Instead, Pink suggests that people are motivated by improving themselves, expanding their own knowledge and experiences, and directing their own lives. Pink's techniques for changing perspective help people transform how they think, work, behave, and live.  10. Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman  Written by world-renowned author and Nobel Prize Winner, Daniel Kahneman, this book takes you on an astounding journey through the way we think and looks at the psychology of what motivates us. One side of the brain is known as fast, impulsive, and intuitive, while the other side is slower, cautious, and logical. He provides insight into our decision-making process and how we can avoid the mistakes that often lead to trouble.  11. Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull What's the recipe to magic?  Written by co-founder of Pixar Animation Studios, Catmull dives into what it's like to work at and be a leader in one of the most successful film and animation studios in the world. Also featured on our top books every manager should read list, this book really takes you behind the scenes and explores how to be a great leader at an exceptional company.  12. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho One of my personal favorites, this one is hard to put down. In this book, you join a young boy named Santiago on his quest to Egypt after having a recurring dream of finding treasure there. The story's theme revolves around finding one's destiny, and Coelho recognizes it as more of a self-help book rather than literature. On Santiago's journey, the author hopes readers find the truth in following their dreams and encouraging others to do the same.  13. Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future by Peter Thiel and Blake Masters They say imitation is the finest form of flattery. But if you're the imitator, what does that make you? This book teaches you how to build on a whole new idea of your own making, and transform it from "zero to one."  14. The 4-hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Timothy Ferriss We all know the newest from of currency is time, not money. This ultimate life productivity guide provides worksheets, templates, and shortcuts for getting more done during the week without sacrificing quality or income. It shares real-life examples of how people have doubled their income while shortening their workweek.  15. Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t by Simon Sinek Another feature on our top books for managers list, this one exposes the sacrifice involved in  being a good leader. Through actual examples and experiences, Sinek proves that individuals only perform well when they feel safe within their group — confirming that the most successful teams value trust and cooperation above all else.  Any favorites that aren't on this list? Add them in the comments!

