Being a startup founder can be tough. From leading funding rounds to making sure the team are happy whilst navigating crises, it’s not for the faint hearted.
A founder is involved in every area of the business, from the operations to the team and financials. That means that when an issue arises, they are likely to be involved in trying to solve it.
But how do you learn what to do when a crisis strikes and your startup needs to fight for survival? Whilst there’s no ‘fix-all’ answer, there are definitely some tools that can help. And luckily, some of the best and brightest minds in the business world put pen to paper to answer that very question.
Let’s take a look.
The Best Books For Financial Crises
When a company is struggling with its cash flow or it loses important customers, these books can help you regain control:
Profit First
Profit First is not just good for dealing with a financial crisis, but can also help prevent it.
The book talks about how profit should be used to calculate expenses, not the other way around. By structuring their business finances in this way, founders can make sure they are always making decisions with healthy cash flow in mind.
The Psychology of Money
Dealing with money well isn’t just about how you use it, it’s about how you behave with it.
This book is all about how to make good decisions when it comes to finances. Whilst it can be applied to your personal life, it contains useful information for businesses too.
The Best Books For People Crises
A happy team is at the heart of every successful startup. These books talk about how to help you get them back on track:
The Five Dysfunctions Of A Team
Written as a fable, this book explores how to lead and motivate a team to get them working productively again.
The book includes a step by step guide to overcome these dysfunctions, leading a team back to being on the same page.
Leadership in Turbulent Times
Though not necessarily about business, this book analyses the leadership styles of Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Franklin D. Roosevelt.
By exploring how these world-famous leaders tackled difficult situations and mobilised the entire country, founders can explore aspirational leadership styles in times of crisis.
Radical Candor
This book is all about how to lead with empathy, whilst also retaining a strong backbone. It explains the importance of being kind and clear at the same time.
Written by an ex-leader at Google, the book explores how to manage people, navigate tricky situations and care deeply about the team you are working with.
The Best Books For Marketing Crises
Sometimes even the best marketing ideas can head in unexpected directions. Whether it’s a campaign that isn’t working or you’ve come up against a PR crisis, these books will help you turn things around:
Growth Hacker Marketing
For startups with limited budgets, this book explores down how to achieve massive growth through innovative marketing tactics.
The book is all about innovative and lateral thinking when it comes to marketing, drawing on the importance of constant change and evolution. As businesses grow, learning how to quickly adapt can help combat any negative marketing decisions.
Crisis Management: Planning For The Inevitable
A crisis can creep up on you, and if you don’t act fast – it can have a very negative effect on your business.
This book is all about how to prepare for a crisis and what to do if one arises. With hands-on advice and examples to bring them to life, it’s a great book to have on hand when a crisis hits.
