I absolutely love reading and it’s by far my favorite way to consume content! I read about 3-4 business books a month and 1-2 fiction books. Since I’m always curious about what other people are reading, I thought I’m using this platform to share with you what business books I’ve read over the course of each month and what my biggest takeaways were.
WHAT I’VE READ IN AUGUST
ROCKET FUEL BY GINO WICKMAN & MARC C. WINTERS
This book perfectly describes the core essence of every successful business: a balanced relationship between the visionary and the integrator.
The “Visionary” (who sees the future) and the “Integrator” (who makes that future happen) couldn’t be more different from each other, but when they work well together it becomes the rocket fuel to any business.
The book starts by explaining the different roles of the Visionary and the Integrator: their strengths, their weaknesses, the challenges working together.
It then describes the ideal organizational chart of any business which is led by the Visionary on top, followed by the Integrator who oversees all department managers. It’s important to understand this organizational chart as this heavily influences communication and accountability.
Wickman and Winters also share how Visionaries and Integrator can find their perfect match and how they can establish a healthy relationship that will make any business thrive;
Biggest take-away: It’s crucial to communicate the role of an integrator to all team members. Your employees will be used to get directions directly from the business owners and they will need time to adjust to having a new supervisor. Transparency will establish the necessary trust to establish effective relationships.
Needing an integrator in your business? Lucky you, because you’re in the exact right place. Let’s chat and see if we’re a match 💞.
TRACTION BY GINO WICKMAN
The book Traction, which is a perfect add-on to Rocket Fuel (or the other way round ;)), is for every business owner who lacks structure in their business. Stagnant profits? Lacking control? Frustrated employees? Hitting a ceiling? If you feel like nothings working in your business, this book is the perfect handbook to get a grip on your business. Even though the book was written for larger organizations, it has very practical tips for any type of business and is a great reference to revisit every couple of months to optimize your business operations.
Biggest take-away: Most entrepreneurs clearly see their vision. The problem is that they think that everyone else in the business sees it clearly too. But mostly, they don’t. This results in unrealized potential as managers get frustrated, employees are confused and the business navigates without a compass. As business owner, it’s important to get your vision down on paper, communicate it across all levels and make sure all decisions are bringing you closer to realizing your vision.