25 Must-Read Books for Product Managers & Product Marketers
Marketing 10 min read

25 Must-Read Books for Product Managers & Product Marketers

Are you new to the world of product management and product marketing? Or maybe you just want to pick up a few new reads to expand your skills?  Instead of browsing the bookshelves at your favorite local bookshop and choosing one at random, take a look at our list of the best product management books and product marketing reads for tried-and-true recommendations from the PMM community. Product Managers Why read product management books? Product management is an ever-evolving field. Whether you’re a complete newbie hoping to learn the ropes or an experienced IT product manager trying to keep up with changing trends, product management books have a lot to offer.  Here are five benefits you can gain from reading some of the best product management books: On the job training can teach you what to do, but books help you learn the ‘why’; They can teach you the theory and reasoning behind the practices, and research shows that we all perform better when we understand why things are a certain way.  Product management involves a lot of jargon and unique technical terms. The top product management books can help you grasp the lingo, so you’re comfortable using it and understanding it at work.  Reading is proven to help improve memory and focus. If you’re struggling to learn product management through other means, like podcasts or videos, then books may be a great way to take in and remember relevant information.  Studies show that reading books also improves your communication skills. As a product manager or product marketer, a huge part of your job is communicating with team members, customers, and other stakeholders.  Product managers must always be looking for new ways to improve their products and offer new innovations to the market. The must-read product management books on this list can help you discover new methods and better processes while also boosting your creativity.  We’ve broken down our top product management books into four main categories: The best product management books for beginners The top books focused on user experience (UX) and product development strategy Must-read books on web design and usability The best books for product managers wanting to perfect the product development process  Product management books for beginners 1. Cracking the PM Interview: How to Land a Product Manager Job in Technology  Authors: Gayle Laakmann McDowell & Jackie Bavaro While Cracking the PM Interview isn’t exactly new (it’s from 2013), it has remained on Amazon.com’s list of bestsellers in technical project management for quite some time and is currently holding the #1 spot.  This book is more than a primer on which interview questions to prep for or how to write a killer product management resume (although this book covers both).  McDowell and Bavaro get to the core of what the position of a product manager really is. In it, you’ll get to examine the role from all sides to learn not only how to land a job, but master your daily responsibilities and advance your career as well. 2. Escaping the Build Trap: How Effective Product Management Creates Real Value Author: Melissa Perri Released in 2018, Escaping the Build Trap covers essential product management principles that can be applied to any company, no matter the size. Perri, the author, is the CEO of a product management consultancy, and she brings a wealth of hands-on knowledge and actionable advice to her readers.  Rated 5 out of 5 stars on Amazon.com, this book offers value to beginners and experienced PMs alike. Containing only 200 pages, it’s a relatively quick read, packed full of product management wisdom.  3. The Product Manager's Survival Guide: Everything You Need to Know to Succeed as a Product Manager  Author: Steven Haines Just released in 2019, the second edition of The Product Manager's Survival Guide maintains all the value of the first, but now with more actionable advice, techniques, and tools for success.  Follow this book's blueprint for graduating from novice to confident product manager. Start by understanding the keys to success, then learn how to become a product expert and customer advocate so that you can effectively manage your teams, increase productivity, and further your career. 4. Product Management for Dummies Authors: Brian Lawley & Pamela Schure Part of the “for Dummies” series, Product Management for Dummies is a useful and popular book for product management novices. Written by two product management experts, this easy-to-understand guide is full of essential and actionable info.  This comprehensive reference offers easy-to-understand explanations of the essentials of product management, from defining the product life cycle and creating a winning product strategy to gathering customer feedback. With a 4.5 star rating, this book is clearly an essential addition to your product management toolkit — whether you're a novice or intermediate product manager.  5. The Product Book: How to Become a Great Product Manager Authors: Josh Anon & Carlos Gonzalez de Villaumbrosia. Based on Product School’s curriculum, The Product Book introduces product management students and beginners to key PM concepts and practices. It’s a helpful resource for anyone considering taking on more formal product management education but unsure whether it’s the right career path.  Full of recent and relevant examples from huge well-known companies such as Facebook, Google, and more, this 294-page book will help bring product management to life.   Books about user experience & product development strategy 6. Inspired: How To Create Tech Products Customers Love  Author: Marty Cagan The latest version of Inspired was released in 2017 and has 4.5 stars on Amazon.com. Like the initial version, it’s a ‘masterclass’ book on how to design and develop better products. But, this release embraces new techniques and practices to ensure it’s still fresh and useful to product managers today.  Unless your product is valuable, usable, and feasible, it’s not worth building. So says Marty Cagan, whose book takes you through how you should decide which products and designs to pursue, how to prove your proposed product will be successful, defining a minimum viable product, and juggling the conflicting needs of execs, customers, sales, engineering, and design. 