Four Business Books To Read In 2017

To find the best business, communications and leadership books to add to my "to read" list for 2017, I reached out to some of the best experts in the field. Individuals I admire and respect.

Here is what they read this year and recommend adding to your 2017 "to read" list:

Paul Smith

Organizational Storytelling Speaker, Trainer/Coach, Author

The Elegant Pitch: Create a Compelling Recommendation, Build BroadSupport, and Get It Approved, by Mike Figliuolo.

"As a storytelling trainer and consultant, I’m constantly asked by companies to help their managers 'tell a better story.' When I dig in to find out what the issues and needs are, about half the time I conclude that it’s not actually storytelling that they need. What they need is the ability to craft a simpler, more logical, and more compelling argument that they can deliver in a presentation or in a memo. The Elegant Pitch teaches that and does it well," says Paul.

Web: www.LeadWithAStory.com

Twitter: @LeadWithAStory

Paul’s books:

Lead with a Story  (Amazon #1 Bestseller in Business Communication)

Sell with a Story  (Amazon #1 Bestseller in Sales and Selling)

Parenting with a Story

Debbie Laskey

Expert in Brand Marketing, Social Media, Employee Engagement, Leadership Development and Customer Service Marketing

Leading the Unleadable – How to Manage Mavericks, Cynics, Divas, andOther Difficult People, by Alan Willett.

"There are so many how-to lead books on the market that it’s almost impossible to siphon out quality from the imposters, but Willett’s book stands apart as a must-read. Here’s the main theme of the book: While many people are destined to become leaders, how many actually create cultures of excellence where others aim to become leaders? As Willett explained, 'It is your job to provide each person you lead with inspiration, guidance, discipline, correction, training, and most of all, the opportunity to make mistakes and to excel.' Want to learn more? Visit www.leadtheunleadable.com," explains Debbie.

Debbie has served as a judge for the Web Marketing Association’s annual web award competition since 2002, and has been recognized as one of the "Top 100 Branding Experts."

Web: www.debbielaskey.blogspot.com

Twitter: @DebbieLaskeyMBA

Nathan Magnuson

Leadership Consultant, Coach, Speaker, Thought Leader

Extreme Ownership, by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin.

"I loved the gripping military stories but also the business tie-ins. The key message is that leaders can't lead until they accept the responsibilities that come with the job. I'd recommend this book to anyone faced with a critical job or project that will require 100% commitment," says Nathan.

Web: www.nathanmagnuson.com

Twitter: @NathanMagnuson

Nathan’s e-book: Trusted Leadership Advisor

David Grossman, ABC, APR, Fellow PRSA

Communications and Leadership Speaker, Consultant, Author

"This year, I re-read Lencioni's classic, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team," says David.

"Trust continues to be one of the fundamental issues organizations, teams, and leaders face. His elegant model and its components have stood the test of time, and are even more relevant today as leaders often work to build high-performing teams without addressing the most fundamental building block - vulnerability-based trust."

David is Founder and CEO of The Grossman Group, an award-winning Chicago-based communications consultancy focused on organizational consulting, strategic leadership development and internal communications.

Web: www.yourthoughtpartner.com

Twitter: @Thoughtpartner

David’s e-books include:
The Mistakes CEOs Can’t Help But Make and the Fixes They Can’t Afford Not to Make
The Definitive Guide to Taming the Email Monster.

The Courage Solution

The Courage Solution, a new book by Mindy Mackenzie, is all about the simple truth that the only thing you can reliably change or control is yourself. So, that is why Mackenzie wrote her book -- to teach you how to take actions that ultimately will improve your impact on the job and increase your happiness and fulfillment in your career.

Mackenzie's quick-read strategies focus on these four key areas:

• Part 1: You First offers techniques to take ownership and accountability for creating a career and life you love.
• Part 2: Lead Your Boss describes proven techniques to transform your relationship with your boss.
• Part 3: Lead Your Peers provides methods for accelerating positive peer relationships to improve business results.
• Part 4: Lead Your Team gives approaches for generating and creating the most effective teams and having more fun while doing it.

Mindy Mackenzie

A preview of Mackenzie's advice on  Leading Your Boss includes:

• Intensely study your boss to get to know the human being behind the mask.
• Understand the company you work for, the business you are in, how the company makes money, who the end customer is, and how what you do every day fits into the strategy of the company.
• Get the boss-employee relationship basics right.
• Make a concerted effort to elevate your thinking to an enterprise-wide perspective.
• Get in tune with your boss by knowing exactly what they are wrestling with on a weekly basis.
• Provide, honest, positive praise and affirmation to your boss--to them directly, and to their superiors and others.
• Be smart preparing your boss for your pushback, challenges, and disagreements.

Mackenzie emphasizes that this advice is not about giving your boss a pass. Rather, by leading your boss in the manner outlined above, you will have the best chance of creating a positive engagement with your boss. And, when that happens, everything around you at work will also change for the better.

Thank you to the book publisher for sending me an advance copy of the book.