The best 100 Leadership books

1
The 5 AM Club

The 5 AM Club

Robin Sharma
Own Your Morning. Elevate Your Life.
4.5 (7,071 ratings)

What's The 5 AM Club about?

The 5 AM Club (2018) shows how embracing a revolutionary morning routine can deliver epic results. Through the enchanting story of an entrepreneur, an artist, and their eccentric billionaire mentor, it explains how you can use the first hour of your day to drive personal growth and get the most out of life.

Who should read The 5 AM Club?

  • Those who feel they could try and get more out of the day
  • People who want to achieve great things in life
  • Anyone in need of an energizing and positive morning routine

2
Power vs. Force

Power vs. Force

David R. Hawkins
The Hidden Determinants of Human Behaviour
4.2 (328 ratings)

What's Power vs. Force about?

Power vs. Force (2014) explains how anyone can tap into their inner power to change their lives and the lives of those around them. It demonstrates that with consciousness, intention and discernment, anyone can find their truth and follow it toward a more fulfilled and impactful life. 

Who should read Power vs. Force?

  • People interested in alternative theories about science and humanity
  • Anyone who faces major doubts in their lives
  • Humanity nerds

3
The Pumpkin Plan

The Pumpkin Plan

Mike Michalowicz
A Simple Strategy to Grow a Remarkable Business in Any Field
4.4 (18 ratings)

What's The Pumpkin Plan about?

The Pumpkin Plan (2012) presents a simple yet powerful strategy to help you grow your business and stand out in any industry. Through real-life examples and practical tips, you’ll learn how to identify and focus on your most profitable clients, streamline your operations, and create a company culture that fuels growth.

Who should read The Pumpkin Plan?

  • Owners of small businesses looking to grow
  • Entrepreneurs seeking sustainable success
  • Startup founders needing a roadmap

4
The Heart of Transformation

The Heart of Transformation

Michael J. Leckie
Build the Human Capabilities That Change Organizations for Good

What's The Heart of Transformation about?

The Heart of Transformation (2021) is a how-to guide for changing an organization. It focuses on six specific capabilities that leaders can adopt to meet the demands of the twenty-first century.

Who should read The Heart of Transformation?

  • Anyone working in management or leadership
  • Entrepreneurs or small business owners 
  • Anyone curious about how to change a workplace for the better

5
The 8th Habit

The 8th Habit

Stephen R. Covey
From Effectiveness to Greatness
4.0 (403 ratings)

What's The 8th Habit about?

The 8th Habit (2004) helps you find your inner voice and thereby lead a more fulfilled life. Covey explains why we struggle to feel motivated and passionate (particularly in our working life) and how we can go about changing that.

Who should read The 8th Habit?

  • Business leaders
  • Anyone feeling lost or unfulfilled
  • People striving to work efficiently and with joy

6
Unreasonable Hospitality

Unreasonable Hospitality

Will Guidara
The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect
4.4 (230 ratings)

What's Unreasonable Hospitality about?

Unreasonable Hospitality (2022) illustrates how surpassing expectations can take your service-based business to the next level. Through a collection of anecdotes and firsthand experiences, it imparts valuable insights into customer service, as well as employee management.

Who should read Unreasonable Hospitality?

  • Hospitality professionals
  • Anyone in the service industry
  • Business owners and leaders

7
How the Future Works

How the Future Works

Brian Elliott
Leading Flexible Teams To Do The Best Work of Their Lives

What's How the Future Works about?

How the Future Works (2022) provides a blueprint that company leaders can use to implement flexible work policies. It offers a step-by-step guide detailing how to manage this transition effectively so that organizations can benefit from this new way of working.

Who should read How the Future Works?

  • Leaders wanting to make flexible work strategies the norm
  • Executives who are skeptical about flexible working models
  • Managers who want their teams to transition successfully to flexible work arrangements

8
Start With Why (New Version)

Start With Why (New Version)

Simon Sinek
How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action
4.7 (675 ratings)

What's Start With Why (New Version) about?

Start With Why (2009) tackles a fundamental question: What makes some organizations and people more innovative, influential, and profitable than others? Based on best-selling author Simon Sinek’s hugely influential lecture of the same name, the third most-watched TED talk of all time, these blinks unpack the answer to that conundrum. As Sinek’s examples show, it’s all about asking why rather than what.

Who should read Start With Why (New Version)?

  • Managers and team leaders 
  • Entrepreneurs building their brand 
  • Self-starters in need of a bit of inspiration

9
It Worked for Me

It Worked for Me

Colin Powell with Tony Koltz
In Life and Leadership

What's It Worked for Me about?

It Worked for Me (2012) imparts Colin Powell’s practical wisdom on becoming an effective leader. It’s largely based on his time in the military and public service, and the insights he gained from his experiences in these positions. 

Who should read It Worked for Me?

  • Experienced leaders looking to improve their leadership techniques
  • Military personnel who’d like to learn from a four-star general
  • Anyone who aspires to be a leader

10
Lord of the Flies

Lord of the Flies

William Golding
A Dystopian Classic on the Dark Side of Human Nature and Survival
4.6 (53 ratings)

What's Lord of the Flies about?

Lord of the Flies (1954) is the allegorical story of a group of young boys stranded on a deserted island and left to fend for themselves and create a society. As the boys struggle with the complexities of leadership, cooperation, and survival, they are forced to face some fundamental questions about human nature and the fragility of civilization.

Who should read Lord of the Flies?

  • Readers looking for fresh eyes on an old classic
  • Literature lovers who somehow never got around to this important book
  • Anyone looking for insight into the nature of society and the humans who build it

11
Who Not How

Who Not How

Dan Sullivan with Benjamin Hardy
The Formula to Achieve Bigger Goals Through Accelerating Teamwork
4.5 (480 ratings)

What's Who Not How about?

Who Not How (2020) introduces a new way of thinking about entrepreneurship, goal setting, and collaboration. Developed by business coach Dan Sullivan, the Who Not How mindset shows the importance of delegating tasks to others. By inviting them to help you achieve your goals, you’ll gain more free time, increase your income, and develop valuable, lasting professional relationships.

Who should read Who Not How?

  • Aspiring entrepreneurs looking to realize a business idea
  • Burned-out professionals with a desire for more free time
  • Perfectionists on the hunt for procrastination cures

12
Dare to Lead (New Version)

Dare to Lead (New Version)

Brené Brown
Brave work. Tough conversations. Whole hearts.
4.3 (490 ratings)

What's Dare to Lead (New Version) about?

Dare to Lead (2018) explores how to find the inner courage to lead a great team. Drawing on Brené Brown’s research and experience as a leadership coach, it shows how you can harness your emotions, quash your fear of failure, and become a daring leader in an increasingly competitive world. 

