Start networking and exchanging professional insights

Register now or log in to join your professional community.

Follow

What is one book that you recommend to a first-time team leader who is seeking books on soft skills development?

user-image
Question added by Lamya Adam , Front Desk Team Leader , Mariott
Date Posted: 2016/03/10
Nasser A Al-Nasser
by Nasser A Al-Nasser , Expert in the Leadership, Program Management, and Consulting Industry , Nasser & Co. Consulting Service

Hello Lamya,

Thank you for the invitation. There is no one book to be the best in everything that you need to be a team leader. there are however some books will help you in different areas in your career such as "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and High Output Management" you will learn a lot of things from books but will learn even more from experiencing it in your career. What you expect to learn from the mentioned books are:

 

- what are high leverage activities and how to focus on them

- how many direct reports are optimal

- different types of meetings and how to run them, including 1:1.

- task relevant maturity (TRM) of employees and how to manage them accordingly

- how to give performance feedback

- compensation and promotions

- how to try to keep an employee who is quitting

 

There is one book you should reed in your free time which is helpful to your leadership skills, The are of war by Sun Tzu. This book will open your mind on how strategic thinking should be.

 

 

 

Good Luck,

Nisreen Ahmad
by Nisreen Ahmad , dfgdhj , twst

The Top 10 Books on Communication Skills

Over the last three weeks I’ve shared the top books in leadership, network marketing, self help and this week I’m giving you the top books on communication skills.

 

I’m not claiming to be the best communicator by any means but it’s a skill that’s been crucial to my success and will be to your success as well. No matter what it is you aspire to be a success at, being a great communicator will be a multiplier for your success.

 

When I put this list together, I was considering all forms of communication in all relationships in your life. Being a consummate student in this area of development will provide exponential results in your life!

 

My Top 10 Communication Skills Books:

 

 

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

A true classic on human behavior and psychology that’s withstood the test of time. There are no tricks or cheesy cliche’s is this book.  He just shoots straight and gives you what you need to become an influencer through improving your communication skills.

 

 

Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler

Isn’t this what we all want?  How not to lose it when the stakes are high.  It’s how to be James Bond when things are blowing up all around you and everything is on the line.  Or it could be as simple as a prospect meeting and not blowing it!  This is a keeper and a re-reader for anyone wanting to improve his communication skills!

 

 

Difficult Conversations: How to Have Conversations that Matter the Most by Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton, Sheila Heen, and Roger Fisher

The title pretty much sums it up.  This book gives you a step by step approach to having the conversations that matter the most which as we know, in many cases, are the most difficult ones to have.  You can almost consider this a text  book on how to make difficult conversations easy. The world would be a much better place if everyone had read this book.

 

 

How to Have Confidence and Power in Dealing with People by Les Giblin

If you’ve ever struggled with a lack of confidence in your communication ability, this book is a must read. I read this when I was 18 years old out by the pool when I was working as a lifeguard. At the time, I felt like I was a lousy communicator and many of the specific strategies I learned from this book are strategies I still utilize today. This has been a major bestseller for many years and definitely worth your time.

 

 

 

 

Skill with People by Les Giblin

Yes, Les Giblin is so good he’s captured the #4 and the #5 positions. This book, originally written in 1968, has sold over 2 million copies and has been translated into 20 different languages. This book is simple, to the point and a very quick read. In fact, it’s worth reading several times. Whether you want to increase your communication skills at home, at work, or in any environment, this book will help you tremendously.

 

 

Bringing out the Best in People by Aubrey Daniels

 

Aubrey Daniels is a renowned Behavioral Psychologist who’s written several books on performance management.  What grabs me is this book is how he uses several examples with people of all ages, backgrounds, etc…. and how to use positive reinforcement to bring out the best in each of them.  Imagine knowing how to communicate with every new recruit, your kids or coworkers to bring out the absolute best in them. LOVE this book.

