10 Best Management Books for Entrepreneurs

Man reading book.

Management departments in all industries need competent managers who can lead without direction and constant supervision. Core leadership skills are critical to overseeing, organizing, and managing a team in any industry.

Successful professionals who are honest about failures are likely the most trustworthy to lead a company. However, not all executives know what actions to take when a team relies on their leadership. Below, we cover the best startup books to read for all types of startup management.

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Top Books on Management for Startups

One idea to improve your professional reputation is to find management resources that provide information helpful for industry pros. Check out several business books popular among startup founders.

Also Recommended: Check out our list of the best startup books.

1. ‘The Making of a Manager: What to Do When Everyone Looks to You’ by Julie Zhuo

The Making of a Manager” discusses specific strategies to gain confidence in managerial skills. Whether tackling the first day as a manager or having extensive experience, Zhuo’s advice helps professionals maintain reliability and professionalism while setting a positive example for staff. She also lends her honest opinion about the ins and outs of the managerial role and its various responsibilities.

While some entrepreneurs panic when their associates depend on their supervision, this book can help them gain the confidence to be efficient problem-solvers. Additionally, they can determine how to improve relationships with their team, develop proficient interpersonal skills, and become better leaders.

This book is a must-read if you’re a veteran startup founder or an aspiring manager who dreams of leading a team successfully. However, you may also find the information valuable if you’re only curious about management.

2. ‘From Startup to Grown Up: Grow Your Leadership to Grow Your Business’ by Alisa Cohn

From Start-Up to Grown-Up” is inspired by the evolution of CEO and founder Alisa Cohn, who endured constant struggles with entrepreneurship while developing her startup. She incorporates resourceful ways of improving communication by finding motives for startup founders to use to their advantage.

Entrepreneurs get advice about managing themselves before leading a team, overcoming low self-confidence, and maintaining professional conduct in challenging situations. Whether running an online or brick-and-mortar business, the goals are relevant for advancement.

Startups require dedication and planning to grow past one or two years of operation. Using the right tactics and knowledge, your company can achieve longevity among high-level small businesses.

3. ‘The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses’ by Eric Ries

While ideas can be advantageous for a specific period, they can also become unreliable when developing new strategies. As a result, many startups fail to survive their first year due to low productivity, little inspiration, and poor planning.

In “The Lean Startup,” Ries explains how professionals can adapt in an era where innovation is vital for progression in any industry. He prioritizes scientific methods over traditional business planning while praising originality and the human imagination. Creativity is one key factor in helping startups thrive and keeping ideas fresh.

More and more executives are relying on experimentation in their specialized industries. Therefore, this is one of the best startup books that can serve a beneficial purpose to you as a rising executive.

4. ‘The Amazon Way: Amazon's 14 Leadership Principles’ by John Rossman

The Amazon Way” is a business leadership guide highlighting significant values that teach managers to think about their mission, principles, decisions, and growth. Rossman, a former Amazon.com director, retells Jeff Bezos’ journey from serving as the vice president of a leading corporation to the startup owner of a new online retail company.

Rossman also uses the business mogul’s path as a framework for corporate employees transitioning to company ownership. Each of his principles is useful for all levels of management, including managerial assistants.

Amazon is a prime example of a franchise that has faced various struggles throughout its journey. However, it still became one of the most successful online retailers in the world by using the extensive list of principles detailed in this book.

5. ‘Servant Leadership Roadmap: Master the 12 Core Competencies of Management Success with Leadership Qualities and Interpersonal Skills’ by Cara H. Bramlett

Competent managers are respected because they make rational decisions that benefit their workers. They also invest significant time in maintaining a productive environment and preventing conflict. Without strong interpersonal skills, managers can lose respect and their favored reputation among their team.

In “Servant Leadership Roadmap,” Cara H. Bramlett notes that competency and self-awareness are closely related to management. In other words, before an entrepreneur can lead others, they must focus and work on expanding their abilities. Also, their weaknesses must be a priority over their strengths because they could require more time to improve.

This book is suitable for developing core leadership qualities such as reliability, empathy, integrity, and strategic thinking. Each skill is critical due to its relevancy in business management.