7. User Friendly: How the Hidden Rules of Design Are Changing the Way We Live, Work, and Play Authors: Cliff Kaung & Robert Fabricant Voted Amazon Best Books of 2019 Pick and Fortune Writers and Editors’ Recommended Books of 2019 pick, User Friendly is a must-read for anyone interested in product design and development.  The authors map out how user experience (UX) has evolved and changed our world over time in a story-driven style that’s engaging to read. It’s an insightful piece that might make you look at UX and product development in a whole new way.  8. Beyond The Prototype: A roadmap for navigating the fuzzy area between ideas and outcomes Author: Douglas Ferguson Beyond The Prototype is all about what to do after you complete your first design sprint, and the optimistic enthusiasm starts to wear off. Author Douglas Ferguson tackles the struggles many teams face after getting to prototype and how to overcome them.  Using compelling stories from popular companies such as Adobe and Google, this guide walks you through six essential steps for successful product launches. If you want a usable framework to help take you from idea to product validation, you’ll find it here.  Web design & usability books for product managers 9. 100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People  Author: Dr. Susan Weinschenk The second edition of 100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People was just released in June 2020. In it, Dr. Weinschenk uses her 30+ years as a behavioral psychologist to offer strategies for improving your site's user experience and boosting conversion. Design isn't just pretty, it's purposeful. You want people to respond to your website in a certain way, or take a specific next action? Learn why people act the way they do. What grabs their attention? Is peripheral or central vision more important? What’s the best length for a line of text? What fuels people's actions? Read this book to find out.  10. Don't Make Me Think, Revisited: A Common Sense Approach to Web & Mobile Usability, 3rd Edition  Author: Steve Krug While Don't Make Me Think, Revisited hasn’t been updated since 2013, it still remains Amazon.com’s #1 Best Seller in their User Experience & Web Usability category. First published in 2000, this bestseller is still an essential guide for web designers and developers.  The updated third edition includes fresh examples and a new section on mobile usability, plus tips to make navigation intuitive, user testing efficient (so you can do it more often), and your user experience seamless across all devices. 11. Designing with the Mind in Mind: Simple Guide to Understanding User Interface Design Guidelines Author: Jeff Johnson Just released in October 2020, the 3rd Edition of Designing with the Mind in Mind is a refreshed version of an essential guide on usability and user interface (UI) design. If you’re a product manager involved in digital design projects, looking for a crash course in UI principles, this is the book for you.  From this book, you’ll gain a basic understanding of why user-interface design has to follow certain rules and the perceptual and cognitive psychology behind the guidelines. You’ll also have a better grasp of why your design team makes some of the choices they do.    Books on perfecting the development process 12. The Toyota Product Development System: Integrating People, Process, and Technology Authors: James Morgan & Jeffrey K. Liker Just released in October 2020, The Toyota Product Development System takes a deep dive into what makes Toyota one of the most forward-thinking product development companies in the automotive industry.  This book compares and contrasts the world-class product development process of Toyota with an unnamed US competitor to help emphasize process best practices and how they can impact your business success. 13. Product Lifecycle Management (Volume 1): 21st Century Paradigm for Product Realisation Author: John Stark The 4th edition of Product Lifecycle Management, released in October 2020, offers an expanded version of this cornerstone text. It’s been updated to reflect important technological advances and how they’ve impacted the product life cycle.  This must-read guide covers everything you need to know about product life cycle management (PLM), from the main components of PLM initiatives to best practices and environmental considerations you need to keep in mind.  14. Building For Everyone: Expand Your Market With Design Practices From Google's Product Inclusion Team Author: Annie Jean-Baptiste Building For Everyone is about how you can build better products by focusing on promoting diversity and inclusion in your workforce. This practical guide will walk you through how to follow Google’s footsteps of building a Product Inclusion Team to improve your design process.  After reading this book, you’ll know essential strategies and processes for executing more inclusive product designs that will help increase your company’s profitability. Plus, it includes real-life recent case studies on what does and doesn’t work so you can avoid the mistakes of those who came before you.  15. Inside Your Customer's Imagination: 5 Secrets for Creating Breakthrough Products, Services, and Solutions Author: Chip R. Bell With 5 out of 5 stars on Amazon.com, Inside Your Customer's Imagination is a must-read for anyone looking to improve their product development processes. Author Chip Bell walks you through proven processes for designing and developing breakthrough products your customers don’t even know they want yet. With the use of examples from big-name companies like McDonald’s, Lockheed Martin, and Marriott, Bell illustrates how partnering with your customers can help you discover a treasure trove of innovations and process improvements.  16. Build What Matters: Delivering Key Outcomes with Vision-Led Product Management Authors: Ben Foster & Rajesh Nerlikar In Build What Matters, authors Ben Foster and Rajesh Nerlikar walk you through their methodology for building products that will meet current and future customer needs. This guide emphasizes the importance of the customer in product development and introduces ways to always keep that fact top-of-mind.  