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This article showcases our top picks for the Books on Strategy. We reached out to industry leaders and experts who have contributed the suggestions within this article (they have been credited for their contributions below).
We are keen to hear your feedback on all of our content and our comment section is a moderated space to express your thoughts and feelings related (or not) to this article This list is in no particular order.
This product was recommended by Michael Haas from AngryBBQ
In the book Your Next Five Moves, author Patrick Bet-David encourages people to adopt the mindset of chess grandmasters when carrying out decisions. Whether you are a person who works for an organization, owns a business, or planning to start one, you should always think a few steps ahead of the game before executing plans into actions. Your Next Five Moves is applicable both for business and everyday life. It comprehensively fleshes out the art of building a strategy for whatever situation by knowing oneself first, mastering the ability to reason, building the right team or network,devising techniques to scale, and possessing a solid framework for overall success. The book also shares advice on clarifying company missions, developing team-building skills, and gaining competitive advantage.
This product was recommended by Mimi Paul from Starkflow
This book is an intensive guide to various strategies. Each chapter takes a deep dive into different sectors, the reader can finish a section individually, think about it, and complete the rest later. I certainly developed a new way to thinking about strategy after reading this book. This is definitely worth the purchase.
This product was recommended by Nathan Watson from Lion Locs
Christensen and his colleagues have concluded that our long-held principle – that knowing customers drives innovation – is wrong after years of research. Customers don’t buy products or services; they hire them to do a job for them. Understanding customers does not lead to innovation success, he says. Knowing customer jobs does. Several world-renowned companies and fast-growing startups use the Jobs to Be Done method, including Amazon, Intuit, Uber, Airbnb, and Chobani yogurt, to name a few. In this book, I’m not celebrating the past – I’m predicting the future. Taking action on that deep insight can be a challenge, but this book is a great guide. Innovators no longer rely on luck to change the world, but hard work remains necessary. This is something you can leave up to your competition.
This product was recommended by Zarina Bahadur from 123 Baby Box
In this perennial classic, embraced by businesses and sectors worldwide, world-renowned management thinkers W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne challenge everything you thought you knew about the requirements for strategic success. According to the authors, those who engage in cutthroat competition face a bloody red ocean of rivals squabbling over shrinking profit pools. Based on a study of 150 strategic decisions spanning more than 100 years and 30 industries, the authors believe that long-term success comes from developing blue oceans, or untouched new market sectors primed for growth. Blue Ocean strategy aims to shift companies’ strategic focus from competing with others in existing markets to exploring new markets.
This product was recommended by Colton Horn from Breinfuel Inc
Good Strategy, Bad Strategy is the best book on strategic thinking. Richard Rumelt examines how effective strategies work and points out what makes them so effective. Also, he identifies how to spot bad strategies and the signs of a bad plan. The book also discusses topics such as leverage and proximate objectives. The book also offers a practical way of creating and evaluating strategic systems. Reading the book allows readers to cut through the fluff and make better plans. Notable Quote: “Good strategy works by focusing energy and resources on one, or a very few, pivotal objectives whose accomplishment will lead to a cascade of favorable outcomes.”
This product was recommended by Scot J Chrisman from The Media House
A strategy seems to be complicated to create but, this book makes this much easier. There will be no better strategy that will be made aside from those that are founded on a good understanding of its basics. This book aims to deliver a deeper understanding of the strategy, including its purpose and form as well as, how and why it needs to be done or created. This is very helpful in informing and empowering the thinking minds of organizations and entities.
I loved all of the strategy methods that they researched, including the Hedgehog Concept and the study into Level 5 Leaders. Based on a large number of real-life investigations, Jim Collins collates data from eight companies that have all achieved success. He then investigates the strategies that they used to achieve this success, boiling them down to their basic components. With this, they have made years of entrepreneurial work very easy to understand for a reader who may be starting from scratch. This strategy book is a great introduction to the building blocks of business!
This book is a classic, timeless masterpiece when it comes to strategy. It is set during a time of the ancient Chinese military, dating all the way back to 5th century B.C., but its principles and outlook on strategizing are still very much applicable to this day. Even if the context of the book is on the military and war, strategist Sun Tzu’s perspective and tactics rings true to the many facets of our lives.
This product was recommended by Anna Silver from Cook For Folks
When you are starting a new venture, it can be very easy to get caught up in the small details and the near future. However, Lead From The Future encourages you to think far, far ahead – and then create a strategy plan from this newfound perspective. The authors broach some really unusual concepts, but they also make it relatable to the reader by detailing specific steps to help you define your business strategy, and achieve success.
Do you ever end the day and wonder where the day went? Are you unable to complete large chunks of your to-do? Well, you may be subject to a lot of distractions. In a highly charged creative environment, it can be normal to keep checking your phone, checking on your teams, and getting sidetracked by technology. However, you may have noticed that your daily goals, and consequently, your larger goals may be going amiss. Although it’s important to step away from your work from time to time, it’s more about bringing back the balance between focusing on the task at hand and other distractions you need to tend to. In this book, author Nir Eyal gives you a four-step, research-backed model that will help you do just that. It is a practical guide to controlling your time and attention to achieve the goals you need to. A must-read for all entrepreneurs!