Looking for more book recommendations? We asked startup founders to share their favorite books on entrepreneurship, and here's what they said.

6. ‘Overcoming the Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Field Guide for Leaders, Managers, and Facilitators’ by Patrick Lencioni

With “Overcoming the Five Dysfunctions of a Team,” industry professionals can learn how to handle tension and initiate positive communication in the workplace. Since team management requires extensive time and effort, Lencioni emphasizes problematic scenarios, inspiring other professionals to resolve challenging problems.

While all teams are imperfect, some experience conflict, which risks their partnerships. Lencioni details five common issues that occur in newly established startup companies. New executives aren’t required to follow each suggestion in sequence but must ensure they incorporate the steps efficiently.

Startup dysfunctions can be challenging to overcome if you don’t create a positive working environment. On the other hand, this book is vital to recognize potential issues and act quickly to prevent them.

7. ‘The Startup Owner's Manual: The Step by-Step Guide for Building a Great Company’ by Steve Blank with Bob Dorf

Blank and Dorf wrote “The Startup Owner’s Manual” with small business executives in mind, providing them with helpful ideas to remember throughout their small business journey. Both authors encourage entrepreneurs to become assertive leaders while aiming for a respected reputation and profitability in their industries.

This book contains resourceful information low to high-level managers can find beneficial to their careers. Readers determine how to shape unique paths, win against the odds, and incorporate business ideas to evolve among their competitors. 

Some entrepreneurs prefer instructional advice, including critical points that are easy to follow while establishing their startup. Therefore, this checklist is a good purchase if you want to use efficient techniques to grow your company. Also, you can determine how to avoid pitfalls leading to devastating failures.

8. ‘Why Startups Fail: A New Roadmap for Entrepreneurial Success’ by Tom Eisenmann

Many startups experience obstacles that are difficult to overcome during their first year of operation. “Why Startups Fail” gives readers insight into new startups' downfalls and common mistakes, mainly due to disorganized strategies and ineffective tactics implemented by low-performing founders.

Eisenmann details six failures that test an entrepreneur's strength and capability to get through the kill zone. Although the startup survival success rate is low, the author gives new small business owners an outline of typical patterns to avoid. Also, he uses real-life scenarios of founders who were determined to beat obstacles.

If you’re a new startup entrepreneur planning to purchase business books, consider adding this gem to your shopping list. Perhaps you can also use it as a guide for self-improvement or a topic of discussion among your staff.

9. ‘How Highly Effective People Speak: How High Performers Use Psychology to Influence With Ease (Speak for Success)’ by Peter Daniel Andrei

In “How Highly Effective People Speak,” Andrei praises experienced industry professionals who understand the power of the human mind when implementing leadership skills. He describes psychology as a valuable tool for motivating staff and startup managers who need an extra push to succeed.

This book highlights crucial factors such as empowering team members using impactful strategies, planning goals to succeed, and leading by example while inspiring other managerial professionals. It also teaches startup managers to use their status as a form of inspiration to team members who aspire to reach their level. 

High performers are capable of thriving even during stressful situations and dealing with difficult team members. This helpful guide is geared toward aspiring business owners, preparing them for a productive entrepreneurial future.

10. ‘The Startup Checklist: 25 Steps to a Scalable, High-Growth Business’ by David S. Rose

The Startup Checklist” has 25 informational steps to avoid mistakes that can ruin a new business. Author David S. Rose notes nine essential elements to plan and execute ideas without enduring a long trial and error process. He teaches readers how to skip years of stress preparing for a management role by explaining his steps as quicker alternatives to progression.

Rose suggests that managers rely on relevant experts for advice instead of consulting individuals who serve no purpose in their growing careers. Since some startups are built on uncertainty, new executives must apply twice the effort. In this book, they can learn about startup performance, legal issues, pros and cons, and practical methods while developing their businesses.

This checklist is a must-read that can help you stay organized and prepared to achieve high growth, despite the many startups that flood various industries yearly. Consider using it to keep track of each suggestion you implement during your entrepreneurial journey.

What’s your favorite management book for entrepreneurs? Let us know in the comments!

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