This book will introduce you to 10 dysfunctions common to product development processes and then walk you through tactical ways to avoid these traps. Whether you’re a start-up founder, a product leader, or a high-level executive, you’ll find actionable advice in this book that can help improve your business processes.  Top books for product marketers We’ve divided our top product marketer books into two main categories: The best books for helping you fuel customer adoption Must-read books about product marketing strategy and best practices Books on fueling customer adoption 17. Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products Authors: Nir Eyal & Ryan Hoover Hooked is a guide for product marketers, managers, and designers about building products that people want to use. It includes insights into creating user habits and understanding behavioral techniques. Plus, you’ll walk away with actionable advice on how to build and market products that people will love.  In this book, you’ll learn a four-step model for building customer habits so that users willingly come back for more, over and over. This guide brings technology, psychology, and business together in a way that will improve your product marketing outcomes and boost your customer adoption and retention rates.   18. The Four Steps to the Epiphany Author: Steve Blank The Four Steps to the Epiphany is commonly thought to be one of the most influential business books of all time. In this updated version, released March 2020, author Steve Blank brings even more insights and relevant examples to the table.  Too often, development teams build a product, and when customers don’t bite, they scrap it and try again. Instead, Steve Blank focuses on Customer Development — a concept that’s since become one of the three pillars of the Lean startup. Learn how to pinpoint the right product for your specific market, using techniques that have helped launch over 10,000 startups and corporate ventures. 19. The Sales Acceleration Formula: Using Data, Technology, and Inbound Selling to Go from $0 to $100 Million Author: Mark Roberge The author of The Sales Acceleration Formula, Mark Roberge, is an MIT alum with an engineering background that he has applied to sales and marketing. In this book, Roberge promotes the replacement of conventional sales methods with a more metric-driven, process-oriented approach.  From this book, you'll learn the techniques Roberge used as SVP of Worldwide Sales and Services at HubSpot to help the company grow from a small, three-person startup to a giant success with a billion-dollar valuation and over 15,000 customers.  20. The Unicorn Project: A Novel about Developers, Digital Disruption, and Thriving in the Age of Data Author: Gene Kim The Unicorn Project, a highly anticipated follow-up to the bestselling title The Phoenix Project, is written as an engaging novel, but that doesn’t make its messaging any less true or relevant to real-world product marketers, developers, and managers.  Gene Kim is a multi-award winning CTO and the founder of Tripwire. In this novel, he introduces five ideals required for product success and discusses internal structures every technology company needs.  Books about product marketing strategy & best practices 21. Product Marketing, Simplified: A Customer-Centric Approach to Take a Product to Market Author: Srini Sekaran Product Marketing, Simplified is a comprehensive guide on the world of product marketing. Whether you want to learn more about improving product launches or delivering greater value to the right customers, this book is packed full of valuable info.  This guide walks you through the entire product marketing process, including how to understand the customer journey, build a go-to-market strategy, determine pricing and packaging, and influence the product roadmap. 22. Marketing of High-Technology Products and Innovations (3rd Edition)  Authors: Stanley J. Slater, Jakki J. Mohr, & Sanjit Sengupta Marketing of High-Technology Products and Innovations provides a comprehensive introduction to the world of tech marketing. This book explains all the variables you'll need to consider when launching a product, as well as the logistics for managing the process.  From migration paths and types of innovations to managing customer relationships, you'll find a good balance of theory and real-world examples to get the knowledge you need in the world of tech marketing. 23. Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen Author: Donald Miller Building a StoryBrand will introduce you to seven essential elements of powerful stories. By using these elements in your product marketing, you’ll be able to improve customer engagement and boost your success rates.  This guide breaks down seven story points that resonate with every human, the reasoning behind why customers make the buying decisions they do, and how to create the most effective branding and marketing messages for your product and business.  24. Swipe to Unlock: The Primer on Technology and Business Strategy Authors: Neel Mehta, Aditya Agashe & Parth Detroja Swipe to Unlock was written by three product managers at Facebook, Google, and Microsoft, and it’s one of Amazon.com’s #1 Best Sellers. This is a must-read book for any product marketer, product manager, or consultant in the tech industry. The latest edition was released in 2019 and includes over 40 pages of new content. It includes a wealth of case studies on huge companies and covers essential product marketing topics such as current and future trends, emerging markets, and more.  25. To Sell is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others Author: Daniel Pink Whether you’re pitching a colleague on a new idea, convincing your manager to support a passion project, or trying to sway a customer to switch from freemium to paid, we all spend our days trying to move others to act.  In To Sell is Human, bestselling author Daniel Pink teaches you how to truly understand another person’s perspective and craft clear, persuasive marketing messages. What’s next? Are you interested in learning what is a product owner, product management, and product marketing? Maybe you’re looking for a special niche topic you didn’t see mentioned in any of these books?  Check out our blog to keep up-to-date on all the emerging trends and latest technology in the product management space.  You can also test out our product management software free for 14-days to discover how it can improve your product management and marketing teams. 