Who should read Dare to Lead (New Version)?

  • Business psychology buffs seeking new insights
  • Leaders searching for fresh ways to connect with their team
  • Anyone trying to build their courage in the workplace

13
Surrounded by Idiots

Surrounded by Idiots

Thomas Erikson
The Four Types of Human Behavior and How to Effectively Communicate with Each in Business (and in Life)
4.4 (670 ratings)

What's Surrounded by Idiots about?

Surrounded by Idiots (2014) offers insight into the four main personality types and provides methods and tips for how to use this insight in order to be more effective in getting your message across to each of them. Different people require different considerations when you’re trying to work alongside them or sell them on an idea. The more you know about each person’s personality type, the more effectively you’ll be able to communicate in your work life and private life.

Who should read Surrounded by Idiots?

  • Executives, managers and human resource workers
  • Anyone with an annoying coworker
  • People who’d like to improve their relationships

14
How to Grow Your Small Business

How to Grow Your Small Business

Donald Miller
A 6-Part Strategy to Help Your Business Take Off
4.8 (42 ratings)

What's How to Grow Your Small Business about?

How to Grow Your Small Business (2023) is your six-step flight plan to guide your business as it takes off. When Don Miller started to take his business to the next level, he realized no-one had written a reliable, step-by-step playbook for growth. Since then, his small home content business has expanded into a $20 million dollar company, so he wrote the book he wished he’d had. 

Who should read How to Grow Your Small Business?

  • Small Business Owners
  • Entrepreneurs 
  • Anyone who spends too much time putting out fires in their business

15
The Leader In You

The Leader In You

Dale Carnegie
How to Win Friends, Influence People & Succeed in a Changing World
4.8 (395 ratings)

What's The Leader In You about?

The Leader in You (1993) reveals how tapping into your enthusiasm and creativity can help you connect more effectively and work more productively. Drawing on insights from leaders across a wide range of fields, this practical guide includes strategies to hone your leadership strengths, boost your self-confidence, and achieve your personal and professional goals.

Who should read The Leader In You?

  • Managers or employees striving to become effective leaders
  • People craving better relationships with friends and colleagues
  • Perennial worriers who want to reenergize their outlook on life

16
Leadership

Leadership

Peter Guy Northouse
Theory and Practice
4.4 (142 ratings)

What's Leadership about?

Leadership: Theory and Practice (2015) is a popular textbook exploring the topic of leadership. It discusses the main theories of leadership, explains the popular types of leadership style, and offers practical advice on improving your own leadership characteristics.  

Who should read Leadership?

  • Anyone interested in what makes a leader
  • Business-owners, teacher, coaches, or anyone involved in leading groups
  • Anyone wishing to be a leader

17
Radical Candor (New Version)

Radical Candor (New Version)

Kim Scott
Be a Kickass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity
4.6 (352 ratings)

What's Radical Candor (New Version) about?

Radical Candor (2017) is a roadmap for leaders looking to establish the best possible relationship with their employees. Its insightful approach to management shows how to create a working environment where great ideas emerge, individuals reach their full potential, and employees are proud to follow their boss.

Who should read Radical Candor (New Version)?

  • Managers and business leaders
  • Coaches and organizational psychologists
  • Entrepreneurs and self-employed people

18
The Art of War (New Version)

The Art of War (New Version)

Sun Tzu
Classic military strategy for politics, business, and everyday life
4.1 (766 ratings)

What's The Art of War (New Version) about?

The Art of War (fifth century BCE) is a Chinese military treatise that many global figures, including Mao Zedong and Douglas MacArthur, have used to inform their leadership strategies. Along with military tactics that can be applied to culture, politics, business, and sports, it highlights the skills good leaders need to have. 

Who should read The Art of War (New Version)?

  • Anyone interested in the foundations of good leadership
  • Those who want to gain a competitive advantage 
  • People who find themselves in confrontational situations

19
Find Your WHY

Find Your WHY

Simon Sinek
A Practical Guide for Discovering Purpose for You and Your Team
4.3 (459 ratings)

What's Find Your WHY about?

Find Your WHY (2017) offers something that every person and business is looking for: a true purpose. The authors provide strategies and exercises that individuals and teams alike can use to discover their most powerful motivations, and their reasons for getting up in the morning and starting the workday. This is a useful guide if you’re searching for the right job, trying to hire the right employees or hoping to gain a better understanding of yourself and the people you live and work with.

 “I think understanding your own why – your raison d’être – and ensuring your actions are consistent with it is a big part of long-term happiness and fulfillment.” – Ben H, Head of Content at Blinkist

Who should read Find Your WHY?

  • Anyone searching for purpose and direction
  • Entrepreneurs in the early stages of launching their businesses
  • Team leaders who want to set ambitious goals

20
Leaders Eat Last

Leaders Eat Last

Simon Sinek
Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t
4.3 (582 ratings)

What's Leaders Eat Last about?

Leaders Eat Last explores the influence that neurochemicals have on the way people feel and consequently act, and examines the discrepancies between how our bodies were designed to function and how they function today. Ultimately, we need true leaders to direct us back on the right path.

Who should read Leaders Eat Last?

  • Any leader, CEO or manager of a business or organization
  • Anyone interested in how biological evolution affects our behavior today
  • Anyone interested in leadership techniques

21
Start with Why

Start with Why

Simon Sinek
How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action
4.5 (1,098 ratings)

What's Start with Why about?

Start With Why (2011) tackles a fundamental question: What makes some organizations and people more innovative, influential, and profitable than others? Based on best-selling author Simon Sinek’s hugely influential lecture of the same name, the third most-watched TED talk of all time, these blinks unpack the answer to that conundrum. As Sinek’s examples from the business world, politics, and technology show, it’s all about asking “Why?” rather than “What?”

Who should read Start with Why?

  • Managers and team leaders 
  • Entrepreneurs building their brand 
  • Self-starters in need of a bit of inspiration

22
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team

Patrick M. Lencioni
A Leadership Fable
4.6 (610 ratings)

What's The Five Dysfunctions of a Team about?

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team (2002) presents the notion that teams are inherently dysfunctional, so deliberate steps must be taken to facilitate great teamwork. A knowledgeable team leader can do a great deal to make his or her team effective, and the book outlines practical tools for achieving this.

Who should read The Five Dysfunctions of a Team?

  • Anyone interested in the prerequisites of great teamwork
  • Anyone interested in the kind of leadership and management that facilitates great teamwork
  • Anyone interested in the interpersonal dynamics of the workplace

23
The Infinite Game

The Infinite Game

Simon Sinek
How Great Businesses Achieve Long-Lasting Success
4.6 (594 ratings)

What's The Infinite Game about?

