There comes a time when leaders feel stuck in a rut, unable to solve problems or constantly being blindsided by events.
That is because they lack wisdom and character, they don’t have the appropriate knowledge of themselves and of the situation.
Books provide valuable information for leaders to grow and to improve themselves.
Reading has to play an important part in leadership.
The following books will help you improve your self-awareness, develop your character, build your vision and your purpose.
1. The Alchemist
Author: Paulo Coelho
Ratings: 4.5/5
The Alchemist outlines the journey of a leader.
It teaches us to be ourselves and to follows our heart and gut.
It reminds us that failure always brings us closer to our success and that all we need is already within us.
2. The Four Agreements
Author: Don Miguel Ruiz
Ratings: 4.5/5
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz gathers four “agreements” to live by to ensure a better lifestyle, a deeper understanding of life, a life in the moment.
He encourages us to be impeccable with our words, to not take anything personally, to not making assumptions and to do our best.
3. Radical Candor: How to Get What You Want by Saying What You Mean
Author: Kim Scott
Ratings 3/5
In Radical Candor: How to Get What You Want by Saying What You Mean, Kim Scott reveals ways to be truthful, to develop candid relationships.
Being truthful without being a bully is difficult. Candor comes with risks but it will determine your level of success in the long run.
4. Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges
Author: Amy Cuddy
Ratings: 3.5/5
Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges, Amy Cuddy gives advice on managing nonverbal cues to induce Presence, identifying your best authentic self, nurturing your boldest self, and creating personal power.
It is useful for leaders who want to get in touch with their best self.
5. H3 Leadership: Be Humble. Stay Hungry. Always Hustle.
Author: Brad Lomenick
Ratings: 4/5
H3 Leadership: Be Humble. Stay Hungry. Always Hustle., Brad Lomenick draws conclusions from his personal leadership style and allies spirituality with leadership.
He shares various tips on being a better leader. He also urges us to define who we are, to identify where you are going and how you will get there.
6. Principles: Life and Work
Author: Ray Dalio
Ratings: 3/5
Dalio shares many principles to navigate life and work.
Ray Dalio encourages us to stay open-minded, to find and speak truth in order to live a healthier lifestyle, to meet our goals and to handle setbacks.
7. Tribes: We need you to lead us
Author: Seth Godin
Ratings: 3/5
In Tribes: We need you to lead us, Seth Godin declares that everybody wants and needs to belong to a tribe.
He also demonstrates how challenging the status quo is a simple way to create your own tribe, to build your fellowship, to define your leadership without forcing people.
8. No One Understands You and What To Do About It
Author: Heidi Grant Halvorson
Ratings: 4/5
In No One Understands You and What To Do About It, Heidi Grant Halvorson explores the prominent reasons why we are often misunderstood.
She also gives useful advice on how to clean up our reputation, to clarify a difficult situation.
9. What Got You Here Won’t Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful
Author: Marshall Goldsmith
Ratings: 4/5
In What Got You Here Won’t Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful, Marshall Goldsmith helps you identify all the 21 bad behaviors that are currently holding you back from success.
He also provides different solutions so you develop your character and be your best self at work.
10. Get Out of Your Own Way: Overcoming Self-Defeating Behavior
Author: Mark Goulston, Philip Goldberg
Ratings 3/5
Mark Goulston and Philip Goldberg list all the common self-defeating habits that we have acquired in life and have brought to work.
In order to achieve success, they show us how to get out our own way, how to stop self-sabotaging, how and what to change.
11. Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit Of Less
Author: Greg Mckeown
Ratings: 4/5
Essentialism is a thought process that drives success, that improves your decisions making and time management skills.
In Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit Of Less, Greg Mckeown replaces the false assumptions that we can do it all, that being busy means being productive, that we must accept every single opportunity that comes our way.
12. Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us
Author: Daniel H. Pink
Ratings: 4/5
In Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, Daniel H. Pink shows us that people are not motivated by common external factors such as money or fame.
Daniel H. Pink reveals that people’s behaviors are mostly driven by purpose, passion, autonomy, a need for self-improvement and for self-imposed goals.
Leaders can use that innate drive to increase productivity, improve performance and build stronger teams.
13. Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
Author: Angela Duckworth
Ratings 3/5
In Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, Duckworth defines Grit as a combination of resilience, determination, purpose and passion.
According to Angela Duckworth, anyone can acquire grit. Furthermore, people with grit are more successful than people who are talented but who don’t put in work.
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