Interview with Nir Eyal: How to Get Your Customers Hooked
Leadership 3 min read

Interview with Nir Eyal: How to Get Your Customers "Hooked"

Facebook, Amazon, Gmail, Spotify, Netflix... what do they all have in common? They all have us hooked on their products. They found a way to wiggle their product into our routines, and as a result, we've formed a habit dependent on their product that we simply can't break. What is so gut-wrenchingly addictive about these products and why can't we seem to shake the obsession? We were able to speak with entrepreneur and investor, Nir Eyal, about his recent book Hooked: How to Build Habit Forming Products, focusing on his acclaimed "Hook Model," and the secret to obtaining loyal customers. According to Nir, building a "hook" or a habit has nothing to do with being the best product out there. [inlinetweet prefix=" " tweeter="" suffix=""]"Engaging products don’t happen by mistake. Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat know this." —@NirEyal [/inlinetweet] A few things you'll learn as you watch the video: Why he wrote Hooked What the Hook Model entails, and how it will help you understand your customers better Why going "viral" isn't always the goal How to create a habit out of a non-habit forming product What trends are up-and-coming that people aren't paying enough attention to Watch the full interview below! Tweet this! [inlinetweet prefix=" " tweeter="" suffix=""]"It's the product that has the "mind monopoly" that succeeds." —@NirEyal [/inlinetweet] Nir defines the "Hook Model" as consisting of these four steps: Trigger Action Reward Investment These steps define the various ways we engage with a product; whether it be reading their content and perceiving them as subject experts, or just feeling so comfortable using the product that you don't want to bother learning how to use a new one. Are you hooked on a product or service? Let us know in the comments what products have managed to hook you!

Sprint to Success with Scrum for Dummies (Book Review)
Project Management 5 min read

Sprint to Success with Scrum for Dummies (Book Review)

While there are plenty of advantages to becoming a Scrum team, transitioning from traditional project management methods to this new Agile methodology has its challenges. Scrum for Dummies presents this process in an easy-to-understand way and guides readers in implementing its strategies with their teams.

Take Time to Read The New One Minute Manager (Book Review)
Project Management 5 min read

Take Time to Read The New One Minute Manager (Book Review)

The New One Minute Manager guides management teams on balancing their focus between employee success and business results in a streamlined way. In the spirit of one of the top project management books, take a minute (or two) to read this book review.

Get Ahead of the Competition with The New Rules of Marketing and PR (Book Review)
Marketing 5 min read

Get Ahead of the Competition with The New Rules of Marketing and PR (Book Review)

Make marketing language uniquely you. Every brand should have its own identity, which means your marketing strategy should not be the same as your competitor's. This applies to concepts both large and small, from major marketing campaigns to the language used in promotional material. Whatever angle you choose, make sure the rest of the company is on the same page.

Best Marketing Books You Need to Read
Marketing 10 min read

Best Marketing Books You Need to Read

Every month it seems like there are new marketing tools being introduced and new trends to stay on top of. But in the constant mad hunt for what's cool and trending (the legacy of all social media), marketers sometimes forget to revisit relevant lessons from classic marketing books. Below, we've put together a roundup of the last few marketing book reviews on the Wrike blog:

Ready, Set, Go Pro: 7 Steps to Becoming a Network Marketing Professional (Book Review)
Marketing 5 min read

Ready, Set, Go Pro: 7 Steps to Becoming a Network Marketing Professional (Book Review)

Eric Worre reveals the secret to succeeding in this industry in his book, Go Pro: 7 Steps to Becoming a Network Marketing Professional. Are you ready to maximize your network marketing investment? Read this book review.

Nail the Basics with Marketing for Dummies: 4th Edition (Book Review)
Marketing 5 min read

Nail the Basics with Marketing for Dummies: 4th Edition (Book Review)

This updated work covers an extensive set of topics, from social media best practices to building brand loyalty. It lays out everything you need to know to avoid wasting time on potentially costly, ineffective initiatives and focus on what matters. Most important, Marketing for Dummies offers more than just marketing research. It gives readers the necessary tools to take actionable steps forward to achieve results and meet their goals.

