One of the questions I get most often is: “What books or resources do you recommend for managers?”

Whether you’re new to leadership or have been managing for years, there’s always something new to learn. And honestly, most of what makes a great manager comes from small, practical things - the conversations you have, the questions you ask and how you can handle the moments that don’t go perfectly.

In the below video and blog, here are five resources that I come back to again and again (including one coming soon that I hope you do!). They’re not abstract or just theory - they’re real, useful and full of things you can actually apply right away. 

1. Radical Candor by Kim Scott

This is a classic for a reason. Radical Candor is all about balancing care and challenge - how to communicate clearly and directly while still showing genuine care for your team.

One of my favorite parts is how Kim Scott talks about the different “chapters” of your career - how there are times where you might be more focused on work, and others where life outside of work takes priority. It’s a good reminder that work - and leadership - isn’t one-size-fits-all.

When I was leading HR and Legal teams, I actually ran an internal book club around Radical Candor. It led to some of the most open and productive conversations we ever had as a group - people shared stories, challenges, and real examples of where feedback had gone well (or not).

You can find a free book club guide on her website if you want to do the same with your team.

Order the book here
Book Club Guide here

2. Ask Powerful Questions by Will Wise & Chad Littlefield

This book is such a great resource if you want to improve your one-on-ones or team discussions. It’s all about the idea that connection comes from curiosity - and that the way you ask a question completely changes the response you get.

There’s a whole section about how to get people to actually participate in discussions and trainings at work -  not just sit quietly and nod (or, worse, feel like the meeting could’ve been an email). One of my favorite parts highlights a research study on increasing real voter participation, and it explains an approach that I’ve used (and shared with organizations to use) for getting people to participate in things like manager training. It’s a simple, effective way to boost engagement... without any additional budget.

Also, as I explain in the video, I love how it reframes “why” questions into “how” and “what” questions, which opens up conversations instead of shutting them down.

Order the book here

3. Lessons from the Drive-Thru by Monica Rothgery

This one’s a gem that's fairly new, but it's become one of my go-to favorites. Monica Rothgery combines lessons from her time in the military, in restaurants, and in corporate leadership - and the result is one of the most down-to-earth, practical leadership books I’ve read.

She shares examples from working in KFC and Taco Bell, leading through challenges, and what to do when things go wrong - because they always do. The stories are honest, sometimes funny, and always relatable.

The biggest takeaway for me is that great leadership looks the same across industries: it’s about showing up, communicating clearly and staying steady when things get messy (whether that's corporate messy, or "taco messy").

Order the book here

4. Harvard Business Review Magazine

I’m a big believer that as a manager, you need data to make good decisions - and HBR is one of the best places to get it.

You can subscribe to the physical magazine (which I love flipping through), but for me, one of the best parts of an HBR subscription is the digital access to all their past research. Pretty much anything you’re trying to do at work - whether it’s leading change, giving feedback, managing burnout, or improving communication -  you can find solid, research-backed articles on it.

Their content takes big academic ideas and breaks them down into something you can actually use in real life.

Subscribe to the magazine (and get the digital library access) here

5. The Manager Method

And finally - my upcoming book, The Manager Method. My new book is officially up for pre-order, and the early responses have been incredible.

This one’s been years in the making, and it’s all about giving managers a practical framework to handle everyday situations with confidence. It walks through a three-part approach you can use whether you’re hiring, giving feedback, managing conflict, or leading through change.

As a sneak peek, one section talks about what I call “tight jeans managers” - the micromanagers who hold on too tightly and end up restricting their team. But sometimes, leaders swing too far in the other direction and give too much freedom. In the book, you'll find out what I call that type - and what to aim for (and do) instead.

This book is for real managers, dealing with real situations and looking for real tips - not theory. The soon-to-be-announced leader who wrote my foreword said they picked it up and couldn’t stop reading, which means so much coming from them. I’m excited to share it with you soon, along with bonus tools like discussion guides for your teams. You can pre-order here, and get bulk orders for an organization or group. 

Individual pre-orders here
Bulk pre-order here

We're All Trying to Figure It Out the Best We Can

I’ve spent a lot of time trying to find the best tips I can on leadership - and been around enough managers, from brand-new people leaders to board directors, to know that everyone’s still figuring it out.

That’s why I wanted to share a few of the resources that have really helped me along the way. Whether you’re managing now or thinking about it one day, pick one thing and give it a try.

The best managers aren’t perfect - they’re curious, learning and open to trying new things. I’m still learning too, and I always love hearing what’s helped other people along the way.