The Art of Managing People is great for growing good, competent managers. It's a classic. The Art of Managing People is a particularly good choice for Techies making the transition to management. The authors are explicit about the roles of technical expertise and people smarts. They tell you why you need to know this stuff. It drives home the value of relating to the people who work for you and around you as a necessary component of getting work done. Then it goes, chapter by chapter, into the details of understanding your co-workers in terms of personality traits. Finally, it discusses essential interaction skills including listening skills, getting feedback, and using body language. This book is unique in that it doesn't only provide some checklists for how to proceed, but it also covers behavioral, personality, and decision making styles. It helped me identify my styles and preferences, and told me what to watch out for when interacting with others.