496: Build a Team, Stay Focused, and Make Better Decisions with David Dodson

I’ve had the chance to interview a number of professor/authors in the past. Today’s guest is both of those things, but with decades of experience as a CEO and entrepreneur to boot.

david dodson

He is Stanford Graduate School of Business professor David Dodson. His new book is called The Manager’s Handbook: Five Simple Steps to Build a Team, Stay Focused, Make Better Decisions, and Crush Your Competition.

Managers, David says, desperately want a crisp, how-to book that will show them―in one single title―the way to master the most important skills necessary to run an organization. The Manager’s Handbook organizes the five essential skills of effective implementation into one, simple-to-read, easy-to-use, book. 

It’s an essential playbook for managers, executives, board members, and other business leaders interested in dramatically improving their ability to lead people and inspire loyalty.

You’ll learn how to get better at running any kind of organization by breaking down each essential skill into bite-sized sub-skills you can easily and quickly learn.

I hope you’ll click the play button below to learn more about David and his work. For a summary, just keep scrolling.

Join in on our chat below

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In today’s episode, I ask David about:

  • How to hire and onboard the best people
  • How to give performance feedback that has an impact
  • How to get really intentional about how you spend your time
  • And lots more!

Order David’s Book

You can order your copy of The Manager’s Handbook: Five Simple Steps to Build a Team, Stay Focused, Make Better Decisions, and Crush Your Competition right now!

Consider Ordering My Book Too!

Purchase a copy of my new book (written with Jesse Wisnewski) Read to Lead: The Simple Habit That Expands Your Influence and Boosts Your Career. There, you can also download the introduction and first chapter for free!

Note-Making Mastery Cohort AND the Read to Lead Community

Note-Making Mastery Cohort is now available as a self-paced course! Check it out. Also, consider giving ReadtoLead+ a try free for two weeks!

David in Action

Books David Recommends

What is Strategy? An Illustrated Guide to Michael Porter by Joan Magretta and Emile Holmewood

David mention a book titled Rational Irrationality which I was unable to find (save for a book about compostion). I’m not certain, but I believe he may have intended to reference this book by Steven Pinker:

Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, and Why It Matters by Steven Pinker

Check Out These Additional Resources from David

Grab a copy of David’s book now.

Check out his website for more from David.

Invite David to come speak to your group.

Connect with David personally on LinkedIn and Twitter.

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Finally, thanks for listening and remember, “Leaders read and readers lead.”