With over 10,000 leadership books in the market, it’s difficult to filter through the noise.
I know that well!
Over the last two years, I’ve worked on writing a book about leadership called The Inspiring Team Lead. To research the topic, I’ve read dozens of books and formed an opinion on which are good.
In this article, I share with you the 7 best leadership books to add to your reading list.
What to look for in a leadership book
After reading dozens of leadership books and being a team lead myself, I have formed an opinion about what makes a good books on leadership:
- Actionable Advice: First thing I’m interested in is seeing one or more ideas that I can immediately apply to my work. It’s even better when the idea has been organised into a framework that’s easy to remember.
- Credible Author: An author who’s been there before will be able to share real-life examples that are relatable.
- Refreshing Thinking: A lot of books reshape the same thinking again and again. When I pick up a leadership book, I want a book that brings something new to the literature.
- Engaging Writing Style: Leaders are readers. We read to learn. But it’s even better if the book has been well-written.
Following these four principles, I have selected the following seven books on leadership.
My selection of best books about leadership
The Invisible Leader: Transform Your Life, Work, and Organization with the Power of Authentic Purpose
The Invisible Leader: Transform Your Life, Work, and Organization with the Power of Authentic Purpose by Zach Mercurio argues that a strong sense of purpose, the “Invisible Leader,” is the key driver of motivation, action, and success in all aspects of life. The book highlights that many workplaces and institutions don’t capitalise on our strong human desire for purpose.
Three takeaways from The Invisible Leader
- Discover Your Authentic Purpose: As a leader, you need to identify your core values, what truly matters to them as a person.
- Align Purpose for Success: You need to be clear about how your personal purpose aligns with your work and the way you lead your team.
- Cultivate Purposeful Cultures: You also need to foster a work environment where everyone feels their purpose is valued and contributes to a larger mission.
A quote from The Invisible Leader
The search for purpose and meaning is fundamentally human—the unifying trait of our species. Our yearning for purpose begins (to many new parents’ dismay) as soon as we learn language.
Where to get the book: Get The Invisible Leader: Transform Your Life, Work, and Organization with the Power of Authentic Purpose here.
Learn How to Lead to Win: 33 Powerful Stories and Leadership Lessons
Learn How to Lead to Win: 33 Powerful Stories and Leadership Lessons is a leadership book by retired Navy Admiral Mike Manazir. The author draws on his experiences in the military and corporate world to share guidance how to become a better leader. You’ll enjoy the thirty-three engaging stories that are in the book.
Three takeaways from Learn How to Lead to Win
- Leadership is for Everyone: Manazir argues that leadership isn’t just for CEOs or high-ranking officials. Anyone who has people relying on them is a leader, and the book offers tools to improve your leadership skills at any level.
- Leading from the Heart: Effective leaders inspire and motivate others, and Manazir emphasizes the importance of genuine care and connection.
- The Power of Accountability: Leaders need to take responsibility for their actions and the actions of their team.
A quote from Learn How to Lead to Win
You may not see yourself as a leader, but if you are a parent with a child needing to be equipped to succeed in this dynamic world, you are a leader. If coworkers are coming to you for advice and direction on how to do things at work, you are a leader. You may not have the title, but you are a leader. If you are entrusted with the education of students, you are a leader.
Where to get the book: Get Learn How to Lead to Win: 33 Powerful Stories and Leadership Lessons here.
Twelve Skills: The guide to becoming a stronger leader and accelerating your career
Twelve Skills: The Guide to Becoming a Stronger Leader and Accelerating Your Career, written by Ed Barrows and Laura M. Downing, focuses on twelve core competencies that leaders need to be successful. By developing these skills, the authors argue that you can aim to improve your leadership effectiveness and propel your career forward.
Three takeaways from Twelve Skills
- Strategic Thinking: Great leaders see the big picture and can make sound decisions that align with long-term goals.
- Problem-Solving Prowess: Effective leaders know how to tackle challenges head-on. They are skilled to identify problems early and find creative ways to implement solutions.
- Mastering Communication: Clear and compelling communication is key for any lead, especially useful for fostering trust and communicating a vision to your team.
A quote from Twelve Skills
Being an aspiring leader can be lonely and even frustrating. You may be technically proficient and have ridden these skills right into a leadership role. Now, however, your technical skills won’t help you as much as they used to-in fact, they may even hamper your performance.
Where to get the book: Get Twelve Skills: The Guide to Becoming a Stronger Leader and Accelerating Your Career here.
CARE To Lead: How to Master and Implement Four Keys to Leadership: Communication, Accountability, Relationships and Example of Excellence
CARE To Lead: How to Master and Implement Four Keys to Leadership: Communication, Accountability, Relationships and Example of Excellence, written by Alec McGalliard, condenses some key leadership principles in an accessible framework called CARE. The author argues that these four letters are the foundation for effective leadership:
- Communication: Emphasizes clear, two-way communication to avoid misunderstandings and build trust.
- Accountability: Focuses on taking responsibility for yourself and your team’s actions to achieve goals.
- Relationships: Highlights the importance of building strong, genuine connections with team members.
- Example of Excellence: Underscores the power of leading by example and setting high standards.
Two takeaways from CARE To Lead
- Simple Yet Powerful Framework: The CARE acronym provides a clear and easy-to-remember structure for understanding and developing essential leadership priorities.
- Focus on Self-Improvement: CARE To Lead emphasises the importance of continuous learning and self-reflection for growth as a leader.
A quote from CARE To Lead
The Golden Rule is very simple: “Treat others like you want to be treated.” I know that sounds simple, but I believe it’s a value we need much more of in our professional and personal lives.