This collection includes all of the best and most important books that you could ever pick up when it comes to understanding strategy. These ancient philosophical texts give you a real insight into how you can strategize to maximize your life.
This product was recommended by Kevin Harris from NANBF
Though this many not be one of the books that spring to mind when you think of strategy, this book by psychologist Daniel Kahneman has taught me more about strategy, and the way that humans think, than anything else. Learning about the mechanisms and fallacies that our brains use to speed up thinking has allowed me a window into the way that my competitors think (which is an incredibly useful advantage in a field like bodybuilding), and has let me deprogram these fallacies from my brain in situations where they would be non-advantageous. Overall, this book has allowed me a deeper understanding of humans, and the mistakes we can make whilst thinking, and their subsequent dire consequences – both broadening and deepening my strategic capability.
This product was recommended by Matthew Osborn from Legionary
This book trains readers to have a more strategic mindset – and it is not a surprise that it is required reading at some of the best business schools in the world. Authors Dixit and Nalebuff teach strategic principles by blending theory with real world case studies, so that readers know the ins and of good strategy, and know how to apply them to any situation. The logic is easy to follow, and though there is complex discussion (including concepts like game theory), the writing is conversational and easy to follow, making it perfect for both the interested layman, and the expert.
This product was recommended by James Parkinson from Personnel Checks
When reading a book about strategy you want to be able to gain actionable insights and feel like you can approach your business differently. This book provides practical steps to directly change your people strategy and helps to give perspective on what the future of your business should look like. In a time when employee retention has never been more important, the insightful guidance from this book has been relevant and useful – and as a note, this book isn’t just for HR folk but all business leaders.
This product was recommended by Will Cannon from Uplead
Competitive Strategy is still relevant two decades after it was first published. By doing in-depth industry analysis and taking proper measures, Michael E. Porter demonstrates to readers how to summarize and outperform competitors. General Analytical Techniques, Generic Industry Environments, and Strategic Decisions are the three sections of the book. Each chapter delves into a distinct area of researching and confronting opponents. The writing is complicated, but the topic is thoroughly explored. Competitive Strategy reads like an encyclopedia of market advantage.
This product was recommended by Will Cannon from Uplead
Measure What Matters demonstrates how sensible goals and key outcomes, or OKRs, may help firms achieve outstanding growth. The book deconstructs the process of setting, tracking, and achieving objectives using best practices such as prioritization, team alignment, and progress monitoring. Chapters use examples from renowned firms such as Google, The Gates Foundation, and Intel to exemplify these ideas.
This product was recommended by Jason Cordes from CocoLoan
Learn the principles of developing a winning strategy and leading a team to execute it. This book provides practical assistance and expert tips on everything from understanding what strategy can accomplish for you to developing a strategy and engaging people with strategy. It’s filled with vivid, pithy instances of actual leaders succeeding (and losing) with real-world techniques.
This product was recommended by Jean Will from NiaWigs
As a co-founder, I consider this book one of the most informative books that each entrepreneur should read. Because this book is a valuable and timely resource for planning and strategy. It describes how strategy is affected by the environment and why some organizations will need to outsource decision-making and asset management power to self-organizing groups and empower everyone to generate value for their customers, especially in unexpected situations.
This product was recommended by Martin Seeley from MattressNextDay
We are often pushed, pressured, and tossed around in today’s world. Though this sounds productive to some, people who constantly focus on the next thing miss the chance to keep their head in the game. This book focuses on creating a successful and meaningful life; with thoughtful strategies, we can leverage our resources to maximize our potential.
This product was recommended by Iryna Kidyba from simple.app
I would like to suggest a book Leinwand, Paul and Mainardi, Cesare The essential advantage: how to win with a capabilities-driven strategy. All companies strive to be big, but not all achieve it. Paul Leinwand and Cesare Meynardi see the reason for this in the gap between strategy and implementation. The authors analyze the experience of several global corporations that have succeeded and highlight a few basic principles of their operations. In addition to interesting and useful stories about the success of cutting-edge companies, the authors offer the reader actionable tools for exploring their own potential and achieving a similar result, as well as examples of necessary competencies in different industries.
This product was recommended by Adam Korbl from iFax
One of the greatest business planning books for novices is The Art of Strategy. The book discusses how to predict and prepare for rivals’ upcoming movements using game theory ideas. The writers demonstrate how to identify patterns in seemingly random events and inexplicable conduct using mathematical and scientific logic. The book is jam-packed with case studies and real-world examples that make game theory simple to grasp and apply in a variety of scenarios.
This product was recommended by Datha Santomieri from Steadily
This book is full to the brim with insight into the trials and tribulations of women in the workplace. “Lean In” encourages women to seek strong mentors, advocate for themselves, and assert their place in the business world. Sanderson’s sharp delivery and compelling commentary flawlessly changes the conversation from what women can’t do to what they can. The insights in “Lean In” are invaluable insights for female entrepreneurs to shape their perspectives and game plan for a successful voyage in the workforce.
