Leadership development is a necessity in today's fast-moving business climate. What worked yesterday or last week may not work today, and those leaders best prepared to adjust when needed are the ones who keep employees engaged and projects moving forward.
You may think you don't have enough time to invest in your own development, but honing your skills can be as easy as updating your reading list. To get started, here is a list of leadership books recommended by members of Forbes Coaches Council.
From left to right: Evan Roth, Janet Zaretsky, Larry Boyer, Woody Woodward, Jo Ilfeld, Bill Gardner, Taylor Jacobson, Marlo Higgins, Barbara Safani, Michelle Braden. All photos courtesy of the individual members.
1. The Five Dysfunctions Of A Team: A Leadership Fable By Patrick Lencioni
Lencioni blends a number of important leadership concepts into one readable business fable. Anyone in leadership needs to know how to affect outcomes through effective teamwork. Start with trust which leads to productive conflict, commitment, accountability and results. There is a brief quiz at the end of the book to assess the teams you are currently working with. -- Evan Roth, Roth Consultancy International, LLC.
2. Conversational Intelligence: How Great Leaders Build Trust and Get Extraordinary Results by Judith Glaser
Judith is a master of training great leaders to build trust. If you want your people to produce great results, you must have their trust. She has led numerous successful initiatives in companies where leadership was the key to altering the company's future. This book gives practical tools to develop oneself in empowering conversations and developing our own and others leadership. -- Janet Zaretsky, The Zenith Business
3. Primal Leadership: Realizing the Power of Emotional Intelligence By Daniel Goleman, Richard Boyatzis, Annie McKee
Primal Leadership is my favorite leadership development book. It starts with a discussion of brain science so the reader can understand the physical connection to emotional responses and therefore our leadership skills. Whether you are a fan or skeptic of leadership development books, this is one of the few books out there that can relate to most any view and transform your way of thinking. -- Larry Boyer, Success Rockets LLC
4. Man’s Search for Meaning By Viktor E. Frankl
Any aspiring leader should start by tackling the basics of human motivation. Man’s Search for Meaning illustrates the power of one of our primary motivators: the need for purpose. The book chronicles Frankl’s experiences and observations during his imprisonment at Auschwitz, showing how purpose, attitude and mindset can play such a critical role in overcoming the toughest of circumstances. A must read! -- Dr. Woody Woodward, HCI
5. Smarter Faster Better: The Secrets of Being Productive in Life and Business By Charles Duhigg
Duhigg combines the latest research in productivity and effectiveness to explain how to become "better" at work. Not only does Duhigg combine cutting-edge productivity and the neuroscience of how we learn, but he does it with incredibly engaging stories that make it a fun summer read as well.
6. Mastering Leadership: An Integrated Framework for Breakthrough Performance and Extraordinary Business Results By Robert J. Anderson and William A. Adams
Before Mastering Leadership was published last year, I would have mentioned several, but it transcends all my previous favorites. It's comprehensive enough to actually include everything from every previous model, yet presented in an easy to understand manner. The writing holds the reader's attention with stories and concrete examples. For new, aspiring or long-tenured leaders, this book is a must.
-- Bill Gardner, Noetic Outcomes Consulting, LLC
7. Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World By Adam Grant
Adam Grant, a professor at the Wharton School of Business, tackles several invaluable leadership questions in his new book Originals: "Who does original work?" "What are the conditions that help individuals and companies innovate?" "What conditions must be present for original ideas to take root?" Grant provides research-backed ideas on how each of us can be more original. -- Taylor Jacobson, FocusMate
8. The Slight Edge: Secret to a Successful Life By Jeff Olson
I read this three times last year. Olson shares that your philosophy creates your attitude, your actions and your results, which ultimately create your life. Olson shares that the keys to your success come from the habits of your daily activities compounded over time. Very powerful! -- Marlo Higgins, Marlo Higgins Success Coaching
9. The Next Generation of Women Leaders: What You Need to Lead but Won't Learn in Business School By Selena Rezvani
Rezvani interviews women executives in various industries, roles and job functions to uncover how women navigate the leadership maze. The book is a valuable resource with tools and information to help young women shape their careers and negotiate the workplace as a woman. Even though it's geared toward women, many of the stories about finding mentors will resonate with men as well. -- Barbara Safani, Career Solvers
1. The New One Minute Manager By Ken Blanchard And Spencer Johnson
There are many great books for aspiring leaders & I would recommend The New One Minute Manager. This book helps leaders identify their current leadership style and where they can to learn to "flex" their style (people and situations) to get even better results. -- Michelle Braden, MSBCoach, LLC
