On Twitter @JustChezBubbles recently started the hashtag #SBMreadinglist which I thought was a fab idea.
I often talk with people about books that they would recommend, because I’m always looking for good fiction and non-fiction books to add to my own wish list.
We are using the hashtag on Twitter to share the books that we think our fellow school business managers/leaders would enjoy.
It’s interesting how many non-education books are being recommended, many are looking outside the sector for inspiration.
I have added links to the books on Amazon, but they are obviously available from a range of retailers.
The #SBMreadinglist so far (in no particular order!)…
Purpose Driven Leadership – Brigette Hyacinth (@MbaCaribbeanOrg)
Recommended by @JustChezBubbles
“It was recommended to me because of the importance of leadership skills for an SBM who will often be leading a multi disciplinary team.”
The Million Dollar Blog – Natasha Courtenay-Smith
I have read this book and loved it. This book is a must read for bloggers and aspiring bloggers. Read my full review of the book here:
https://www.shropshiresbm.org/2017/08/book-review-the-million-dollar-blog/
Fierce Conversations – Susan Scott
Recommended by @Schoolburs
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/Fierce-Conversations-Achieving-Success-Conversation-ebook/dp/B000P28V2M
Total Competition – Ross Braun & Adam Parr
Recommended by @lauraljbusiness
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Total-Competition-Lessons-Strategy-Formula/dp/1471162354
The Virgin Banker – Jayne-Anne Gadhia (@gadhiaj)
Recommended by @dawnboyes
“Always good to learn from outside the sector.”
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Virgin-Banker-Jayne-Anne-Gadhia-ebook/dp/B01N1898VH
The Lazy Optimist – Martin Gladdish
Recommended by Lisa Polhill (via LinkedIn)
Link to webpage (watch the video): https://www.lazyoptimist.co.uk/
“Capture your dreams before the lights go out.”
Grit – Angela Duckworth (@angeladuckw)
Recommended by @Sturner1970
Black Box Thinking – Matthew Syed (@matthewsyed)
Recommended by @Sturner1970
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Black-Box-Thinking-Surprising-Success-ebook/dp/B00PW634YQ
Who Moved My Cheese? – Dr Spencer Johnson
Recommended by @SJJones2014
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Who-Moved-My-Cheese-Amazing/dp/0091816971
Academies Financial Handbook – DFE (@educationgovuk)
Weblink: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/academies-financial-handbook
Leadership for Innovation – John Adair
Recommended by @Alison_m_moon
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Leadership-Innovation-Organize-Creativity-Harvest/dp/0749454792
Leadership Matters – Andy Buck (@Andy_Buck)
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Leadership-Matters-Leaders-Levels-Schools/dp/1909717908
Staying Ahead – Viv Grant (@vivgrant)
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Staying-Head-Management-Secrets-Successful/dp/0992925002
Leading From The Edge – James Hilton (@jameshilton300)
Recommended by @JustChezBubbles
“I particularly liked the chapter about dealing with tricky staffing situations and also the section about breaking patterns of thinking.”
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Leading-Edge-School-Recognising-Overcoming/dp/1472917340
Where Will I Do My Pineapples? – Gill Kelly
Recommended by @BurgeHelen
“This is an easy and informative read if you are embarking on a new build.”
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/pineapples-little-building-Independent-Thinking/dp/1845906969
Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking – Malcolm Gladwell
Recommended by @lauraljbusiness
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blink-Power-Thinking-Without/dp/0141014598
Assertiveness at Work – Ken Back & Kate Back
Recommended by @SquashyKat
“Good one for brushing up general leadership skills.”
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Assertiveness-Work-Situations-Professional-Management/dp/0077114280
Uplifting Leadership – Hargreaves, Boyle & Harris
Recommended by @Alison_m_moon
“Easy and inspiring read when studying MBA”.
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Uplifting-Leadership-Organizations-Communities-Performance/dp/1118921321
Our Iceberg is Melting – John Kotter
This is another book that I have in my Leadership Library…
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Books/Our-Iceberg-Melting-Changing-Succeeding-Under-Conditions/0230014208
The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference – Malcolm Gladwell
Recommended by @lauraljbusiness
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tipping-Point-Little-Things-Difference/dp/0349113467
Don’t Change The Lightbulbs – Rachel Jones
This is one of my favourite books, each section is written in Twitter style, scribed by well known Twitteratti. It’s an easy read and covers a range of topics, it’s a book I often pick up and browse.
