Take Control Of Your Coronavirus Information Consumption

You don’t want to be ignorant of the Coronavirus news happening outside your world of business, work and life. However, now may be a good time to work on your business skills, grow your knowledge and take some control over the information you consume. We asked business travelers for their best reading picks and we came up with this list which covers a wide range of issues — from the realities of financial concerns and how to be a dynamic leader to discovering the one thing you need to do to make your life more productive.

Radical Candor: Be a Kick-A** Boss Without Losing Your Humanity (2nd Edition)

By Kim Scott

The title says it all. Leaders and managers need to be radically candid. Author Kim Brown explains how and why leaders who adopt the Radical Candor™ management philosophy — caring personally while challenging directly — create a culture of compassionate feedback, build cohesive teams and achieve great results. Available for purchase on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Business Data Science: Combining Machine Learning and Economics to Optimize, Automate, and Accelerate Business Decisions

By Matt Tandy

This book is an important reminder that much of the initial value in data science is not found in massive datasets, but rather in applying econometrics and simple machine learning models to real business problems. In this book, author Matt Taddy explains how to use machine learning to implement leading business data science. Perfect for business leaders who want to take a deep dive into data. Available for purchase at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion

By Dr. Robert Cialdini

Sales are all about persuasion, about convincing customers and clients that they don’t just want what you have to offer, they need it. Dr. Robert Cialdini doesn’t necessarily provide tips and tricks for increasing your business’ sales. This book is all about understanding what makes people tick, why they say “yes” instead of “no,” and how to use that knowledge to your advantage. Available on Amazon.

Payoff: The Hidden Logic That Shapes Our Motivations

By Dan Ariely

Can giving employees bonuses harm future productivity? Why is trust so crucial for successful motivation? What are our misconceptions about how to value our work? This book explores these questions and more in an attempt to understand what truly motivates us in both our professional and personal lives. As the author puts it, “Explore the jungle of motivation’s true nature, as well as our blindness to its strangeness and complexity.” Available for purchase on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Sizing People Up: A Veteran FBI Agent’s User Manual for Behavior Prediction

by Robin Dreeke and Cameron Stauth

The authors of this book explain how the same tactics used to detect spies and criminals can be applied to the business world. Whom should I trust? Is this guy going to deliver? What did that comment in the meeting really mean? Is she seriously going to buy or is she stringing me along? Hiring, sales, leaders and business development will benefit from this interesting book, Sizing People Up co-author Dreeke is a former head of the FBI’s counterintelligence behavioral analysis program. Available on Amazon.