The Infinite Game (2019) is a guidebook to help today’s business leaders get back on the right track to building companies that will last for generations to come. It points out the many pitfalls that leaders fall into in the pursuit of short-term gains and shows how they can put the focus back on practices that lead to strength and stability, as well as more revenue.  

Who should read The Infinite Game?

  • Entrepreneurs and CEOs
  • Managers, supervisors and anyone looking for leadership tips
  • People curious about what makes a long-running business last

24
Buy Back Your Time

Buy Back Your Time

Dan Martell
Get Unstuck, Reclaim Your Freedom, and Build Your Empire
4.6 (203 ratings)

What's Buy Back Your Time about?

Buy Back Your Time (2023) teaches entrepreneurs how to hire the right people for the right tasks, so they can free up the time they need to build their empire. Practical advice and success stories guide those who feel stuck in their busy lives out of the tedium of small chores and into the limitless field of pure production.

Who should read Buy Back Your Time?

  • Entrepreneurs who are looking to scale their business
  • Anyone who feels stuck in the daily grind of work
  • Managers trying to find ways to inspire employees

25
Focus

Focus

Daniel Goleman
The Hidden Driver of Excellence
4.3 (521 ratings)

What's Focus about?

Focus (2013) is a guidebook for nurturing today’s scarcest resource: attention. Using cutting-edge research, the book reveals that sharpening our focus in a world of endless distractions is the key to professional success and personal fulfillment. What makes Goleman’s contribution special is that the book expands the definition of “focus” beyond mere concentration and calls for a mindful life in which attention is paid to the self, to others and to the planet.

Who should read Focus?

  • Workers and students who wish to improve their focus and productivity
  • Anyone who wants to learn the secret of living a focused, mindful life
  • Leaders who want to channel their vision effectively and improve their relationships with employees

26
Mastering Communication at Work

Mastering Communication at Work

Ethan F. Becker and Jon Wortmann
How to Lead, Manage, and Influence
4.5 (507 ratings)

What's Mastering Communication at Work about?

Mastering Communication at Work (revised edition, 2021) is a classic guide on leading in the workplace through strong communication skills. It teaches you how to communicate effectively by understanding your listener’s tendencies and motivations.

Who should read Mastering Communication at Work?

  • Managers looking for new communication tactics
  • Employees aiming to make the next step up
  • Executives who want to improve relations with staff

27
The Goal

The Goal

Eliyahu M. Goldratt and Jeff Cox
A Process of Ongoing Improvement
3.6 (172 ratings)

What's The Goal about?

The Goal (1984) is a trailblazing example of the “business novel” genre, seamlessly blending fictional storytelling with practical business advice in a revolutionary manner. Experience the corporate journey of Alex Rogo as he endeavors to rescue his struggling company from going bust. Through Alex’s perspective, uncover valuable insights into topics like streamlining manufacturing operations and enhancing team productivity.

Who should read The Goal?

  • The ‘newbie’ manager
  • The experienced pro seeking a new perspective
  • General learners curious about the manufacturing world

28
The Speed of Trust

The Speed of Trust

Stephen M.R. Covey with Rebecca R. Merrill
The One Thing That Changes Everything
4.2 (178 ratings)

What's The Speed of Trust about?

The Speed of Trust (2006) is about the importance of trust and how it can improve all aspects of our lives, from personal relationships to productivity in the office. Trust improves communication, and in doing so, speeds up efficiency and lowers cost at the same time. Throughout this book, the authors offer us tips on exactly what to do to increase trust in our lives.

Who should read The Speed of Trust?

  • Anyone struggling to trust others
  • Leaders who need to influence their staff
  • People who want to make others trust them

29
Dare to Lead

Dare to Lead

Brené Brown
Brave work. Tough conversations. Whole hearts.
4.6 (1,551 ratings)

What's Dare to Lead about?

Dare to Lead (2018) explores how you can find the inner courage to lead a great team. Drawing on Brown's person experiences as a leadership coach, as well as recent research, these blinks explore how you can harness your emotions, quash your fear of failure, and become a daring leader in an increasingly competitive world.

Who should read Dare to Lead?

  • Business psychology buffs seeking new insights
  • Leaders searching for a fresh perspective to connect with their team
  • Anyone trying to build their courage in the workplace

30
Multipliers

Multipliers

Liz Wiseman
How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter
4.7 (186 ratings)

What's Multipliers about?

Multipliers (2010) examines the difference between good leaders, known as Multipliers, who can join any team and make it flourish, and bad leaders, known as Diminishers, who can drain any team of its energy and drive. Author Liz Wiseman explains how to recognize the different types of Multipliers and Diminishers, while comparing the skills you should strive to develop with the ones you should avoid at all cost.

Who should read Multipliers?

  • Leaders and managers looking to get the best from their team
  • Workers concerned about their managers’ leadership practices
  • Anyone looking to understand the dynamics of leadership

31
Leadership Strategy and Tactics

Leadership Strategy and Tactics

Jocko Willink
Field Manual
4.6 (339 ratings)

What's Leadership Strategy and Tactics about?

Leadership Strategy and Tactics (2020) teaches you how to take the skills of a high-functioning Navy SEAL team and apply them to your workplace. You’ll learn about practices such as Extreme Ownership, and find out why humility is better than arrogance. These tips will help you to leave your ego at the door and to remember that your team’s success should always come before personal success.

Who should read Leadership Strategy and Tactics?

  • CEOs, managers, and team leaders who need some guidance
  • Employees hoping to get promoted to a supervisor position
  • People who work in human resources

32
Extreme Ownership

Extreme Ownership

Jocko Willink and Leif Babin
How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win
4.5 (499 ratings)

What's Extreme Ownership about?

Extreme Ownership (2015) is about how Navy SEAL Team commanders lead. These blinks discuss the complex, life-and-death combat situations that Navy SEALs often have to deal with and how you can apply their skills in the world of business.

Who should read Extreme Ownership?

  • Young entrepreneurs, managers and business leaders
  • Readers interested in military leadership and tactics
  • Anyone interested in improving their leadership skills

33
True North

True North

Bill George
Discover Your Authentic Leadership
4.4 (86 ratings)

What's True North about?

True North (2007) is a guide to discovering your inner compass and staying true to yourself, all while developing the skills you need to be an authentic leader. By uncovering your values and motivations, you’ll gain the tools you need to build a professional life that remains true to who you are.

Who should read True North?

