Best Business Management Books of 2026

StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath is a national bestseller and an upgraded version of Gallup's online assessment. It helps individuals to identify their strengths and apply them to their personal and professional lives. The book includes a personalized Strengths Discovery and Action-Planning Guide, a customized version of the top five theme report, and 50 Ideas for Action. The book is loaded with hundreds of strategies to apply one's strengths and change the way they perceive themselves and the world around them. The book is highly recommended for individuals looking to identify their strengths and leverage them for success.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: 30th Anniversary Edition is a timeless classic that has transformed the lives of millions of people of all ages and occupations. With modern additions from Sean Covey, this book presents a principle-centered approach for solving both personal and professional problems. The book includes seven habits that have become famous and integrated into everyday thinking by millions of people worldwide. The wisdom of the 7 Habits is more relevant than ever, and the emphasis on self-renewal is exactly what people need now. This book is a must-read for anyone looking to achieve success in their personal and professional lives.

The book "Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High, Third Edition" focuses on effective communication skills, especially in difficult situations. It provides readers with techniques to be persuasive instead of abrasive, navigate high-stakes conversations, and handle digital communication. Written in an engaging style, the third edition includes modern-day issues and challenges. The authors, Joseph Grenny, Kerry Patterson, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler, and Emily Gregory, are international corporate consultants and leaders at Crucial Learning. The book is a must-read for anyone looking to improve their communication skills and build better relationships, whether at work or home.

Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect is a national bestseller that offers essential lessons in hospitality for every business. Written by Will Guidara, former co-owner of legendary restaurant Eleven Madison Park, the book explores how to transform ordinary transactions into extraordinary experiences through over-the-top, bespoke hospitality. Guidara’s insights on leadership and entrepreneurship are applicable to all industries, making this book a must-read for anyone seeking to improve their business. Overall, Unreasonable Hospitality is a refreshing and inspiring read that highlights the power of going above and beyond for your customers and team.

Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Wickman is a practical guide that offers a solution to the common frustrations faced by entrepreneurs and business leaders. The Entrepreneurial Operating System® (EOS) outlined in the book helps to strengthen the six key components of a business, providing simple yet powerful ways to run a company with more focus, growth, and enjoyment. With over 1 million copies sold, the book has received positive reviews from readers who have implemented the EOS method and seen significant improvements in their business productivity and operations. Overall, Traction is a must-read for anyone seeking practical solutions to achieve business success.

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team is a leadership fable and business handbook that explores the behavioral tendencies that undermine teamwork. Author Patrick Lencioni weaves a page-turning tale that follows Kathryn Petersen, the CEO of DecisionTech, as she navigates the ultimate leadership crisis. This 20th-anniversary edition includes a new foreword from the author reflecting on the book's legacy and lessons. The book offers a powerful model and step-by-step guide to overcome team dysfunctions and get everyone rowing in the same direction. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team is a must-read for modern executives, managers, and organizations seeking to build high-performing teams.

The First 90 Days by Michael D. Watkins is a must-read for anyone who is transitioning into a new leadership role. Watkins offers proven strategies and practical tools to help conquer the challenges of transitions, no matter where you are in your career. He identifies the most common pitfalls new leaders encounter, provides the tools and strategies you need to avoid them, and teaches how to secure critical early wins. This updated and expanded version of the international bestseller is a trusted guide for anyone starting a new job or being promoted from within. Overall, it's a valuable resource for leaders who want to succeed in their new roles.

Good to Great by Jim Collins is a must-read for business leaders who want to understand how some companies achieve enduring greatness. Collins and his team identified a set of elite companies that made the leap to great results and sustained them for at least fifteen years. The book provides insights into the universal distinguishing characteristics that cause a company to go from good to great. The findings of the Good to Great study will surprise many readers and shed light on virtually every area of management strategy and practice. Overall, this book is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to build a great company.

The "Radical Candor: Fully Revised & Updated Edition: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity" is a highly recommended book for anyone looking to improve workplace relationships. Kim Scott's concept of Radical Candor provides a practical approach to effective leadership, emphasizing the importance of caring personally and challenging directly. The book helps leaders avoid the perils of Obnoxious Aggression, Manipulative Insincerity, and Ruinous Empathy, and create a culture of compassionate candor, build a cohesive team, and achieve results collaboratively. Overall, this book is an excellent read for managers, team leaders, and anyone looking to improve their leadership skills.

Scaling People: Tactics for Management and Company Building by Claire Hughes Johnson is a practical guide to building and scaling a company's most important resource: its people. The book offers tactical information on crafting foundational documents, strategic planning, hiring, team development, and feedback mechanisms, all of which can be applied to companies of any size and industry. The author provides dozens of pages of worksheets, templates, exercises, and example documents to help company builders create scalable operating systems and lightweight processes. Overall, Scaling People is a detailed roadmap for creating sustainable and scalable companies that are set up for long-term success.