“Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers” was first quoted by Harry Truman and the Truman Library Institute has President Truman’s recommended reading list to prove it. Though times may have changed since Truman shared his reading list, reading is still vital to becoming a better business leader. The following books will help you get started.
With hundreds of ways to define leadership, there are even more ways to grow within a leadership … [+]
1. The Predictable Profits Playbook — Charles E. Gaudet II
In The Predictable Profits Playbook: The 7- and 8-Figure CEOs’ Guide to Generating Consistent and Sustainable Growth, Charles E. Gaudet II challenges leaders to examine why one entrepreneur has to struggle through eighty hours a week just to make half as much as the entrepreneur working twenty. He debunks the age-old beliefs of working hard and clawing your way to the top, sharing advice on building the right processes, systems, and teams.
In this book Gaudet shows entrepreneurs how to boost marketing dollars that results in a consistent revenue stream.
2. Change Your Mindset, Change Your Life — Garrain Jones
Author, coach, and speaker, Garrain Jones has surmounted difficulties and obstacles most will never encounter. Jones’ mission is to help others dig out the gifts inside them, so they can follow in his footsteps and live extraordinary lives.
In Change Your Mindset, Change Your Life: Lessons of Love, Leadership and Transformation, he shares his proven strategy that changing your mindset can change your life. Jones breaks down the aspects he deems vital to becoming and living a successful life. He helps leaders determine what is holding them back from greatness, how to build confidence, and the importance of positive thinking.
3. Agile Companies — MJV Innovation
This book encompasses concepts on business transformation, design, thinking, and agility. MJV Innovation is a global consultancy to Fortune 500 companies around the world.
In their newest book, the MJV Innovation team teaches readers how to produce more value for customers and distinguish themselves from the competition. Agile Companies: A Practical Guide breaks down MJV Innovation’s five work models – Scrum, Kanban, Scaled Agile, Metrics, and Design Thinking. This book teaches entrepreneurs about the Agile mindset, business agility, and management systems that focus on managing systems, not people.
4. The Extraordinary Power of Leader Humility — Marilyn Gist, PhD
Professor Marilyn Gist knows about leadership and has successfully taught students how to be great leaders for years. In fact, she led the development of the leadership EMBA degree program at Seattle University, which is ranked eleventh best in the nation. One of her core beliefs is that leadership is a relationship, and as such, she believes that humility is key to healthy relationships. Humility both inspires and motivates.
In The Extraordinary Power of Leader Humility: Thriving Organizations & Great Results, Gist offers entrepreneurs a model of leader humility based on the questions people ask of their leaders. She includes educational case studies as examples and provides recommended behaviors for readers to grow as leaders.
5. Mind Your Mindset — Michael Hyatt and Megan Hyatt Miller
Leaders deal with limiting beliefs. The way to conquer them is by redirecting your brain to tell a new story. Leaders who test their assumptions, live truer stories, and experience higher level outcomes in business and in life.
Michael Hyatt is the founder and chairman of Full Focus, a performance coaching company. Megan Hyatt Miller is the CEO of Full Focus and the architect of Full Focus’ standout culture. In Mind Your Mindset: The Science That Shows Success Starts with Your Thinking, these bestselling authors and leaders outline a framework drawn from insights in psychology, neuroscience, and cognitive science.
6. Dare to Lead — By Brene Brown
Brene Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston who has spent decades studying courage and vulnerability. In Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts., Brown combines that knowledge with research she conducted with leaders and change makers.
Brown believes leadership is not about titles, but a leader is someone who takes responsibility for recognizing potential in people. Brown answers the question of how to cultivate braver and more daring leaders. It’s a must-read for anyone who wants to be a brave leader.
If improving as a leader is a goal for you this year, add these books to your shelf. Each one provides a valuable perspective and helpful information.
