Best Leadership Books
Sharing my views and experience throughout Big-Hearted Leadership has been incredibly rich and meaningful, and it means a great deal to me that it has helped so many current and aspiring leaders in our communities. And, while I’m honored to share my philosophy on effective leadership, I embrace the input of other thoughtful individuals on the subject as well. If you’re looking to add additional management books to your collection, I’m sharing my own personally curated list for some of the best leadership books:
Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t by Simon Sinek
The concept behind the title comes from the military practice of Marine Corps officers getting in line for their meal after all of those with lower seniority have been served. This daily ritual underscores the importance of leaders’ willingness to sacrifice their own comfort for the good of those they serve, and it makes for a powerful analogy as the central tenet of the book. Sinek is a well-respected thought leader on the subject of organizational behavior, and his TED talk “Start with Why” consistently ranks in the 25 most popular.
Wooden on Leadership: How to Create a Winning Organization by John Wooden with Steve Jamison
Team sports make for an excellent and practical study of organizations and leadership, and I can’t think of many in a position to offer insights along those lines than universally revered college basketball coach John Wooden. Wooden is a prime example of the humble leader who instills the philosophy of putting the good of the team first in all of his players, and his fundamentally sound advice serves as a valuable playbook for the leadership team of any organization.
Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler
While this one is not strictly categorized as a leadership book, I still include it among the best leadership books I own. It’s a great primer on communication, specifically aimed at providing a strategy for maintaining logic and balance in crucial, high pressure interactions. Any leader or aspiring leader would benefit from a read or a review of this straightforward and practical book.
Dare to Lead: Tough Work. Brave Conversations. Whole Hearts. by Brene Brown
Another pop-culture icon and hugely popular TED talk creator, Brene Brown has earned her reputation as a psychology guru of sorts. She is a researcher and professor at the University of Houston, and in this, her most recent #1 New York Times Bestseller, she writes “I define a leader as anyone who takes responsibility for finding the potential in people and processes, and who has the courage to develop that potential.” Her work speaks to cultivating and empowering leaders or aspiring leaders by encouraging vulnerability and bravery, and her background, research and experience provide the credibility to make her presentation compelling.
Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose by Tony Hsieh
Written by the founder of hugely successful internet retailer Zappos.com, this book underscores the concept that passion for one’s work is the key to fulfillment, happiness and success. Hsieh recounts his foundation, his missteps, and his ultimate success in a book that is both witty and moving, but it is his focus on intentional and thoughtful creation of an organization’s culture that makes this such a valuable read for leaders of all kinds.
Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike by Phil Knight
As a brand, Nike has gone from barely noticeable to iconic, and that journey in itself sparks interest. Add in that the creator and long-time CEO of the brand is notoriously private and in this book offers up a remarkably in-depth look into his life and the early, struggling days of the company, and this becomes a must-read. Knight urges those seeking career advice early in life to find their calling–what they must-do–rather than a career or a job, and this along with his obvious passion for his work make this not just a favorite book of mine but one that both Bill Gates and Warren Buffett count among their picks for the best leadership books as well.