Where to get the book: Get CARE To Lead: How to Master and Implement Four Keys to Leadership: Communication, Accountability, Relationships and Example of Excellence here.
Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us
In his book Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us, Seth Godin explains that the rise of the internet has fundamentally changed how people connect and form communities.
He emphasizes the concept of “tribes,” which are groups of people connected by a shared idea, passion, or leader. Godin believes everyone has the potential to lead a tribe and make a significant impact.
Three takeaways from Tribes
- The Power of Ideas: Godin emphasises the importance of having a clear and compelling idea that resonates with your target audience. This idea serves as the foundation for building a strong tribe.
- Leading, Not Managing: The book challenges the traditional top-down management style. Godin argues that effective leaders inspire and connect with their tribe members, fostering a sense of belonging and purpose.
- The Rise of the Connected Leader: The internet has transformed how we connect to one another. Godin shows that leadership isn’t reserved to a boss in the workplace. Many leaders arise in online communities as they connect with an audience and grow a movement.
A quote from Tribes
A “tribe” is a group of people connected to one another, connected to a leader, and connected to an idea. For millions of years, human beings have been part of one tribe or another. A group needs only two things to be a tribe: a shared interest and a way to communicate. You can’t have a tribe without a leader-and you can’t be a leader without a tribe.
Where to get the book: Get Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us here.
How Leaders Can Inspire Accountability: Three Habits That Make or Break Leaders and Elevate Organizational Performance
How Leaders Can Inspire Accountability: Three Habits That Make or Break Leaders and Elevate Organizational Performance by Michael Timms focuses on the critical role leaders play in fostering a culture of accountability within their teams.
The author argues that simply expecting accountability isn’t enough. Timms proposes three key habits that leaders can cultivate to inspire and empower their teams to take ownership of their work and achieve better results.
Two takeaways from How Leaders Can Inspire Accountability
- Look in the Miror: The book emphasises that true leaders need to hold themselves accountable for their actions and decisions, setting the standard for the entire team.
- Shifting Focus from Blame to Solutions: Timms encourages leaders to move away from a blame game and instead focus on identifying problems and working collaboratively towards solutions.
- Leading by Example: In the book, the author emphasises the importance of walking the talk and doing what you say, as a key way to get your team to see what needs to be done and how.
A quote from How Leaders Can Inspire Accountability
High employee engagement is an important factor that substantially increases an organization’s odds of getting the right results, but employee engagement alone is not enough. It is not enough simply to be a motivating leader; you also need to know how to create a culture of accountability that focuses people’s positive energy on consistently producing the right results.
Where to get the book: Get How Leaders Can Inspire Accountability: Three Habits That Make or Break Leaders and Elevate Organizational Performance here.
You’re the Leader. Now What?: Leadership Lessons from Mayo Clinic
You’re the Leader. Now What?: Leadership Lessons from Mayo Clinic by Dr. Richard Winters dives into the world of leadership from the perspective of the Mayo Clinic. Written by a doctor who also has experience as an executive coach, the book offers practical guidance for any kinds of leaders (not just in the medical sector).
Dr. Winters, an emergency physician and leadership expert, emphasises the importance of moving beyond traditional leadership styles.
Three takeaways from You’re the Leader. Now What?
- Questioning Best Practices: The book encourages leaders to challenge the status quo and explore new approaches. Just because something has always been done a certain way doesn’t mean it’s the most effective method.
- Embrace Diverse Perspectives: Effective leaders leverage the strengths and viewpoints of their team. You need to cultivate a culture that values inclusivity and fosters collaboration.
- Lead with Emotional Intelligence: As a leader, you need to realise the importance of self-awareness, empathy, and navigating difficult emotions to build strong relationships and manage conflict effectively.
A quote from You’re the Leader. Now What?
Each of us has blind spots in our perspective of the world. We are trapped within the biases of our own stories, our need to be right, our seeking of agreement, our sense of control, and our ego. You will learn how to “step off the dance floor” away from your reflexive reactions and “step up to the balcony” to broaden your perspective and make better, more informed decisions.
Where to get the book: Get You’re the Leader. Now What?: Leadership Lessons from Mayo Clinic here.
The Inspiring Team Lead: How to Lead & Guide Your Team for Success from Kick-off to Deliverables
Yes! We’re reaching 8 leadership books in this selection.
When I worked on writing The Inspiring Team Lead: How to Lead and Guide Your Team for Success from Kick-off to Deliverables, I had the goal of it raising to the best leadership books.
In this book, I’ve captured all the most precious lessons that I’ve learnt as a team lead.
Three takeaways from The Inspiring Team Lead
- Leading with Adventure: Effective leaders foster a culture of exploration. I encourage you to inject fun and experimentation into the day-to-day of your project to make it a more exciting journey with your team, as well as get the most of their ingenuity. If they don’t feel they can try their ideas, they will hold themselves back.
- Building a Shared Vision: I emphasise the importance of creating a clear and unified vision for the team. In the book, you’ll get techniques for fostering collaboration and ensuring everyone is working towards the same goals.
- Taking Care: Paying attention is one of the most important things that a leader must do. Being attentive to how their team members are feeling, doing, and working.
A quote from The Inspiring Team Lead
At some point in your life, you may have crossed the path of a manager, coach, or team lead who made work feel… different. You know, the kind of person whose positive impact sticks with you long after you’ve finished working with them. When you become a team lead, it’s your turn to make that kind of positive impact.
Where to get the book: Get The Inspiring Team Lead: How to Lead and Guide Your Team for Success from Kick-off to Deliverables here.