  • Leaders looking for a better work-life balance
  • Anyone hoping to become a better leader
  • People who need an extra bit of help reaching their goals

34
The Power Paradox

The Power Paradox

Dacher Keltner
How We Gain and Lose Influence
3.7 (127 ratings)

What's The Power Paradox about?

The Power Paradox (2016) draws on a wealth of data from numerous social-science studies over the past 20 years to explore the dynamics of power. Dr. Dacher Keltner gets to the bottom of what power means in everyday life, discusses why so many people lose and abuse their power and explains how it can be used to make the world a better place.

Who should read The Power Paradox?

  • Readers interested in power dynamics
  • Employees who want more influence in their company
  • Executives who want to protect their power

35
The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership (New Version)

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership (New Version)

John C. Maxwell
Follow Them and People Will Follow You
4.5 (394 ratings)

What's The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership (New Version) about?

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership (1998) collects key rules, principles, and examples from a diverse collection of inspiring leaders throughout history. We often speak about “born leaders,” as if a person either has the special X factor of leadership or they don’t. In fact, leadership is learned –⁠ and by studying what enabled the world’s best leaders to attract followers and make an impact, we too can do the same. 

Who should read The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership (New Version)?

  • Managers, founders, executives, and CEOs
  • Activists seeking to make an impact
  • Anyone who wants to improve their people skills

36
The Pursuit of Excellence

The Pursuit of Excellence

Ryan Hawk
The Uncommon Behaviors of the World's Most Productive Achievers
4.7 (861 ratings)

What's The Pursuit of Excellence about?

The Pursuit of Excellence (2022) offers a thoughtful approach on how to become the best, most excellent version of yourself. Compiling wisdom from hundreds of interviews with world renowned experts and entrepreneurs, the author lays out the best habits and practices that anyone can use to improve their career and their lives.

Who should read The Pursuit of Excellence?

  • Anyone eager to raise their game and find more satisfaction in life
  • People looking for tips on how to achieve more in their career
  • Leaders and entrepreneurs eager to perform better

37
Leadership

Leadership

Henry Kissinger
Six Studies in World Strategy
4.3 (304 ratings)

What's Leadership about?

Leadership (2022) is a detailed analysis of six monumental twentieth-century leaders. By examining both the circumstances that formed these leaders and the strategies they used to shepherd their respective nations through periods of turmoil, it presents invaluable lessons for anyone working to shape the world’s future. From Charles de Gaulle’s strategy of will to Anwar Sadat’s strategy of transcendence and beyond, it serves as a historical debriefing on some of the defining leadership strategies of the last century.

Who should read Leadership?

  • History and politics geeks
  • Aspiring politicians
  • Biography lovers

38
Trust and Inspire

Trust and Inspire

Stephen M.R. Covey
How Truly Great Leaders Unleash Greatness in Others
4.6 (69 ratings)

What's Trust and Inspire about?

Trust & Inspire (2022) provides a new leadership model. Instead of the traditional “Command and Control” approach, Covey proposes one that focuses on collaboration, trust and personal growth. It offers a new set of tools for inspiring and unlocking the massive potential of a modern workforce. 

Who should read Trust and Inspire?

  • CEOs and executives looking to create a better workplace environment
  • Managers and supervisors who want to be more hands-off
  • Parents and educators who want a more empowering approach to childcare

39
Handbook of Strategic 360 Feedback

Handbook of Strategic 360 Feedback

Allan H. Church
Useful Tools and Strategies to Optimize Performance Management
3.6 (117 ratings)

What's Handbook of Strategic 360 Feedback about?

The Handbook of Strategic 360 Feedback is a guide to the pros and cons of 360 Feedback, including detailed guidance on how to implement the process as well as how to avoid pitfalls such as unconscious bias or people who try to game the system. 

Who should read Handbook of Strategic 360 Feedback?

  • Company leaders
  • HR managers
  • Team leaders

40
The Enneagram at Work

The Enneagram at Work

Jim McPartlin with Anna Akbari
Unlocking the Power of Type to Lead and Succeed
4.4 (379 ratings)

What's The Enneagram at Work about?

The Enneagram at Work (2021) reveals how applying the Enneagram – an emotional intelligence metric – can elevate leadership in the modern workplace. It explores the different Enneagram types and shows how tapping into self-awareness can make teams stronger and spark innovative solutions. From managing conflict and building mentorships to giving and receiving criticism, it provides the tools to foster personal growth and long-lasting success in the office.

Who should read The Enneagram at Work?

  • Would-be collaborators who want to better understand themselves and others
  • Individuals seeking awareness of their strengths and blindspots in the workplace
  • Go-getters who want to build stronger teams and become more effective leaders

41
Sun Tzu and the Art of Business

Sun Tzu and the Art of Business

Mark R. McNeilly
Six Strategic Principles for Managers
4.6 (200 ratings)

What's Sun Tzu and the Art of Business about?

Sun Tzu and the Art of Business (1996) explains how ancient Chinese general Sun Tzu’s classic text The Art of War applies to the hyper-competitive environment of modern business. These blinks explore how business leaders can integrate Sun Tzu’s battle strategies into their own plans for market domination.

Who should read Sun Tzu and the Art of Business?

  • Entrepreneurs hoping to disrupt their industry
  • Strategy consultants wanting a new angle
  • Business students looking for fresh insights

42
The First 90 Days

The First 90 Days

Michael D. Watkins
Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter
3.0 (172 ratings)

What's The First 90 Days about?

The First 90 Days (2006) maps out the critical transition period for any business leader taking on a new role. It offers comprehensive and practical strategies for surviving – and thriving – past the first three months.

Who should read The First 90 Days?

  • Business leaders tackling a new role
  • Aspiring leaders preparing for their next move
  • Anyone looking to reduce their vulnerabilities as a leader

43
5 Levels of Leadership

5 Levels of Leadership

John C. Maxwell
Proven Steps to Maximize your Potential
4.4 (196 ratings)

What's 5 Levels of Leadership about?

5 Levels of Leadership is a step-by-step guide to becoming a true leader with a lasting influence. Using engaging real-life anecdotes and inspiring quotes from successful leaders, it describes key pitfalls that may be holding you back and explains how to overcome them.

Who should read 5 Levels of Leadership?

  • Anyone who’s working in a leadership position
  • Anyone who carries responsibility in an organizational context
  • Anyone who wants to influence others

44
The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership

John C. Maxwell
Follow Them and People Will Follow You
4.0 (253 ratings)

What's The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership about?

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership (1998) explains what it takes to become a great leader. These blinks highlight many of the traits, skills and characteristics that have given leaders around the world the power to attract loyal followers and lead them toward success. Find out what Ray Kroc, Winston Churchill and Mother Theresa all have in common – and what you can do to become a better leader yourself.

