A curated reading plan to grow as an Engineering Manager and leader. Dedicate ~45 minutes daily to reading or listening to these incredible books.
1. The First Time Manager by Jim McCormick
- Audiobook: Audible Link
- Summary: A practical guide for new managers, covering essential skills such as delegation, communication, and trust-building.
- Objective: Develop foundational management skills and gain confidence in your first leadership role.
2. Leading Snowflakes by Oren Ellenbogen
- Audiobook: Not available
- Summary: Offers actionable advice on leading software engineers by focusing on trust, culture, and effective technical leadership.
- Objective: Understand the nuances of managing highly skilled, autonomous engineering teams.
3. The Making of a Manager by Julie Zhuo
- Audiobook: Audible Link
- Summary: A relatable guide to navigating the transition into management, filled with anecdotes and practical tips.
- Objective: Learn the mindset shifts needed to succeed and thrive as a first-time manager.
1. An Elegant Puzzle by Will Larson
- Audiobook: Audible Link
- Summary: Explores systems thinking, team organization, and scaling engineering operations.
- Objective: Adopt scalable frameworks for managing complex team structures and processes.
2. The Manager’s Path by Camille Fournier
- Audiobook: Audible Link
- Summary: Covers the entire journey from individual contributor to CTO-level leadership, focusing on skills needed at each stage.
- Objective: Understand the career progression in engineering leadership and prepare for each transition.
3. Become an Effective Software Engineering Manager by James Stanier
- Audiobook: Audible Link
- Summary: A hands-on guide about running one-on-ones, improving team processes, and helping engineers grow.
- Objective: Master day-to-day management practices that directly impact team health and success.
1. Indistractable by Nir Eyal
- Audiobook: Audible Link
- Summary: Provides strategies for overcoming external and internal distractions, emphasizing the psychology of focus.
- Objective: Hone your ability to concentrate and maintain high productivity.
2. Atomic Habits by James Clear
- Audiobook: Audible Link
- Summary: Teaches how small, consistent habit changes can yield massive personal and professional growth.
- Objective: Build and sustain positive habits to consistently level up your performance.
3. Building a Second Brain by Tiago Forte
- Audiobook: Audible Link
- Summary: Introduces a systematic approach to organizing your digital notes and knowledge.
- Objective: Enhance personal knowledge management to improve creativity and decision-making.
1. Radical Candor by Kim Scott
- Audiobook: Audible Link
- Summary: Advocates for transparent, caring feedback and building trusting relationships within teams.
- Objective: Foster a culture of open communication to elevate team morale and performance.
2. Dare to Lead by Brené Brown
- Audiobook: Audible Link
- Summary: Focuses on vulnerability, courage, and trust as cornerstones of effective leadership.
- Objective: Cultivate an environment where team members feel safe to innovate and take risks.
3. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni
- Audiobook: Audible Link
- Summary: Explains the common pitfalls that prevent teams from reaching their full potential.
- Objective: Identify and address issues like lack of trust, fear of conflict, and absence of accountability.
1. From Worst to First by Gordon M. Bethune
- Audiobook: Audible Link
- Summary: Chronicles how Bethune turned Continental Airlines around, highlighting the impact of culture and decisive leadership.
- Objective: Understand the financial and cultural levers that drive business transformations.
2. Hacking Growth by Sean Ellis and Morgan Brown
- Audiobook: Audible Link
- Summary: Provides a framework for rapid experimentation and growth in product and marketing.
- Objective: Learn growth principles to align engineering priorities with business objectives.
3. Fall in Love with the Problem, Not the Solution by Uri Levine
- Audiobook: No official audiobook link found
- Summary: Emphasizes the importance of focusing on customer problems rather than jumping to solutions.
- Objective: Develop a problem-first mindset, ensuring product and engineering initiatives address real user needs.
1. Build by Tony Fadell
- Audiobook: Audible Link
- Summary: Insights from the creator of the iPod and iPhone on designing impactful products and leading innovation.
- Objective: Learn the principles of product creation from ideation to mass adoption.
2. Empowered by Marty Cagan
- Audiobook: Audible Link
- Summary: Focuses on empowering product teams to solve problems autonomously, with guidance on effective leadership.
- Objective: Enable cross-functional teams to take ownership and drive customer-centric innovation.
