Five essentials books for engineering managers
There are many great books that engineering managers, in my opinion, should read. However, some of them are a must-read, especially for new managers.
As many people said before me — going from an IC to management is not another career step up. It’s a totally new career. I believe it to be an extremely gratifying career but not an easy one. You’ll need some advice.
Reading good books is like talking to the most intelligent people whenever you want and at the pace you want.
There are many great books that engineering managers, in my opinion, should read. However, some of them are a must-read, especially for new managers.
The Manager’s Path
Topic: Being a manager
The book
Whether you’re a new engineering manager or a seasoned leader seeking fresh advice, this book provides actionable insights. From mentoring interns to collaborating with senior staff, this book offers tips for overcoming various challenges one will face as a manager.
Expectations from a manager.
Being a good mentor or a good tech lead.
How to manage team members while remaining focused on the entire team.
How to manage yourself. How to avoid common pitfalls that challenge many leaders.
Manage multiple teams and learn how to manage managers
Learn how to build and bootstrap a unifying culture in teams.
The author
Camille Fournier is an accomplished manager, VP of Engineering and CTO.
Radical Candor
Topic: Giving feedback
The book
Radical Candor provides a comprehensive guide for those feeling overwhelmed or drained by the challenges of management. Tailored for both leaders and those managing superiors, this book draws on extensive firsthand experience and presents practical advice in a clear and concise manner.
Radical Candor serves as an essential handbook ideal for individuals seeking purpose in their work, it helps create an environment where both the job and colleagues are loved, fostering motivation for continuous success.
“Reading Radical Candor will help you build, lead, and inspire teams to do the best work of their lives.”— Sheryl Sandberg.
The author
Kim Scott is the co-founder of “Radical Candor”. Together with Jason Rosoff, they help rid the world of bad bosses.
Previously, Kim was a CEO coach at Dropbox, Qualtrics, Twitter, and other tech companies. She was a member of the faculty at Apple University. Prior to that, she led AdSense, YouTube, and DoubleClick teams at Google.
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
Topic: Building a team
The Book
“The Five Dysfunctions of a Team” is a leadership and management book written by Patrick Lencioni. Published in 2002, the book uses a fictional narrative to illustrate the author’s insights into team dynamics and the common pitfalls that hinder team success.
The five dysfunctions are:
Absence of Trust
Fear of Conflict
Lack of Commitment
Avoidance of Accountability
Inattention to Results
The Author
Patrick Lencioni is the founder and president of The Table Group, a firm dedicated to helping leaders improve their organizations’ health since 1997.
The One Minute Manager
Topic: Management
The Book
The book describes three steps of the management process — goal setting, praising and reprimanding.
Set short and precise goals for your team
Give immediate praise when someone’s doing their job well.
Give immediate feedback and correct action when someone’s doing something wrong.
Excellent book written as a timeless tale.
The Author
Ken Blanchard is one of the most influential leadership experts. Ken is also the co-founder and chief spiritual officer of The Ken Blanchard Companies®, an international management training and consulting firm that he and his wife, Margie Blanchard, began in 1979 in San Diego, California.
The Coaching Habit
Topic: Mentoring and Coaching
The Book
Managers are subtly conditioned to believe that they must have all of the answers, but that is not true. The best leaders ask great questions to help their teams reach their own conclusions.
By using specific, thoughtful, open-ended questions that don’t presume a “right answer” or “wrong answer,” leaders can help team members introspect and become more autonomous.
“Michael Bungay Stanier distills the essentials of coaching to seven core questions. And if you master his simple yet profound technique, you’ll get a two-fer. You’ll provide more effective support to your employeesand co-workers. And you may find that you become the ultimate coach for yourself.”
— Daniel H. Pink, author of To Sell Is Human and Drive
The Author
Michael founded Box of Crayons, a learning and development company that helps organizations transform from advice-driven to curiosity-led. He currently leads MBS.works, a place where people find the clarity, confidence and community to be a force for change.
There are many more great books for new engineering managers. However, I found these five books the most beneficial and essential for managers.
What are your favourite management books?