Who should read The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership?

  • Business executives and CEOs
  • Entrepreneurs looking for secrets to success
  • Students of business management

45
On Grand Strategy

On Grand Strategy

John Lewis Gaddis
A master class in strategic thinking
4.2 (188 ratings)

What's On Grand Strategy about?

On Grand Strategy (2018) takes case studies from throughout history, including ancient Rome and the Cold War, to examine the common characteristics of the world’s best leaders. Pulitzer Prize-winning author John Lewis Gaddis also looks at the common mistakes made over the years which have brought even the mightiest of leaders to their knees.

Who should read On Grand Strategy?

  • History and military buffs
  • Anyone interested in the best leadership qualities
  • Managers, CEOs and other leaders

46
Welcome to Management

Welcome to Management

Ryan Hawk
How to Grow from Top Performer to Excellent Leader
4.5 (235 ratings)

What's Welcome to Management about?

Welcome to Management (2020) is a guide on how to smoothly transition from being a top-performing contributor to becoming a team leader. Using case studies, personal anecdotes, and interviews, it demonstrates what effective leadership looks like across a range of fields. It also offers a practical framework on how to grow yourself into a leader and carry your team to sustainable success.

Who should read Welcome to Management?

  • Newly promoted managers
  • Managers who want to become more effective leaders
  • Anyone interested in adopting a leadership mindset

47
Management Mess to Leadership Success

Management Mess to Leadership Success

Scott Jeffrey Miller
30 Challenges to Become the Leader You Would Follow
4.4 (215 ratings)

What's Management Mess to Leadership Success about?

Management Mess to Leadership Success (2019) is a guide to renovating and polishing your management skills. Through relatable, personal anecdotes of fumbles, missteps, and what not to do, it offers applicable challenges for you to revamp your team by providing a step-by-step guide on how to lead yourself and others and deliver results.

Who should read Management Mess to Leadership Success?

  • Team managers
  • HR professionals
  • Leaders in and beyond the corporate office

48
The Way of the SEAL

The Way of the SEAL

Mark Divine
Cultivate mental toughness and high performance like a Navy SEAL
4.2 (92 ratings)

What's The Way of the SEAL about?

The Way of the SEAL draws upon the experience of Navy SEALs to outline the principles that enable them to cultivate mental toughness and excel. It offers the mental exercises necessary to deal with any challenge on the path towards achieving your goals.

Who should read The Way of the SEAL?

  • Students of business strategy and tactics
  • Anyone who wants to take control of their own life

49
The Courage to Be Free

The Courage to Be Free

Ron DeSantis
Florida’s Blueprint for America’s Revival
3.5 (31 ratings)

What's The Courage to Be Free about?

The Courage to Be Free (2023) is an account of Ron DeSantis’s career so far, focusing on his work as governor of Florida. He reflects on his approach to leadership and outlines his vision for America.

Who should read The Courage to Be Free?

  • Republicans and anyone who has right-wing political views
  • People interested in US politics
  • Anyone who wants to know more about a potential future president

50
Developing the Leader Within You

Developing the Leader Within You

John C. Maxwell
Discover the Biblical Foundations for Leadership
4.4 (180 ratings)

What's Developing the Leader Within You about?

Developing the Leader Within You (1993) is a guide to becoming a leader in whatever context you choose. These blinks lay out the levels of leadership, the qualities necessary to achieve them and the concrete steps you can take to move up the leadership ladder.

Who should read Developing the Leader Within You?

  • Leaders and potential leaders everywhere
  • Politicians and people with political aspirations
  • Teachers, managers and CEOs

51
Executive Presence

Executive Presence

Sylvia Ann Hewlett
The Missing Link Between Merit and Success
4.3 (187 ratings)

What's Executive Presence about?

Executive Presence (2014) reveals the essential components of a true leader. From attitude to communication to appearance, today’s most influential leaders share practical tips and examples to guide you in creating a powerful, convincing presence everyday.

Who should read Executive Presence?

  • Leaders looking to brush up their presentation skills
  • Employees interested in what it takes to climb the corporate ladder
  • Managers seeking to engage their teams more effectively

52
What You Don't Know about Leadership, But Probably Should

What You Don't Know about Leadership, But Probably Should

Jeffrey A. Kottler
Applications to Daily Life
4.2 (236 ratings)

What's What You Don't Know about Leadership, But Probably Should about?

What You Don’t Know about Leadership, But Probably Should (2018) takes the latest research and psychological theories from the field of leadership science and explains how individuals can apply them to their daily work life. Using examples from famous leaders of all kinds, the author gives tips on how any leader can more effectively manage a team during times of conflict and stress.

Who should read What You Don't Know about Leadership, But Probably Should?

  • People interested in workplace psychology
  • Anyone wishing to improve their leadership skills
  • Students of business management

53
Speaker, Leader, Champion

Speaker, Leader, Champion

Jeremy Donovan and Ryan Avery
Succeed at Work Through the Power of Public Speaking
4.0 (57 ratings)

What's Speaker, Leader, Champion about?

This book examines top public speakers' most successful speeches to see what makes them great. It offers detailed tips for improving public speaking skills for everyone, whether you're a beginner or have years of experience.

Who should read Speaker, Leader, Champion?

  • Anybody who wants to become better at public speaking
  • Anybody who wants to become a more valuable employee
  • Anybody who wants to gain confidence in general

54
Everybody Matters

Everybody Matters

Bob Chapman & Raj Sisodia
The Extraordinary Power of Caring for Your People Like Family
4.2 (71 ratings)

What's Everybody Matters about?

Everybody Matters (2015) chronicles Bob Chapman’s quest to find the best approach to business and leadership style. Traditional approaches to management often treat employees like cogs in the machine. The authors explain that by caring for employees as if they were family, you can not only experience unprecedented success but inspire company loyalty and allow all employees to reach their full potential as well.

Who should read Everybody Matters?

  • Anyone seeking to better their company or business
  • Managers wanting to improve employee relations
  • Small business owners or CEOs looking to inspire their employees

55
Positively Energizing Leadership

Positively Energizing Leadership

Kim Cameron
Virtuous Actions and Relationships That Create High Performance
4.6 (349 ratings)

What's Positively Energizing Leadership about?

Positively Energizing Leadership (2022) offers organization leaders and workers a practical guide to understanding and harnessing the power of positively energizing characteristics and interpersonal approaches. With empirical data and how-to advice, it aims to boost innovation, profits, and compassion in the workplace and at home. 

Who should read Positively Energizing Leadership?

