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Project management is a challenging career. Becoming an excellent project manager takes a lot of discipline and experience. However, you can speed up the process by reading books that help you excel in your career.
The following are the top 9 books you should read to become a successful project manager:
Top 3 Books Every Project Manager Should Read To Be Successful
1- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
| Author | Stephen R. Covey |
| Type | Self-Help Book |
| Date Published | 1989 |
The 7 habits of highly effective people provide an in-depth analysis of the habits every project manager needs to develop to become very effective and successful in their career and life.
2- The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business
| Author | Charles Duhigg |
| Type | Self-Help Book |
| Date Published | 2012 |
This book contains scientific discoveries that explain why habits exist and how they can be changed. As project managers, habits are important to manage projects as we always aim to be more proactive in our work.
3- How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big
| Author | Scott Adams |
| Type | Self-Help Book |
| Date Published | 2013 |
How mindset and the way you look at things change your perspective. There are steps to follow to improve your performance at anything and go from failure to success.
Top 3 Books To Improve Your Communication As A Project Manager
1- How To Win Friends And Influence People
| Author | Dale Carnegie |
| Type | Communication Book |
| Date Published | 1936 |
This old book is still the best communication and business book you can ever read. This book gives you principles and communication skills suitable for project management. It is written to improve communication but also to formulate long-lasting relationships.
2- How To Talk To Anyone
92 Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships
| Author | Leil Lowndes |
| Type | Communication Book |
| Date Published | 1999 |
Written on the same principles as How To Win Friends And Influence People, this book provides a step-by-step guide to being more confident in social situations, especially in business and project management, with cool 92 tricks.
3- Crucial Conversations: Tools For Talking When Stakes Are High
| Author | Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Al Switzler, Ron McMillan |
| Type | Communication Book |
| Date Published | 2002 |
Crucial communication is the perfect book for project managers to improve their communication skills. Negotiation, winning relationships and maintaining a highly technical conversation are skills all project managers need to learn, and this book offers that and more.
Top 3 Books To Imporve Your Management Skills (Textbooks)
1- Project Management For The Unofficial Project Manager
| Author | Kory Kogon, Suzette Blakemore & James Wood |
| Type | Management Book |
| Date Published | 2002 |
Wanna have a holistic approach to project management? This book gives you detailed insights and tips to manage projects efficiently, even if you do not have a management background.
2- A Guide To The Project Management Body Of Knowledge
| Author | Project Management Institute |
| Type | Management Book |
| Date Published | 1996 |
The complete guide to project management with all the important terminologies and principles that every project manager needs to learn.
3- The Art Of Project Management
| Author | Scott Berkun |
| Type | Management Book |
| Date Published | 2005 |
This book covers all aspects of project management, from time management to managing people and budgets.