3. The Mom Test by Rob Fitzpatrick
- Audiobook: Audible Link
- Summary: A straightforward method for validating ideas through better customer conversations.
- Objective: Acquire interviewing and user feedback techniques to reduce product risk.
1. Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull
- Audiobook: Audible Link
- Summary: Offers a behind-the-scenes look at Pixar’s creative processes and how to foster innovation.
- Objective: Encourage a culture of continuous improvement and creativity in your teams.
2. Turn the Ship Around! by L. David Marquet
- Audiobook: Audible Link
- Summary: Shares how shifting leadership practices on a U.S. Navy submarine transformed performance and morale.
- Objective: Adopt a “leader-leader” mindset, decentralizing decision-making and empowering your team.
3. Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin
- Audiobook: Audible Link
- Summary: Navy SEAL-based leadership lessons emphasizing accountability and discipline.
- Objective: Strengthen personal responsibility and instill accountability across your organization.
1. How Big Things Get Done by Bent Flyvbjerg
- Audiobook: Audible Link
- Summary: Explains why large-scale projects often fail and how to improve planning, forecasting, and execution.
- Objective: Learn strategies to manage scope, risk, and stakeholder expectations effectively.
2. Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
- Audiobook: Audible Link
- Summary: Nobel Prize-winning insights into cognitive biases and decision-making processes.
- Objective: Improve critical thinking and avoid common biases when overseeing complex projects.
3. Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss
- Audiobook: Audible Link
- Summary: Former FBI negotiator reveals techniques for effective negotiation in high-stakes scenarios.
- Objective: Enhance your ability to navigate conflicts and negotiate project resources or deadlines.
1. The Dichotomy of Leadership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin
- Audiobook: Audible Link
- Summary: Balances the principles of Extreme Ownership with practical nuances—when to lead and when to follow.
- Objective: Develop a balanced approach to leadership that adapts to changing situations.
2. Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me) by Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson
- Audiobook: Audible Link
- Summary: Examines cognitive dissonance and how people rationalize errors, offering strategies for accountability.
- Objective: Learn to acknowledge mistakes, address them openly, and foster an environment of continuous learning.
1. No Rules Rules by Reed Hastings and Erin Meyer
- Audiobook: Audible Link
- Summary: Explains Netflix’s unique culture of freedom and responsibility, and how it drives innovation.
- Objective: Explore bold cultural strategies that encourage autonomy, candor, and high performance.
2. It Doesn’t Have to Be Crazy at Work by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson
- Audiobook: Audible Link
- Summary: Challenges the always-busy culture, advocating calm, focused work and sustainable productivity.
- Objective: Create a balanced work environment that reduces burnout and improves results.
1. The Art of Leadership by Michael Lopp (Rands)
- Audiobook: Audible Link
- Summary: Insightful essays on navigating leadership challenges, from team-building to managing executives.
- Objective: Broaden your perspective on organizational dynamics and executive-level concerns.
2. High Output Management by Andy Grove
- Audiobook: Audible Link
- Summary: Intel’s legendary CEO shares timeless advice on managing teams, measuring performance, and scaling operations.
- Objective: Understand how to streamline processes, improve productivity, and amplify your leadership impact.
1. Range by David Epstein
- Audiobook: Audible Link
- Summary: Argues that generalists often excel over specialists, especially in complex, unpredictable fields.
- Objective: Encourage diverse skill development and cross-functional thinking.
2. The Ride of a Lifetime by Bob Iger
- Audiobook: Audible Link
- Summary: Disney’s CEO recounts lessons learned in creativity, innovation, and leadership during transformative acquisitions.
- Objective: Gain high-level leadership and strategic insights applicable to any industry.
3. TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking by Chris Anderson
- Audiobook: Audible Link
- Summary: Offers practical advice on crafting and delivering powerful presentations.
- Objective: Refine your communication skills to inspire and inform audiences effectively.
1. Hell Yeah or No by Derek Sivers
- Audiobook: Audible Link
- Summary: A collection of short essays encouraging intentionality and clarity about what truly matters.
- Objective: Learn to say “no” to what’s not essential, freeing time and energy for your highest priorities.
2. How Will You Measure Your Life? by Clayton Christensen
- Audiobook: Audible Link
- Summary: Harvard Business School professor applies business theories to personal life choices, focusing on fulfillment.