  • Anyone working as part of a team 
  • Managers who want to increase interpersonal richness in their organization 
  • Leaders looking for strategies to deal with a “black hole” of a worker 

56
Turn the Ship Around

Turn the Ship Around

L. David Marquet
A True Story of Turning Followers into Leaders
4.4 (172 ratings)

What's Turn the Ship Around about?

Turn the Ship Around reveals the story of how one United States Navy captain managed to turn a dissatisfied submarine crew into a formidable and respected team. But how did he do it? By changing the way we think about leadership, this story will show you that inside, we all have the power to be leaders.

Who should read Turn the Ship Around?

  • Anyone interested in leadership issues in the military
  • Business leaders looking for ways to improve productivity
  • Anyone wondering how to break rigid hierarchy in their organization

57
The Languages of Leadership

The Languages of Leadership

Wendy Born
How to Use Your Words, Actions and Behaviors to Influence Your Team, Peers and Boss
4.2 (285 ratings)

What's The Languages of Leadership about?

The Languages of Leadership (2019) outlines how the line between effective and ineffective leadership can be razor thin. It explains that with a few simple techniques, you can take ownership of your leadership style and become an inspiring, confident leader who stands out in today’s competitive work environment.

Who should read The Languages of Leadership?

  • Junior and mid-level executives looking to move up the corporate ladder
  • Top-level executives seeking to inspire and motivate their team
  • Anyone who wants to build confidence and develop leadership skills

58
The One Minute Manager

The One Minute Manager

Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson
Increase Productivity, Profits and your own Prosperity
4.1 (204 ratings)

What's The One Minute Manager about?

With global sales of over 13 million, The One Minute Manager is a classic that’s still changing the workplace. It explains how managers can get outstanding results from their employees while spending as little time actively managing them as possible. A one minute manager needs just three simple tools to boost productivity – and transform their company.

Who should read The One Minute Manager?

  • CEOs, managers and team leaders
  • Anyone who is or aspires to be in a leadership position
  • Anyone who wants to get more out of their working day

59
Charismatic Leadership (New Version)

Charismatic Leadership (New Version)

Kevin Murray
The Skills You Can Learn to Motivate High Performance in Others
4.6 (379 ratings)

What's Charismatic Leadership (New Version) about?

Charismatic Leadership (2020) is a practical guide to becoming a more effective leader through the power of charisma. We’ve all had a favorite boss or mentor – someone who inspires and motivates with their words, energy, and conviction. Charismatic Leadership teaches you how to be that person.

Who should read Charismatic Leadership (New Version)?

  • Leaders and managers who want to boost their charisma
  • Ambitious employees looking to improve their workplace communication skills
  • Business students preparing to join the workforce

60
Leadership BS

Leadership BS

Jeffrey Pfeffer
Fixing Workplaces and Careers One Truth at a Time
3.7 (280 ratings)

What's Leadership BS about?

Leadership BS (2015) looks at the dirty world of business executives to see what life’s really like at the top of the corporate ladder. What we find is something quite different than the squeaky-clean image most motivational leadership gurus and CEO biographies will try to sell you. Discover what a nasty business you’ll really have to get into if you want to become a successful leader in today’s cutthroat business world.

Who should read Leadership BS?

  • Managers, bosses and anyone interested in leadership skills
  • Readers interested in social science
  • Students of business

61
How the Mighty Fall

How the Mighty Fall

Jim Collins
And Why Some Companies Never Give In
4.5 (92 ratings)

What's How the Mighty Fall about?

In How the Mighty Fall, influential business expert Jim Collins explores how even successful companies can suddenly collapse, especially if they make the wrong decisions. He also offers leaders advice to prevent them from making the same mistakes.

Who should read How the Mighty Fall?

  • Students majoring in business
  • Anyone unsure which businesses to invest in
  • Start-up CEOs looking to grow their business long term

62
Leadership 101

Leadership 101

John C. Maxwell
What Every Leader Needs to Know
4.5 (222 ratings)

What's Leadership 101 about?

Leadership 101 (2002) concentrates the wisdom and practical advice from decades of publishing and research on leadership. Written as an introductory short course, it’s packed with inspirational examples and concrete steps to grow the skills, character, and influence necessary to successfully lead in any area. 

Who should read Leadership 101?

  • Anyone who wants to multiply their impact without working harder
  • Those seeking a life more in tune with their personal values 
  • Time-savers who like to skip the theory and get straight into practice

63
Give and Take

Give and Take

Adam Grant
A Revolutionary Approach to Success
4.4 (260 ratings)

What's Give and Take about?

Give and Take offers a breath of fresh air to traditional theories of what it takes to be successful. Backed by ground-breaking research, Give and Take demonstrates how giving more to others, rather than competing against them, may be the secret to profound success and fulfillment.

Who should read Give and Take?

  • Anyone who wants to understand how those who give become so successful
  • Anyone who wants to learn how to influence others without being domineering
  • Anyone who suffers from burnout by giving too much to others

64
Impact Players

Impact Players

Liz Wiseman
How to Take the Lead, Play Bigger, and Multiply Your Impact
4.2 (287 ratings)

What's Impact Players about?

Impact Players (2021) uncovers the qualities of the most indispensable players in a team or organization, and breaks down the mindset that sets these influential individuals apart from the rest. Drawing on insights from top industry leaders, it shows how to leverage the approaches used by influential professionals to multiply your own impact in the workplace.

Who should read Impact Players?

  • Aspiring leaders
  • Business owners and entrepreneurs
  • Organization development professionals

65
Simple Truths of Leadership

Simple Truths of Leadership

Ken Blanchard and Randy Conley
52 Ways to Be a Servant Leader and Build Trust
4.7 (289 ratings)

What's Simple Truths of Leadership about?

Simple Truths of Leadership (2022) explores simple principles that elevate leaders from good to great. It reveals the common mistakes that leaders make – and uncovers the behaviors that result in better team performance and closer working relationships. 

Who should read Simple Truths of Leadership?

  • New managers eager to build strong relationships with their teams
  • Seasoned leaders looking for a fresh perspective
  • Entrepreneurs hoping to brush up on their people skills

66
Leadershift

Leadershift

John C. Maxwell
The 11 Essential Changes Every Leader Must Embrace
4.5 (217 ratings)

What's Leadershift about?

Leadershift (2019) helps leaders and would-be leaders develop the ability and desire to make the changes in their leadership that will positively boost not just their growth, but that of their organizations. It shows how, with the right mind-set and the most up-to-date thinking, we can all achieve great things as leaders.

Who should read Leadershift?

  • Leaders who want to keep up to date with current leadership thinking
  • Anyone who wants to learn how to influence

67
The Surprising Science of Meetings

The Surprising Science of Meetings

Steven G. Rogelberg
How You Can Lead Your Team to Peak Performance
4.3 (264 ratings)

What's The Surprising Science of Meetings about?

