Leadership is not about titles or positions but about cultivating a skill set that will help you lead others toward greatness. These must- read books will improve your thinking, increase your confidence and provide you with the tools you need to become a better leader.
We have rounded up 20 great books that will give you a glimpse into the minds of other leaders, and how they’ve faced challenges in their past.
21 irrefutable laws of leadership by John Maxwell is gold!
What would happen if a top expert with more than thirty years of leadership experience were willing to distill everything he had learned about leadership into a handful of life-changing principles just for you? It would change your life.
John C. Maxwell has done exactly that in The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. He has combined insights learned from his thirty-plus years of leadership successes and mistakes with observations from the worlds of business, politics, sports, religion, and military conflict.
Grow Rich With Peace of Mind by Napoleon Hill
In this exciting book, the renowned author of THINK AND GROW RICH, Napoleon Hill, reveals his latest discoveries about getting what you want–and making the most of it. Here, in simple, readable language, are the foolproof techniques for achieving the power to earn money and to enjoy genuine inner peace. You wil learn: how to succeed in life, succeed in being yourself; how to develop your own healthy ego; how to win the job you want–and keep going upward; how to turn every challenge into a new success, and more.
Tribes by Seth Godin is a classic
In this book, author Seth Godin reveals the most powerful unit of social organization: the “tribe,” or a group of people connected to a cause, a leader and each other, who together drive change in society. It shows us how we can harness the power of the internet to form and lead our own tribes. Tribes also advocates the universal need for change and leadership, so we can grow as a company or as a society.
Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek.
In this book, Simon Sinek explains how we can create companies that treat people how we were designed initially; to fully believe our well-being and safety are protected by those who are leading us. The underlying foundation for the ‘Circle of Safety’ is trust, and this circle of trust is crucial for our employees and team members to meet their maximum potential. A company that focuses on sustaining a culture free from internal dangers will reap many benefits such as low levels of stress & anxiety, fulfillment, reduced turnover, increased profits, and out-performing competitors. This book is an easy read with easy to apply leadership rules and lessons. If you feel like the culture in your organization needs a boost, we recommend that you pick up this book.
Lead Like Jesus by Ken Blanchard.
With simple yet profound principles from the life of Jesus, and dozens of stories and leadership examples from his life experiences, veteran author, speaker and leadership expert Ken Blanchard guides readers through the process of discovering how to lead like Jesus. He describes it as the process of aligning two internal domains-the heart and the head-and two external domains, the hands and the habits. These four dimensions of leadership form the outline for this very practical and transformational book.
Good to Great by Jim Collins.
Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap… and Others Don’t is a management book by Jim C. Collins that describes how companies transition from being good companies to great companies, and how most companies fail to make the transition. The book was a bestseller, selling four million copies and going far beyond the traditional audience of business books.
Emotional Intelligence 2.0- Travis Bradberry.
In today’s fast-paced world of competitive workplaces and turbulent economic conditions, each of us is searching for effective tools that can help us to manage, adapt, and strike out ahead of the pack. Emotional intelligence (EQ) needs little introduction. This “other kind of smart” is the #1 predictor of success personally and professionally. But knowing what EQ is and knowing how to use it to improve your life are two very different things. Drs. Jean Greaves and Travis Bradberry reveal TalentSmart’s proven strategies for increasing emotional intelligence. The authors unveil a step-by-step program for increasing your emotional intelligence via 66 proven strategies that target self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management.
Radical Candor by Kim Scott.
Radical Candor is about caring personally and challenging directly, about soliciting criticism to improve your leadership and also providing guidance that helps others grow. It focuses on praise but doesn’t shy away from criticism—to help you love your work and the people you work with.
The Vision Driven Leader by Michael Hyatt.
In The Vision Driven Leader, New York Times bestselling author Michael Hyatt offers six tools for crafting an irresistible vision for your business, rallying your team around the vision, and distilling it into actionable plans that drive results. Based on Michael’s 40 years of experience as an entrepreneur and executive, backed by insights from organizational science and psychology, and illustrated by case studies and stories from multiple industries, The Vision Driven Leader takes you step-by-step from why to what and then how. Your business will never be the same.
Developing a leader within you by John Maxwell.
Developing the Leader Within You is Dr. Maxwell’s first and most enduring leadership book, having sold more than one million copies. In this Christian Leaders Series edition of this Maxwell classic, you will discover the biblical foundation for leadership that John Maxwell has used as a pastor and business leader for more than forty years. These same principles and practices are available for everyday leaders in every walk of life. It is a lofty calling to lead a group—a family, a church, a nonprofit, a business—and the timeless principles in this book will bring positive change in your life and in the lives of those around you.
Marcus Aurelius – Meditations.