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dont-change-light-bulbs-switched/dp/1781352119
Quiet Power – Susan Cain (@susancain)
Recommended by @lauraljbusiness
@Team_UK_SLT tweeted about this book “I plan on sharing bits of this with staff… an excellent read. I will no longer say “I wish he would speak up more”.”
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Quiet-Power-Growing-Introvert-Talking/dp/0241273552
Outliers: The Story of Success – Malcolm Gladwell
Recommended by @lauraljbusiness
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Outliers-Story-Success-Malcolm-Gladwell/dp/0141036257
When The Adults Change Everything Changes – Paul Dix (@pivotalpaul)
@Stephen_Logan tweeted about this book “CPD gold via @pivotalpaul powerful words on empowering, involving and reflecting underlying them ‘Leadership’.”
@TLideas tweeted about this book “Just finished @pivotalpaul and have one hell of a to do list for September! It’s an absolute game changer and I can’t wait to get started”.
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/When-Adults-Change-Everything-Changes/dp/1781352739
The Impact Code – Nigel Risner (@nigelrisner)
It’s A Zoo Around Here – Nigel Risner (@nigelrisner)
Recommended by Sandy Tomlinson
Amazon Link to The Impact Code: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Impact-Code-Live-Life-Deserve/dp/1841127167
Amazon Link to It’s A Zoo Around Here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Its-Zoo-Around-Here-Communication/dp/0954683609
I bought both of these books after hearing Nigel present at the National NASBM Conference last year. I would thoroughly recommend these, although they were more meaningful to me having heard him speak. If you have the opportunity book on to an event where he is speaking you won’t regret it, he is very entertaining with a message that will have an impact on the way you lead.
Eat That Frog – Brian Tracy
Recommended by Sandy Tomlinson
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/cka/Eat-That-Frog-More-Important-Things-Today/1444765426
How To Run An Academy School – Katie Paxton-Doggett
Recommended by @5N_Afzal
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Academy-School-Katie-Paxton-Doggett-x/dp/18607261
Lean In – Sheryl Sandberg (@sherylsandberg)
Recommended by @SJJones2014
“I found it amazingly powerful in terms of self belief.”
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lean-Women-Work-Will-Lead/dp/0753541629
Strong Woman – Karren Brady (@karren_brady)
Recommended by @ShropshireSBM
This is a book that I recently read and enjoyed. It also inspired two of my recent blog posts:
Customer Connection: https://www.shropshiresbm.org/2017/05/customer-connection/
Look the part, speak the part!: https://www.shropshiresbm.org/2017/05/look-the-part-speak-the-part/
Making The Leap – Jill Berry (@jillberry102)
Recommended by Crown House Publishing: https://www.crownhouse.co.uk/publications/making-the-leap
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Making-Leap-Moving-Deputy-Head/dp/17858316
Leadership Dialogues – John West-Burnham & Dave Harris (@BraveHead)
We had a comment direct from Dave Harris via Twitter account @BraveHead about why this book is useful for SBMs “The book is arranged over 40 topics aimed for the whole leadership team. Financial decisions should never be considered in isolation.”
https://www.crownhouse.co.uk/authors/john-west-burnham
If any SBMs have read this or decide to read it, please let us know your comments.
What next…
This is just a fun thing for the summer, we may come up with a more formal list depending on the response.
We would love to know your suggestions for books to read that would provide great CPD for school business managers/leaders.
Which book has had real impact on your career or personal development?
If you have any suggestions please let me know the title, author and why you would recommend it. I want to create a useful list. If you have a Twitter account it would be useful to add that too.
I have on order a couple of books that aren’t on the list yet. Firstly ‘The Million Dollar Blog’ which @workingSBM is reading; and will hopefully help me to improve what I am doing here on my blog. Secondly ‘How to Style Your Brand’ because I am interested in the concept of branding having read Karren Brady’s book ‘Strong Woman’.
#SBMreadinglist #BeTheChange
I think you should have “Lean In” by Sheryl Sandberg on here as I found it an incredibly powerful book.
A great suggestion, I will add it to the list.
Great stuff. I’m still a great fan of ‘Good to Great’ by Jim Collins, although it’s a long time since it came out (2001) – useful reading for SBMs and their Senior Leadership teams, I would suggest. Great on leadership, and on successful business models.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Good-Great-Jim-Collins/dp/0712676090
And thank you for including ‘Making the Leap’! It’s important that SBMs understand the process of headteacher changeover and how they can support and ensure it is successful for the sake of the school.
Thank you Jill, the list is proving to be popular. Thank you for making a recommendation, I will add it to the #SBMreadinglist