Leadership Blind Spot: Why a Lack of Cultural Intelligence Holds You Back
Leadership 5 min read

Leadership Blind Spot: Why a Lack of Cultural Intelligence Holds You Back

When you're at work, you probably think about your colleagues' IQ (Intelligence Quotient), or how traditionally smart they are. You might even think about their EQ (Emotional Quotient), or how well they deal with and respond to emotions when communicating. With international expansion, there arises another factor to consider — one that might possibly take priority over the other two: CQ (Cultural Quotient), or how one relates and adapts to different cultures while working. It's more than just cultural awareness, it's about embracing challenging situations and different mindsets. If your business is global and your employees don't have CQ, you're going to find yourself fumbling far more frequently than your CQ-savvy peers. New leaders need to learn to work with people of different cultures, including different backgrounds, ages, titles, and dispositions. As an individual and as a business, you need CQ to collaborate, to innovate, and to connect to our shrinking world. Book Review: Cultural Intelligence by Julia Middleton After receiving a copy of Cultural Intelligence by Julia Middleton, I read the book which brands CQ as "the competitive edge for leaders crossing borders." The book is an enlightening and informative read about CQ — what it means, everything it encompasses, and how we can develop ourselves as leaders to make sure our cultural intelligence is ever-evolving. It helps you evaluate where your CQ stands today, and what you can do to increase your own cultural intelligence. Middleton breaks down CQ into two parts: our core and our flex. Our core is made up of behaviors and beliefs that are so near and dear to us that we refuse to change them for others. Things in our flex are more adaptable when we step into an unfamiliar situation or a different culture. To increase our cultural intelligence, we must individually evaluate both parts of our personality. Both are necessary, and the trick is to find the balance between the two zones. According to Middleton, cultural intelligence is not something leaders can develop or stretch by attending a class. It's not even something we can hope to gain by reading her book and taking copious notes. Cultural intelligence must be gained by going out into the world, interacting with people outside of our comfort zones, making (sometimes uncomfortable) mistakes, and learning to welcome new possibilities and challenges. It's not about obeying our manners, it's about learning new thought processes and embracing them. I highly recommend the book for any leader who wants to take a hard look at their own cultural intelligence, and learn how to develop it further — there is always room for improvement. How to Develop Cultural Intelligence at Work Today If you want to take Middleton's lessons on cultural intelligence to work with you, here a few business-ready ways to start developing your CQ today: 1. Create a mixed network Do not surround yourself with people from the same background, same team, or same mindset. Purposely keep people in your network from all walks of life. By keeping different cultures close to you — including people of various backgrounds, ages, positions — you will find opportunities to expand your horizons. Do it today: Befriend the new gal in the office. Grab lunch with a colleague you rarely talk to. Tweet to your followers to find someone who disagrees with one of your many opinions. 2. Take the time to learn from other people Actually sit down and learn about the people around you. Every colleague has had a different experience, and therefore has a different way of perceiving and solving problems. By learning about them, you learn more about their mindset and may learn new ways to approach business. Do it today: Organize a team-building event for your group to share and learn about what makes each person unique. If colleagues claim they're just "too average/typical/boring" to teach anything, have them talk about their heritage, their culture, their home state, their family, their hobbies, or even their bucket list of dreams for the future. 3. Seek out challenging opinions Human instinct tells us to shut out competing opinions. If they're not with us, they're against us! By operating under that assumption, you're denying a valuable opportunity to grow. Actively seek out colleagues that seem to disagree with everything you say, riling you up and making you so mad that you go home and fume about work for two more hours. After you've cooled down, take each turbulent conversation as an opportunity to learn a different approach to your work. Do it today: If you have been shutting out That One Colleague that always seems to disagree with your opinions, reevaluate their responses. Go out of your way to ask the dissenter for their feedback on your current project. Challenge yourself to appreciate their opinions instead of resenting their perceived roadblock. Developing Cultural Intelligence for the Future of Work As the world gets smaller, leaders must grow. By actively educating yourself and developing your CQ, you will expand your horizons and be known as a better leader for it. Cultural Intelligence by Julia Middleton is an excellent book that walks through what it means to develop cultural intelligence, gives easy-to-follow resources for evaluating your own CQ, and ultimately leaves you feeling empowered to grow as a leader. If you are interested in continuing to learn more while you wait for your copy of the book, read this article about cultural intelligence over on the Common Purpose website (an organization founded by Julia). Have you read Cultural Intelligence or other similar books? We'd love to start a conversation about CQ and the business value of cultural intelligence in the comments. Talk to you soon. Related Articles: 5 Tips for Embracing Cross-Cultural Differences on Teams Top 10 Work Skills You'll Need in 2020 (Infographic)

Don't Just Say It, Do It! Marketing (Book Review)
Marketing 5 min read

Don't Just Say It, Do It! Marketing (Book Review)

The book contains 77 instant actions, giving you a complete marketing playbook that can help take your small business to the top. Plus, Newman provides a 21-day marketing launch plan to apply those skills you learned.