 

 

The Definitive Book of Body Language by Barbara and Allan Pease

 

Oh boy!  Now this one is a huge eye opener.  Most of us know that the majority of communication isn’t spoken.  However, you’re often so focused on what others are doing and their nonverbal ques, that we often forget to think of our own!  This is an international bestseller that offers loads of insights on how to read others and how you’re being read!

 

 

Just Listen: Discover the Secret to Getting Through to Absolutely Anyone by Mark Goulston

 

You may have the best idea, argument or product but if people are unwilling to listen, it doesn’t matter.  Goulston is a genius at sharing how to get the busiest people to listen.  He manages to teach you how to turn them into allies.  It’s really about how do you get through to people who don’t want to hear what you have to say.

 

 

Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time by Keith Ferrazzi

 

Keith Ferrazzi is a master networker with very humble beginnings who’s made an art of building relationships on the power of helping one another.  SOunds simple, right?  But this Harvard MBA takes it to an entirely different level which is why he’s recognized as one of Crain’s 40 under 40 who networks with Hollywood’s A-List and DC’s who’s who.

 

Source: http://www.mattmorris.com/

Heavenly J John
by Heavenly J John , Head of the Dealership Operation , Automobile Company

You are the best book. Should there be a book that develops to become APPRECIATIVE ! No not required. Our parent were very appreciative for most of all our actions. Surely we should have learnt from that.

You start appreciating for better the team members, you will see the followers are increasing. Many use this soft kill as if they are giving away their own money to. God given gift of appreciation, make use of this freely the soft skill that multiply your followers.

Muhammad adnan Qumar
by Muhammad adnan Qumar , IT engineer , Synopsis Solutions Ltd

Soft Skills Training: A Workbook to Develop Skills for EmploymentPaperback – Large Print, May 14, 2012

 

I was hired by a major university to teach recently released offenders how to become employed. I walked into my first class intending to follow the lead of all the other job training programs in the city, which was teaching the students to properly fill out applications, write resumes, facilitate mock interviews, and locate employment opportunities. After the first couple of classes, most of the students were either not paying attention or sleeping. I quickly realized my presentation needed to be interesting, challenging, beneficial, and actually guide the participants on how to remain employed. However, I was unable to find any published material for teaching new hires the soft skills necessary to keep a job. This workbook is a compilation of the soft skills class material I have developed over an eighteen year period. I have used this material with great success and have taught soft skills in schools, inner-city church programs, nonprofits, and government funded job training programs. It is a unique collection of essays, exercises, quotes, and maxims that will give students a realistic perspective on work-related expectations and the expectations of the supervisors who hire them. It will help students develop their problem solving skills, guide them in making appropriate decisions, and create a desire to plan out goals and achieve them. The workbook style is challenging and playful, serious and engaging and a stepping stone to developing the cognitive skills necessary to quash unproductive thinking and self-defeating emotional behaviors.

khalid al-shayeb
by khalid al-shayeb , broker insurance , broker insurance

one book advice you can Read and recommend to a first-time team leader this  Book  in the Communication Skills i think this Book have the best Tools and information in the market .

 

Priscilla Anbanandan
by Priscilla Anbanandan , PMP® - IT Project Manager , IBM India Pvt. Ltd

 

If it is about softskills and not about any "one book", then i will recommend him to read books on "Motivating People" to get the buy in from his team as a new team leader. People would be willing to buy you in, only if they find you encouraging and guiding them towards accomplishing their duties.

 

 So Motivation is the first and foremost that a new manager should master inorder for him to stabilize himself as well as others.

Akhil Shaikh
by Akhil Shaikh , Team Leader , Source Hov

You Can Sell by reputed author Shiv Khera. Book teaches one to be self motivated and gives every employee a vision of a proprietor

Lucky Christopher
by Lucky Christopher , Channel Analyst , Samsung Electronics West Africa Ltd

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Anisor Raheman
by Anisor Raheman , Product Manager Marketing , Emaar

Hey Lamya, 

 

You can read Never Eat alone by Keith Ferrazzi

Outliers: The Story of Success, by Malcolm Gladwell.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

More Questions Like This

Do you need help in adding the right keywords to your CV? Let our CV writing experts help you.