Written in Greek by the only Roman emperor who was also a philosopher, without any intention of publication, the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius offer a remarkable series of challenging spiritual reflections and exercises developed as the emperor struggled to understand himself and make sense of the universe. While the Meditations were composed to provide personal consolation and encouragement, Marcus Aurelius also created one of the greatest of all works of philosophy: a timeless collection that has been consulted and admired by statesmen, thinkers and readers throughout the centuries.
Start with why by Simon Sinek .
In studying the leaders who’ve had the greatest influence in the world, Simon Sinek discovered that they all think, act, and communicate in the exact same way—and it’s the complete opposite of what everyone else does. Sinek calls this powerful idea The Golden Circle, and it provides a framework upon which organizations can be built, movements can be lead, and people can be inspired. And it all starts with WHY.
Leadership Gold by John C Maxwell.
Bestselling author and leadership guru Dr. John C. Maxwell wants to help you become the smartest leader you can be by sharing Leadership Gold with you. After more than forty years of leading and teaching, Maxwell has mined the gold so you don’t have to. Each gold nugget is contained in one of twenty-six chapters designed to be a six-month mentorship from the international leadership expert.
A leader among leaders, Maxwell promised himself early in his career that he wouldn’t write this book until he was sixty. Now, the time is finally here.
5 levels of leadership by John C. Maxwell
Use this helpful book to learn about the leadership tools to fuel success, grow your team, and become the visionary you were meant to be. True leadership isn’t a matter of having a certain job or title. In fact, being chosen for a position is only the first of the five levels every effective leader achieves. To become more than “the boss” people follow only because they are required to, you have to master the ability to invest in people and inspire them. To grow further in your role, you must achieve results and build a team that produces. You need to help people to develop their skills to become leaders in their own right. And if you have the skill and dedication, you can reach the pinnacle of leadership—where experience will allow you to extend your influence beyond your immediate reach and time for the benefit of others.
The Leader’s Greatest Return by John C. Maxwell
In The Leader’s Greatest Return, you will be instructed on:
The Leadership Table – Create a place where people not yet leading at your level can come, be welcomed and try on leadership.
The 7 Motivators – Review the seven motivators and discover what motivates each person and then lead him or her accordingly.
Team Success – Use the 10-80-10 method to set people up for success and empower them to perform at a high level.
Who to Grow as a Leader – Love and value everyone but use the Pareto principle to choose who to grow as a?leader.
This is where leaders really experience the compounding value of developing leaders and go to the highest levels of leadership themselves. The Leader’s Greatest Return is perfect for anyone who wants to take the next step in their leadership, build their organization or team today, and create their legacy for tomorrow needs to read.
Leadership 101 by John C. Maxwell
In Leadership 101, Maxwell will teach you how to:
Follow your vision and bring others with you
Produce a lasting legacy
Grow the loyalty of your followers
Make continual investments in the quality of your leadership
Increase your ability to influence others
Determine your leadership “lid”
Empower others through mentoring
Create a foundation of trust
Use self-discipline to improve your character—and your results
One of the keys to successful leadership is applying the concepts that have made other leaders strong. Here’s your opportunity to do just that.
The 21 Indispensable qualities of a great leader by John C. Maxwell
In the tradition of his CBA bestseller “The 21 Irrefutable laws of Leadership” and his sell-out seminars, author John C. Maxwell now provides a concise, accessible leadership book that helps readers become more effective leaders from the inside out. Daily readings highlight twenty-one essential leadership qualities and include “Reflecting On It” and “Bringing It Home” sections which help readers integrate and apply each day’s material.
Dare to lead by Brené Brown.
Dare to Lead is a counternarrative about modern workplace culture, that offers vulnerability, trust, values, and resilience as the most crucial leadership qualities. Daring to lead is about being brave enough to embrace leadership that exposes fear and uncertainty.
The 7 Habits of highly effective people by Stephen R. Covey
Stephen R. Covey’s book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, continues to be a bestseller for the simple reason that it ignores trends and pop psychology and focuses on timeless principles of fairness, integrity, honesty, and human dignity.
One of the most compelling books ever written, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, has empowered and inspired readers for over 25 years. It’s also played a part in the transformation of millions of lives across all age groups and professions.
No matter how competent a person is, they will not have sustained and lasting success unless they can effectively lead themselves, influence, engage and collaborate with others and continuously improve and renew their capabilities. These elements are at the heart of personal, team, and organizational effectiveness.
The first 90 days by Michael D. Watkins.
Since its original release, The First 90 Days has become the bestselling globally acknowledged bible of leadership and career transitions. In this updated and expanded 10th anniversary edition, internationally known leadership transition expert Michael D. Watkins gives you the keys to successfully negotiating your next move—whether you’re onboarding into a new company, being promoted internally, or embarking on an international assignment.