Would Your Company Survive a 6-Hour Workday? (Work Management Roundup)
Productivity 3 min read

Would Your Company Survive a 6-Hour Workday? (Work Management Roundup)

It's Friday, which means it's time for the weekly Work Management roundup! And since it's the first Friday of October, it's also National Manufacturing Day. So, just a little aside: kudos to all who build and manufacture goods and services here in America. Anyway, this week we have compiled links to articles that will help you build yourself into a better worker. Sweden is Shifting to Six-Hour Workdays (FastCoExist): It's been proven that clocking in longer hours is detrimental to both the individual and the organization, which is why Sweden is taking that info to heart. The six-hour workday is becoming more and more common for Swedish companies as organizations strive for a better work/life balance. The Top 6 Free "Getting Things Done" Software (Capterra): So you want to get organized, and you need some tech recommendations? These 6 GTD tools are free for at least one user. Check them all out. The Best Time for a Break Might Be Mid-Morning, Not the Afternoon (Lifehacker): New research suggests that it’s better to take a break before you’ve used up your mental resources, in order to actually refresh and recuperate your mind and body — which means taking breaks earlier in the day. How to Fly Like a Pro (Business Insider): Do you travel a lot for work? Sick of the stress of flying? Here are twenty illustrated tips on how to fly like a pro. For example: avoid coffee & drink green tea instead (so you don't dehydrate yourself). 17 Books to Inspire Creative Teams (Wrike): If you're part of a creative team, you need to feed the mind to ensure that you never run out of fresh ideas. This list of 17 books will inspire you and provide you with energy and creative juice for the work ahead. More Work Management Reads Think About This: Why Having Friends at Work is So Important (Fast Company) How Louis C. K. Became Funny and Why it Matters (Cal Newport's Study Hacks) Go Try This: Forget Business School--Just Watch These 10 TED Talks (Inc) 15 Types of Photos You Can Tweet (Even if Your Product is Ugly) (AdWeek) How to Stop Micromanaging Your Team (Harvard Business Review) 7 Ways to Ensure Fans Don't Miss Your Facebook Page Updates (Marketing Profs) Browse The Work Management Roundup on Flipboard If you use Flipboard on your mobile device, then you can choose to read these links via The Work Management Roundup magazine. View my Flipboard Magazine. Image Credit: The Evening Commute by Jamie McCaffreyon Flickr. Some rights reserved. Changes made.

Go Viral with Contagious: Why Things Catch On (Book Review)
Marketing 5 min read

Go Viral with Contagious: Why Things Catch On (Book Review)

Going viral is every marketer’s dream, and Jonah Berger explains how to infect the world with your brand in his bestseller, Contagious: Why Things Catch On. Discover some of the key points in this book review.

Age Gaps & Toxic Startup Culture — a Book Review of Disrupted by Dan Lyons
Collaboration 5 min read

Age Gaps & Toxic Startup Culture — a Book Review of Disrupted by Dan Lyons

Author Daniel Lyons recounts his year spent in startup hell (technically, marketing automation startup HubSpot) and his story is equal parts LOL and WTF. It’s a fascinating peek behind the scenes of a growing company as well as a scathing commentary on startups in general.

Does Your Team Meet The Standard for Program Management? (Book Review)
Project Management 3 min read

Does Your Team Meet The Standard for Program Management? (Book Review)