The Surprising Science of Meetings (2019) explores what goes wrong in our work meetings and reveals how to transform them into positive, productive experiences. Drawing on the latest scientific insights from the world of business psychology, these blinks are an indispensable guide to making team meetings more efficient.

Who should read The Surprising Science of Meetings?

  • Leaders hoping to take their meetings to the next level
  • Entrepreneurs looking for fresh business insights
  • Psychology buffs seeking a new angle on work culture

68
Managing Up

Managing Up

Mary Abbajay
How to Move up, Win at Work, and Succeed with Any Type of Boss
4.0 (153 ratings)

What's Managing Up about?

Managing Up (2018) explores ways to improve your relationship with your boss. Featuring effective strategies for coping with any type of manager, it explains how you can deal with difficult leaders and how to turn a bad boss into a great opportunity for professional growth. 

Who should read Managing Up?

  • Employees working for a horrible boss
  • Corporate go-getters looking for fresh insights
  • First-time managers seeking a different perspective

69
Masters of Scale

Masters of Scale

Reid Hoffman
Surprising Truths from the World's Most Successful Entrepreneurs
4.3 (456 ratings)

What's Masters of Scale about?

Masters of Scale (2021) is part fascinating anecdote, part how-to guide for entrepreneurs who are preparing to launch their product or scale up their company. With case studies and stories behind some of the world’s biggest companies, it isolates the principles behind successfully scaling up.

Who should read Masters of Scale?

  • Serial entrepreneurs
  • Investors looking to scale a startup
  • Executives seeking to grow their companies

70
Adaptability

Adaptability

Max McKeown
The Art of Winning in an Age of Uncertainty
4.3 (65 ratings)

What's Adaptability about?

Adaptability (2012) examines a skill that’s becoming ever more important in today’s fast-paced and highly fickle business environment: the ability to adapt. It’s what makes the difference between successful innovators who go on to thrive and stick-in-the-muds who struggle to survive – or simply go under. Packed with illuminating portraits of both, these blinks analyze adaptability in action everywhere from the golf course to the battlefield and the boardroom.

Who should read Adaptability?

  • Entrepreneurs and self-starters
  • Managers and strategists
  • Marketplace Machiavellis

71
Anxiety at Work

Anxiety at Work

Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton with Anthony Gostick
8 Strategies to Help Teams Build Resilience, Handle Uncertainty, and Get Stuff Done
4.2 (199 ratings)

What's Anxiety at Work about?

Anxiety at Work (2021) explores how the modern workplace contributes to our soaring anxiety levels. It outlines how organizations, and team leaders, can help alleviate their employees’ worries and concerns.

Who should read Anxiety at Work?

  • Anyone interested in organizational psychology
  • Stressed-out employees looking for some perspective
  • Managers hoping to give employee well-being a boost

72
Smart Work

Smart Work

Jo Owen
The Ultimate Handbook for Remote and Hybrid Teams
4.4 (77 ratings)

What's Smart Work about?

Smart Work (2022) is a handbook for leaders navigating the post-pandemic transition into a world of remote and hybrid work. These are challenging times for managers, argues author Jo Owen. What worked in the office won’t necessarily work in remote teams. But if there’s one thing Covid-19 showed us, it’s that we can adapt – fast. And change is a good thing, he insists. Why? Well, mastering these challenges isn’t just about future-proofing your job – it’ll also make you a better leader. 

Who should read Smart Work?

  • Leaders and managers 
  • Team players 
  • Self-starters

73
Stories for Work

Stories for Work

Gabrielle Dolan
The Essential Guide to Business Storytelling
4.4 (137 ratings)

What's Stories for Work about?

In Stories for Work (2017), Gabrielle Dolan explains the effectiveness of a powerful story, and how business professionals can harness this tool to communicate ideas, motivate employees, persuade clients and achieve goals. Dolan walks you through practical advice on coming up with your own stories, and how to apply them to a range of business scenarios.

Who should read Stories for Work?

  • Anyone who wants to sharpen their communication skills
  • People curious about the power of storytelling
  • Professionals in “people-facing” roles

74
The Leader’s Greatest Return

The Leader’s Greatest Return

John C. Maxwell
Attracting, Developing, and Multiplying Leaders
4.4 (133 ratings)

What's The Leader’s Greatest Return about?

The Leader’s Greatest Return (2020) is a guide to leadership development that draws on the author’s 25 years of experience in nurturing leaders all around the world. These blinks explain how to identify leadership potential, cultivate it, and foster a culture in which organizational leaders never stop developing. 

Who should read The Leader’s Greatest Return?

  • Founders and CEOs looking to find and develop leaders around them
  • Mentors who want to better equip their mentees
  • Anyone interested in leadership and professional development

75
Six Thinking Hats

Six Thinking Hats

Edward de Bono
A revolutionary approach to get the most out of working in a group
4.5 (172 ratings)

What's Six Thinking Hats about?

Six Thinking Hats offers you valuable tools for group discussions and individual decision making. The book shows ways to compartmentalize different ways of thinking to help you and your group use your brains in a more detailed, cohesive and effective way.

Who should read Six Thinking Hats?

  • Anyone in a position of leadership
  • Anyone responsible for facilitating effective communication
  • Anyone who wants to make better decisions and improve their thinking

76
The Eight Essential People Skills for Project Management

The Eight Essential People Skills for Project Management

Zachary Wong
Solving the Most Common People Problems for Team Leaders
4.4 (130 ratings)

What's The Eight Essential People Skills for Project Management about?

The Eight Essential People Skills for Project Management (2018) is a hands-on guide designed to help team leaders diagnose and solve people problems in today’s increasingly horizontal workplaces. The fruit of years of first-hand experience, Zachary Wong’s playbook for effective leadership is packed full of actionable advice on how to boost motivation, confront underperformers and push through fear of failure.

Who should read The Eight Essential People Skills for Project Management?

  • Entrepreneurs
  • Leaders and managers
  • Anyone fascinated by workplace psychology

77
Failing Forward

Failing Forward

John C. Maxwell
Turning Mistakes Into Stepping Stones For Success
4.6 (173 ratings)

What's Failing Forward about?

Failing Forward (2000) provides a positive perspective on failure. These blinks draw on legendary success stories and literary anecdotes to explain the importance of failure, the advantages of embracing it and the power of leveraging your mistakes to stimulate personal growth.

Who should read Failing Forward?

