Power to the Middle: Why Managers Hold the Keys to the Future of Work

Bill Schaninger, Bryan Hancock, and Emily Field

Harvard Business Review, 270 pp., $32

The term "middle manager" often has a negative connotation. In Power to the Middle, McKinsey thought leaders call for a complete reimagining of the role and what the position means to companies around the world. The authors assert that because of middle managers' proximity to both employees and company strategy, they take on a critical role in guiding their companies through complex changes. The authors also discuss managers' role in talent acquisition and retention. Finally, Power to the Middle offers readers a new model for companies to change how they hire, train, and reward midlevel managers.

Positive Communication for Leaders: Proven Strategies for Inspiring Unity and Effective Change

Julien C. Mirivel and Alexander Lyon

Rowman & Littlefield, 248 pp., $24

The authors use their combined years of experience consulting and training leaders to offer readers tips and tools to lead effectively, create community, and inspire positive change. Each of the book's chapters is built around a core skill. Positive Communication for Leaders uses practical examples, stories from practitioners, and meaningful exercises to help readers improve those skills. Creating and maintaining positive relationships is crucial for leaders, and this book is designed to help leaders apply the enumerated core skills across their organizations to cultivate those relationships.