Though promotions are always fun—particularly when a financial bump is, as it should be, involved—sometimes they can be stressful as well. It’s not easy to transition from managing yourself to managing others, and not everyone finds it natural to boss his or her peers around. No matter how comfortable you are in your new role, we suggest you add the following books to your library ASAP in the hopes of becoming a manager who is successful, efficient, happy and well-liked.
Girl Boss 101
Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us
, $8
You probably know this from your time as an employee—unfortunately, what motivates people to work hard and well is not the pursuit of money or fancy titles. This books explores the real reasons we get out of bed each morning for our jobs, and how to best rally your employees around the particular cause of their workplace.
Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don't
, $13
The author of this book conducted extensive research to find out how some companies transcended mediocrity to become hugely successful, and in a sustainable way. Read it to find out what a Level 5 leader is, and why this type of manager is necessary in order for a company to achieve greatness.
Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead
, $15
This book has gotten some flack for being a handbook which caters specifically to women with a certain amount of privilege, but it's an inspiring read for women who lead both teams and families nonetheless. While we wait for corporations to change the way they operate to better enable women to "have it all," we have no choice, as ambitious female bosses, but to lean in within the existing system—this book will teach you how from someone who's built her legacy around doing so.
, $15
The original version of this book was a classic business read for 30 years. It was updated in 2015 to be more relevant to the modern, technology-dependent working world of today, but the principles of great leadership it teaches remain fundamentally the same. If you're looking for a quick read with digestible action items, this book should float to the top of your stack.
The Truth about Leadership: The No-fads, Heart-of-the-Matter Facts You Need to Know
, $15
This book helpfully boils down years and years of research into bite-sized advice and is littered with mantras that will stay with you long after reading. Its authors took the stories of literally thousands of leaders and distilled them down into takeaways you can easily skim the book for because, you know, you're a busy boss girl now.
This 10-year-old tome has been updated for the modern workplace and will help you to identify the "nice-girl" mistakes you might be making as a first-time manager.
Leave Your Mark: Land Your Dream Job. Kill It in Your Career. Rock Social Media., $15
While this book isn't specifically for managers, it's definitely the most fun read on the list given it was penned by the genius brain behind @DKNYPR girl. Its message centers around the very modern idea that your personal brand is your most valuable asset, no matter where you work, and its something you should continue to foster no matter which rung of the ladder you're on. There's also a chapter entitled "When You Get To The Top, Don't Be An Asshole," which might be worth a glance as you assume a leadership role.
, $17
Many women who start their own businesses in this day and age have never managed people before, and sometimes this lack of experience can be a severe handicap. Get first-hand accounts of the trials and tribulations which come with being your own boss (and, through that, the boss of others) from women who've tried and succeeded at both.
