If you have an inner entrepreneur that needs inspiration on how to get started. Researching successful business leaders and managers is one way to unlock your creative ideas in managing your career, developing your knowledge and skills, or learning about successful attributes of proven leaders. One of my all-time favorite business books is Fortune: Secrets of Greatness that covers teaching invaluable lessons on greatness by proven leaders.

http://smartlemming.com/2009/05/the-secrets-of-greatness-by-proven-leaders/

Strategy Maps is a classic on on strategy and execution, but they’re brilliant in their application in identifying strategy, linking strategy to middle management, linking down the in the individual worker, and then measuring performance for the company, departments, and individuals. Combined with Balanced Scorecard and The Strategy-Focused Organization, these books are like the last leg of a relay race with the previous legs in a Track and Field relay race, following all previous subject areas.

http://smartlemming.com/2009/05/flatten-your-learning-curve-read-the-classic-bus...

A classic book that's brilliant in its application in identifying strategy, linking strategy to middle management, linking down the in the individual worker, and then measuring performance for the company, departments, and individuals.

http://smartlemming.com/2009/05/flatten-your-learning-curve-read-the-classic-bus...

A must-have book on learning the balanced scorecard management approach and how to implement at your work or for your personal goals.

http://smartlemming.com/2009/05/flatten-your-learning-curve-read-the-classic-bus...

An excellent resource for understanding on organizational development and choosing what priorities to execute on.

http://smartlemming.com/2009/05/flatten-your-learning-curve-read-the-classic-bus...

A must-have book for middle managers and C-levels on how to execute on their company goals and objectives.

http://smartlemming.com/2009/05/flatten-your-learning-curve-read-the-classic-bus...

Like organic growth, teams don’t just happen, especially in younger companies where everyone is doing everyone else’s job. No More Teams covers what teams are, how they should work, and how companies can use them in execution.

http://smartlemming.com/2009/05/flatten-your-learning-curve-read-the-classic-bus...

Like organic growth, teams don’t just happen, especially in younger companies where everyone is doing everyone else’s job. This book cover what teams are, how they should work, and how companies can use them in execution.

http://smartlemming.com/2009/05/flatten-your-learning-curve-read-the-classic-bus...

A must-have book on organizational development for knowledge workers, middle managers, and C-levels, so they can understand how entrepreneurial companies grow into a mature, professionally managed company.

http://smartlemming.com/2009/05/flatten-your-learning-curve-read-the-classic-bus...

An understanding of organizational development and change management is critical for younger companies. Keys to success are planning and developing strategy, an appropriate organizational structure and controls, and provide management development.

http://smartlemming.com/2009/05/flatten-your-learning-curve-read-the-classic-bus...

Winning by Jack Welch is core to knowledge workers, managers, and leaders for any area ranging from career management to organizational and individual performance management.

http://smartlemming.com/2009/05/flatten-your-learning-curve-read-the-classic-bus...

Leadership always looks like easy, especially for those charismatic types. Leadership Engine demonstrates that there’s more to leadership than being extrovert. It gives executives and middle managers a proposed approach on how to grow future leaders (and managers).

http://smartlemming.com/2009/05/flatten-your-learning-curve-read-the-classic-bus...

Leadership always looks like easy, especially for those charismatic types. This book demonstrates that there’s more to leadership than being extrovert. It provides a complete picture on what makes a good leader and the leader’s responsibility to grow future leaders (and managers).

http://smartlemming.com/2009/05/flatten-your-learning-curve-read-the-classic-bus...

The perfect book for knowledge workers, new managers, or middle managers to understand what drives their CEOs behavior and priorities. This book helps you understand the key business objectives, giving you ideas on how to align your work or department to these objectives and priorities.

http://smartlemming.com/2009/05/flatten-your-learning-curve-read-the-classic-bus...

An excellent resource for new managers, wanting to understand how to be more productive and effective. For existing managers, it may give you new ideas or approaches to improving your management style or techniques.

http://smartlemming.com/2009/05/flatten-your-learning-curve-read-the-classic-bus...

An effective resource for middle managers. I’ve encountered leaders in new companies who couldn’t tell the difference between management and leadership. Middle management and the middle manager’s responsibility also appear to elude some leaders too.

http://smartlemming.com/2009/05/flatten-your-learning-curve-read-the-classic-bus...

Teaches the importance of having 90 day plans, when you start a new job. It also educates on how to build relationships as you navigate organizations during the first 90 days.

http://smartlemming.com/2009/05/flatten-your-learning-curve-read-the-classic-bus...

This book is important for anyone starting a new job, but they are critical for middle managers and executives. It identifies why the reputation you establish in your new company is set in the first 90 days and how you can create your desired reputation right from the start.

http://smartlemming.com/2009/05/flatten-your-learning-curve-read-the-classic-bus...