The Platinum Rule: Discover the Four Basic Business Personalities and How They Can Lead You to Success by Tony Alessandra and Michael J. O'Connor is a book about understanding and working with different personality types in the workplace. The authors argue that the key to success in business is to understand that people have different communication styles and preferences, and to tailor your approach to each individual.
The Disney Way: Harnessing the Management Secrets of Disney in Your Company is a book by Bill Capodagli and Lynn Jackson that explores the business practices and management principles that have made The Walt Disney Company so successful. One of the key elements of The Disney Way is the concept of putting yourself in the customer's shoes. This idea involves understanding the customer's perspective and taking steps to ensure that their experience is as positive as possible. Disney is known for its exceptional customer service and attention to detail, and the authors suggest that this is in large part due to the company's commitment to putting itself in the customer's shoes.
Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions by Dan Ariely is a captivating exploration of the irrational behaviours that influence our decision-making processes. Drawing on numerous experiments and research studies, Ariely reveals the hidden factors that drive our choices and challenges the assumption of human rationality in economic decision-making.
Meeting Architecture: A Manifesto by Maarten Vanneste is a revolutionary guide for designing meetings that are highly engaging, efficient, and productive. Vanneste introduces a comprehensive methodology known as Meeting Architecture that focuses on the design and structure of meetings rather than the content or topics discussed. The book’s main premise is that meetings, whether in business or other contexts, are often poorly structured and waste valuable time. By applying meeting design principles, Vanneste argues, meetings can be transformed into meaningful experiences that lead to effective decision-making, enhanced collaboration, and a clear focus on outcomes.
“Managing for Stakeholders: Survival, Reputation, and Success" by R. Edward Freeman, Jeffrey S. Harrison, and Andrew C. Wicks is a comprehensive examination of stakeholder theory and its application in modern business. The book argues that organisations should prioritise the interests of all stakeholders—not just shareholders—to achieve long-term success and sustainability. This approach, known as stakeholder management, involves identifying, understanding, and balancing the needs and concerns of various groups that are affected by or can affect the organisation.
In Dealing with Difficult Customers: How to Turn Demanding, Dissatisfied, and Disagreeable Clients into Your Best Customers, author Noah Fleming provides valuable insights into how to effectively handle challenging customer interactions. The book is divided into three sections, each focusing on a different aspect of dealing with difficult customers.