The shelf
that built the job.
These are the books I hand to new managers. Every one of them changed something concrete about how I run teams: how we forecast, how we talk to each other, and how we keep score.
-
When Will It Be Done?
I had the pleasure of working with Dan at Ultimate Software for a few years. His book taught me and my teams how to replace unreliable estimates like story points and velocity with data-driven, probabilistic forecasting: historical cycle times, flow metrics, and Monte Carlo simulations. It has absolutely shaped how I look at teams and productivity.
-
Radical Candor
This book reinforced what I already knew to be true: be honest with your employees. It's the kind thing to do.
-
The 4 Disciplines of Execution
This one gave me a lot of insight on how to keep the main thing the main thing. It reinforced the value of metrics and of giving my teams a simple scoreboard they can look at to know when they're winning or losing. I loved that.
-
Fierce Conversations
Not really a book, more like a training I would highly recommend to anyone who manages people. Full of practical guides that helped me become the manager and director I am today without sucking, while building great relationships and having good conversations along the way.