- Objective: Reflect on personal values and align your career with a purpose-driven life.
3. The Almanack of Naval Ravikant by Eric Jorgenson
- Audiobook: Audible Link
- Summary: Insights on wealth, happiness, and decision-making from tech investor and philosopher Naval Ravikant.
- Objective: Gain mental models for living a more fulfilling, leveraged, and principle-driven life.
- Daily Reading/Listening (45 minutes): Dedicate consistent time each day to maintain momentum.
- Take Notes & Reflect: Keep a journal or digital notes on insights, challenges, and real-life applications.
- Discuss & Share: Encourage team discussions or set up a mini book club to deepen understanding.
- Apply: Implement at least one key lesson from each book in your work or life.
- Periodic Review: At the end of each month, revisit your notes to measure progress and adapt your approach if needed.
Below are extra ideas to further enrich your learning journey, reflecting modern education techniques, emerging tech trends, inclusive leadership practices, and new final suggestions for conferences, personal brand, retrospectives, wellness, real-world case studies, and formalizing insights.
- Pair each month’s theme with online courses, YouTube lectures, or micro-learning platforms (e.g., LinkedIn Learning, Coursera).
- Use AI-powered summarization tools (e.g., ChatGPT Plugins) for quick reviews or clarifications.
- For each book, pick a concept to apply. Example: after Radical Candor, commit to giving direct yet caring feedback in your 1:1s.
- Document lessons learned in a shared wiki (Notion, Confluence) to track improvements and challenges.
- Invite colleagues from Product, Design, or Business teams for topics like Hacking Growth or Empowered.
- Host “lightning talks” or lunch-and-learns to spark innovation across departments.
- Use habit-tracking apps (e.g., Habitica, TickTick) to maintain consistency in reading.
- Integrate daily reading tasks into your calendar or project management tool (e.g., Asana, Trello).
- After each month, create a 1-page cheat sheet of key takeaways.
- Share internally (Slack, email newsletters) to scale knowledge across the organization.
- Pair your learning with a coach or mentor to discuss monthly takeaways, focusing on real-world application.
- Explore “reverse mentorship” with junior leaders for fresh perspectives on modern tech and workplaces.
- Supplement months covering business or product leadership with resources on AI, data engineering, or DevOps transformations.
- Follow reputable sources (MIT Technology Review, Gartner) for cutting-edge insights.
- After Month 12, compile your top insights into actionable proposals for your team or organization.
- Present these ideas in a “demo day” style session to gather feedback and possibly implement them.
- Set up a points or badges system for completing books, writing reviews, or applying lessons.
- Host a year-end ceremony or “graduation” highlighting key accomplishments and personal growth stories.
- Add optional books like Inclusify (Stefanie K. Johnson) or Emotional Intelligence (Daniel Goleman) for a more inclusive, empathetic approach.
- Conduct regular team health checks or psychological safety surveys to ensure open, welcoming environments.
- Attend conferences or meetups (virtually or in-person) to learn from experts, discover new trends, and expand your professional network.
- Action Idea: Research one leadership or tech conference each quarter and share key learnings with your team.
- Build a strong personal brand to attract top talent, influence culture, and establish yourself as a trusted leader.
- Action Idea: Publish short LinkedIn posts or internal blogs summarizing each month’s book takeaways.
- Schedule a quick “MBA Retro” each month to assess what worked, what didn’t, and how to pivot.
- Ensures your reading list and extra activities remain aligned with current challenges.
- Integrate wellness strategies (meditation, brief digital detoxes, exercise) to maintain high energy and reduce burnout risks.
- Action Idea: Pair reading sessions with short walking breaks; model healthy work habits for your team.
- Supplement book learnings with timely examples from reputable newsletters (Harvard Business Review, MIT Tech Review).
- Discuss one recent case study or major industry shift each month to stay agile and informed.
- Capture your journey in a personal leadership wiki or playbook for future reference or new managers.
- Over time, build a living guidebook that others can benefit from, ensuring continuity and knowledge sharing.
Embark on this 12-month journey to sharpen your leadership, deepen your business acumen, and expand your personal growth—all without the hefty cost of a traditional MBA.
Share this plan with your team so everyone can grow together. May it serve as both a structured guide and a flexible blueprint, ready to adapt to the fast-paced world of modern engineering leadership.
Good luck on your leadership adventure!