In any industry, understanding the accepted best practices is key to remaining successful and keeping up with the competition. Teams looking to master PMBOK, or the Project Management Body of Knowledge, and all of its terminologies and methodologies need to pick up the The Standard for Program Management. Summary and Book Review of The Standard for Program Management Developed by the Project Management Institute, the third edition of this book is a must-read for any program manager or individual aiming to take the PMP exam. According to PMI, those who wish to pass this test typically spend many hours preparing with the help of study aids and groups, demonstrating the value of reading The Standard for Program Management. While this book review highlights key points in the literature, you'll have to read it yourself to really understand why it's regarded as one of the best project management books. Through its 176 pages, you'll uncover a number of topics such as: The PMI program definition Performance standards Key differences between program and project management Program manager responsibilities Project management phases Readers will get an in-depth view of each facet of program management, placing it among the top project management books. Key Takeaways from The Standard for Program Management The comprehensive guide offered in the book is critical to program management success, but in our book review, we uncover a few key takeaways you can apply in your own team. Project management is different from program management: Readers often applaud The Standard For Program Management for its ability to showcase important differences between project and program management. As IBM elaborates, project management involves planning, organizing and directing the use of company resources, and it's often done in short-term increments. Program management, on the other hand, assigns these duties to three levels of management. Those in program management look at a more comprehensive picture of multiple projects. Roadmaps are vital to program success: Much like a book review outlines key points in a work of literature, a roadmap helps you understand how projects fit together to support business goals. The Standard for Program Management emphasizes the importance of creating a high-level overview of each project within the program. According to Forbes, management must ensure this roadmap is feasible, as setting up an impossible timeline for instance, means deadlines will never be met. Don't underestimate the importance of accountability: All team members in program management must have a solid understanding of their roles. As Wikipedia explains, management needs to promote accountability by conducting regular reviews and creating structure for all stakeholders and suppliers. The Right Tools for Program Management Because there are so many moving parts to program management, those in this field must have the appropriate tools to keep track of both people and projects. With Wrike's team collaboration solutions, leaders can monitor progress across multiple departments, ensuring timely and successful project completion. Sources: Amazon.com, PMI.org, IBM.com, Forbes.com, Wikipedia.org

17 Books (and Videos) to Inspire Creative Teams
Marketing 10 min read

17 Books (and Videos) to Inspire Creative Teams

There are a zillion books out there on creativity. We've whittled it down to 17 that we recommend. Here's our list + 17 videos of the authors explaining what their books are about.

Get Ahead Quickly: The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management (Book Review)
Project Management 3 min read

Get Ahead Quickly: The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management (Book Review)

Now on its fifth edition, Verzuh’s book provides up-to-date information on change management best practices, real-life examples and case studies, plus details on current trends. It also offers guidance on how to engage stakeholders and apply Agile management techniques to your projects. Those looking to earn project management certification can benefit from this read, as the book gives ample preparation tips for PMI’s Project Management Professional exam.

Project Management 2.0 Books Series and Giveaway
Project Management 3 min read

Project Management 2.0 Books Series and Giveaway

trend, as well as help you in your everyday project management battles. In addition, to make the series more exciting, I decided to run occasional book giveaways. All you will have to do to be eligible for such a giveaway will be to comment on a review. The author of the best comment will get a book for free. Now, get comfortable, prepare yourself for a few interesting reads about some outstanding books that will help you become a Project Manager 2.0.

Be the Next Megabrand with Growth Hacker Marketing (Book Review)
Marketing 3 min read

Be the Next Megabrand with Growth Hacker Marketing (Book Review)

In this book review, we'll tell you why we think Ryan Holiday's 2014 book Growth Hacker Marketing is a great addition to your digital marketing library, as it details how brands like Twitter and Facebook skyrocketed to the next level and paved the way for the future of marketing and PR.

5 Best Project Management Books for Beginners and Accidental Project Managers
Project Management 5 min read

5 Best Project Management Books for Beginners and Accidental Project Managers

We put together a list of the 5 top project management books that are praised for their practical value and good style by the PM community or have helped us in our own experience.

Build Your Brand with The Marketing Blueprint (Book Review)
Marketing 3 min read

Build Your Brand with The Marketing Blueprint (Book Review)

Thanks to Canadian entrepreneur and marketing consultant Jules Marcoux, CEOs and marketing directors can have exactly that. In what many consider to be one of the best marketing books around, Marcoux maps out exactly how to take brands to the next level and drive better results. In our continuous effort to give marketing teams an edge over the competition, we revisited this marketing agency blueprint for our own book review.

Your 5 Best Books on Product Management & Product Marketing
Project Management 5 min read

Your 5 Best Books on Product Management & Product Marketing

We asked readers for their recommended product management and product marketing books.