Marcus Buckingham author photo

Marcus Buckingham

Marcus Buckingham is an English author, researcher, and business consultant specializing in strengths-based management, leadership, and employee engagement. Best known for co-authoring the bestsellers First, Break All the Rules and Now, Discover Your Strengths, his work has sold millions of copies globally and influenced modern workplace practices through research-driven insights and widely adopted tools.

Biography & Author's Journey

Marcus Buckingham was born in England and shaped by an early challenge: overcoming a childhood stammer that, through a pivotal moment addressing his peers, instilled in him both empathy and resilience. He later attended Cambridge University, earning a master’s degree in social and political science in 1987, and at sixteen first encountered Don Clifton of Gallup, setting the stage for a lifelong preoccupation with human potential, strengths, and performance.

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Quotes

quote
Talent is the multiplier. The more energy and attention you invest in it, the greater the yield. The time you spend with your best is, quite simply, your most productive time
-First, Break All the Rules
quote
People leave managers, not companies
-First, Break All the Rules
quote
You will excel only by maximizing your strengths, never by fixing your weaknesses
-A-Z Quotes
quote
Focusing on strengths is the surest way to greater job satisfaction, team performance and organizational excellence
-QuoteFancy
quote
You grow most in your areas of greatest strength. You will improve the most, be the most creative, be the most inquisitive, and bounce back the fastest in those areas where you have already shown some natural advantage over everyone else—your strengths
-A-Z Quotes
quote
Everyone can probably do at least one thing better than ten thousand other people
-First, Break All the Rules
quote
People don't change that much. Don't waste time trying to put in what was left out. Try to draw out what was left in. That is hard enough
-First, Break All the Rules
quote
We can never achieve goals that envy sets for us. Looking at your friends and wishing you had what they had is a waste of precious energy. Because we are all unique, what makes another happy may do the opposite for you
-Success Story
quote
The Four Keys of Great Managers: When selecting someone, they select for talent ... not simply experience, intelligence or determination. When setting expectations, they define the right outcomes ... not the right steps. When motivating someone, they focus on strengths ... not on weaknesses. and When developing someone, they help him find the right fit ... not simply the next rung on the ladder
-A-Z Quotes
quote
Define excellence vividly, quantitatively. Paint a picture for your most talented employees of what excellence looks like. Keep everyone pushing and pushing toward the right-hand edge of the bell curve
-First, Break All the Rules

Popular Books

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The Best Management Books
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The Best Management Books

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Mastering Self, Business & Human Knowledge

Mastering Self, Business & Human Knowledge

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Mastering Self, Business & Human Knowledge

This comprehensive plan is designed for ambitious leaders and entrepreneurs who realize that professional success requires a balance of internal discipline and external strategy. It bridges the gap between personal development, business execution, and psychological insight for those seeking a holistic edge.

2 h 50 m4 Sections
Master Mind, Behavior & Leadership Skills

Master Mind, Behavior & Leadership Skills

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Master Mind, Behavior & Leadership Skills

This plan bridges the gap between psychological insight and practical leadership, making it essential for aspiring executives and managers. It provides a roadmap for anyone looking to master human nature and ethical influence to drive meaningful impact.

3 h 23 m4 Sections
Master Business, Psychology & Productivity

Master Business, Psychology & Productivity

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Master Business, Psychology & Productivity

This comprehensive plan bridges the gap between technical business strategy and the human elements of psychology and performance. It is designed for aspiring leaders and entrepreneurs who want to master both the mechanics of a business and the mental models required to lead it effectively.

3 h 19 m4 Sections
Biz, Strategy, Productivity & Environment

Biz, Strategy, Productivity & Environment

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Biz, Strategy, Productivity & Environment

In today's fast-paced market, the intersection of strategic thinking and personal efficiency is the ultimate competitive edge. This plan is designed for aspiring leaders and entrepreneurs who want to master both the mechanics of business growth and the human systems that drive innovation.

2 h 47 m4 Sections

Community Voices

"Marcus Buckingham is one of the most respected authorities in the world on management and leadership"

Book Series In Order

"Marcus Buckingham’s debut, First, Break All the Rules, was named one of the top 100 business books ever and sold over a million copies"

BooksOnBoard.com

"Marcus Buckingham's style is engaging yet data-driven, challenging conventional wisdom with a focus on individuality"

BooksOnBoard.com

"Marcus Buckingham has authored several influential books examining workplace myths and truths to help people change the workplace for the better"

Book Series In Order

"Marcus Buckingham’s books blend rigorous research with practical advice, delivering roadmaps for unlocking human potential"

BooksOnBoard.com

"As Head of ADP Research Institute since 2017, Marcus Buckingham continues to influence global workplace trends"

BooksOnBoard.com

"Marcus Buckingham’s book Go Put Your Strengths to Work lays out a six-step plan for applying strengths daily"

BooksOnBoard.com

"Marcus Buckingham launched the 'strengths revolution,' transforming talent management in global companies like Toyota and Microsoft"

BooksOnBoard.com

"Marcus Buckingham introduced the StrengthsFinder tool, used by over 25 million people worldwide to identify and leverage unique talents"

BooksOnBoard.com

"Marcus Buckingham’s 2019 Harvard Business Review article, 'The Feedback Fallacy,' was deemed one of HBR’s most influential"

BooksOnBoard.com

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