The Best Books For Learning To Lead A Startup

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Leading a startup can be an amazing opportunity, but it can also be intimidating. Startup founders and CEOs will find themselves regularly making big decisions about the company’s direction, and will be tasked with growing the business and hiring the right staff.

But learning how to run a business is now easier than ever. Thankfully, hundreds of successful founders have put pen to paper and shared their learnings to provide expert guidance around what to expect.

What Are Some Of The Biggest Challenges For Startup Leaders?

Startup leaders will regularly come up against a number of challenges. Some of these include:

Pitching for funding: A big part of startup life is pitching for funding. These presentations usually come with lots of grilling, especially around the business plan, brand and growth. Good pitching skills are very important for any leader looking to grow a startup.

Growing the business: Once funding is secured, startup leaders will be tasked with growing the business and making it profitable. This growth will be closely followed by any investors, so maintaining it is very important.

Managing and retaining employees: A huge challenge when running a business is not only finding the right employees, but retaining them too. Business leaders will have to create an appealing company culture, provide good benefits and ensure that all workers see clear progression in the company. Recruitment can be very expensive, so finding the right team is important.

Work / life balance: One of the hardest parts about founder life is finding the time to switch off. Starting your own business can be very rewarding, but it can also take up a lot of time. Maintaining that balance is difficult but central to any successful leader.

Need more guidance? Here, we take a look at some of the best books for learning how to lead a startup.

Start Small, Stay Small

This book is a step by step guide to starting a startup without any investment.

The book talks through how effective marketing is the difference between good and bad businesses, and helps leaders envision how to get their brand in front of customers.

Buy the book here.

High Growth Handbook

Entrepreneur and investor Elad Gil talks through how to scale startups from 10 to 10,000 people.

The book focuses on important leadership elements, like how a CEO should lead, to managing a board, recruiting and managing funding. It’s a great guide for founders looking to grow fast.

Buy the book here.

The Innovator’s Dilemma

A huge part of running a business is staying ahead of the curve when it comes to innovation. The rise to the top can be a long slog, and the fall can be fast.

This book talks about how to become a disruptor, and how to stay at the top.

Buy the book here

One Minute Manager

Managing people isn’t easy. This book breaks down the basics by talking through different methods that have worked across many businesses.

The book focuses on psychology as a basis for management, and is a great tool for any business person looking to lead a team.

Buy the book here.

Startup Leadership

This book by Derek Lidow helps startup founders lead successful businesses that become self-sustainaing.

It’s a master in teaching people how to navigate and use failure to come out on the other side, helping to build resilient and successful businesses.

Buy the book here

The Startup Owner’s Manual

This book is as a step-by-step guide for building a startup.

It was created by Silicon Valley expert Steve Blank and talks through the step by step process of bringing a business to life.

Buy the book here.

The Art of the Start 2.0

Guy Kawasaki shares his insights on how to launch a startup.

This book covers topics from fundraising and pitching to hiring and branding, making it a useful resource for new entrepreneurs.

Buy the book here