  • Creative professionals struggling to take risks in their work
  • Perfectionists looking for new ways to accept and interpret their mistakes
  • Ambitious readers curious about the role of failure in success

78
The 4 Stages of Psychological Safety

The 4 Stages of Psychological Safety

Timothy R. Clark
Defining the Path to Inclusion and Innovation
4.3 (246 ratings)

What's The 4 Stages of Psychological Safety about?

The 4 Stages of Psychological Safety (2020) is a practical handbook for creating and maintaining psychological safety in the workplace. In order for employees to take risks, ask questions, challenge the status quo, and make mistakes – all while learning and growing – they have to feel included and safe. This book shows how leaders can reduce social friction while encouraging collaboration and innovation.

Who should read The 4 Stages of Psychological Safety?

  • Managers and CEOs trying to boost employee well-being and productivity
  • Leaders tired of dusty corporate hierarchies
  • Anyone interested in practical approaches to workplace inclusion

79
The CEO Next Door

The CEO Next Door

Elena Botelho and Kim Powell
The Four Behaviors That Transform Ordinary People Into World-Class Leaders
4.3 (157 ratings)

What's The CEO Next Door about?

The CEO Next Door (2017) takes a look at what separates a good CEO from a great one. Backed up by extensive research headed by the authors, it proposes that ordinary people can become leaders of large, successful companies, and details the steps involved in climbing that corporate ladder.

Who should read The CEO Next Door?

  • Anyone with aspirations to become a CEO
  • Leaders who want to improve their management skills
  • Entrepreneurs looking for advice on how to run a business

80
Do What Matters Most

Do What Matters Most

Rob Shallenberger and Steve Shallenberger
Lead with a Vision, Manage with a Plan, Prioritize Your Time
4.5 (786 ratings)

What's Do What Matters Most about?

Do What Matters Most (2021) is a guide to managing your time more efficiently. It will help you boost performance and stay focused on what matters most. This pack offers a whole bag of tricks, such as developing a personal vision, setting annual goals, and following a weekly list of priorities.

Who should read Do What Matters Most?

  • Executives and managers who want to become better leaders
  • Employees and professionals who want to boost productivity
  • People seeking a step-by-step process for time management

81
Great Leaders Have No Rules

Great Leaders Have No Rules

Kevin Kruse
Contrarian Leadership Principles to Transform Your Team and Business
4.6 (223 ratings)

What's Great Leaders Have No Rules about?

Great Leaders Have No Rules (2019) challenges leaders to adopt a contrarian approach to managing people and their time so that they succeed more easily and quickly. By identifying the flaws in traditional or typical leadership practices, it reveals why going against the grain results in better outcomes.

Who should read Great Leaders Have No Rules?

  • Leaders who want to optimize their performance
  • Managers looking for new ways to motivate their teams
  • Entrepreneurs seeking to create a dynamic workplace culture

82
The Customer Service Revolution

The Customer Service Revolution

John R. DiJulius III
Overthrow Conventional Business, Inspire Employees, and Change the World
4.3 (43 ratings)

What's The Customer Service Revolution about?

The Customer Service Revolution (2015) reveals the real secrets of brilliant customer service. These blinks provide a practical guide for taking your customer service to the next level, helping to create an extraordinary experience for your customers and forge an enthusiastic vision-driven workforce.

Who should read The Customer Service Revolution?

  • Managers who want to boost their team’s customer service
  • Employees looking to improve their people skills
  • Leaders curious about why customer service is so important

83
Build

Build

Tony Fadell
An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making
4.2 (286 ratings)

What's Build about?

Build (2022) is a self-styled “mentor in a box” –⁠ an encyclopedia of business advice about everything from getting a job and managing a team to telling a story around your product and being a successful CEO. A mentor is an absolute must-have for anyone who aspires to start and run a business –⁠ but not everyone has one available right away. That’s what Build is for.

Who should read Build?

  • New graduates who aspire to found their own businesses
  • CEOs thinking about quitting and starting something new
  • Anyone who wants to see their idea for a product, service, or company come to fruition

84
The Leader's Guide to Unconscious Bias

The Leader's Guide to Unconscious Bias

Pamela Fuller & Mark Murphy with Anne Chow
How To Reframe Bias, Cultivate Connection, and Create High-Performing Teams
4.4 (156 ratings)

What's The Leader's Guide to Unconscious Bias about?

The Leader’s Guide to Unconscious Bias (2020) is a guide to unconscious bias at work: how to identify it, and what to do about it. Leaders and managers have a particular responsibility to ensure unconscious bias doesn’t harm the careers of their team members.

Who should read The Leader's Guide to Unconscious Bias?

  • Workplace leaders who want to take good care of their teams
  • Workers curious about how unconscious bias affects them
  • People looking to deepen their understanding of bias

85
Lead Like a Coach

Lead Like a Coach

Karen Morley
How to Get the Most Out of Any Team
4.4 (190 ratings)

What's Lead Like a Coach about?

Lead Like a Coach (2018) is a how-to guide to the coaching model of leadership. Packed with advice and insight, these blinks are the perfect companion for any leader looking to up their game. Making a clear case for the benefits of coaching over older managerial styles, they explain why coaching is so relevant today and why many organizations are opting to switch to this model.

Who should read Lead Like a Coach?

  • Leaders who care about the people they lead
  • Executives who want to improve company work culture
  • People who want to develop more personal and supportive relationships

86
The First-Time Manager

The First-Time Manager

Loren B. Belker
The go-to guide with trusted best practices for new managers
4.5 (229 ratings)

What's The First-Time Manager about?

The First-Time Manager (1981) is the go-to guide for new managers in any field. Spanning topics from delegation and motivation to hiring and firing, these blinks will equip you with the skills to navigate the realities of managing people so that you can avoid common pitfalls and maximize your success in your new leadership role. 

Who should read The First-Time Manager?

  • New or aspiring managers
  • Young professionals
  • Management consultants

87
The Automation Advantage

The Automation Advantage

Bhaskar Ghosh
Embrace the Future of Productivity and Improve Speed, Quality, and Customer Experience Through AI
3.9 (120 ratings)

What's The Automation Advantage about?

The Automation Advantage (2021) provides a roadmap for building automation and AI in a modern organization. From the different stages a business must go through on its automation journey to the best ways to reassure employees worried about job destruction, it shows leaders how to prosper in a future world.

Who should read The Automation Advantage?

  • Business leaders looking to automate
  • Employees at companies set to flirt with AI
  • Anyone interested in how tech will transform the world

88
Think Like an Entrepreneur, Act Like a CEO

Think Like an Entrepreneur, Act Like a CEO

Beverly E. Jones
50 Indispensable Tips to Help You Stay Afloat, Bounce Back, and Get Ahead at Work
4.2 (162 ratings)

What's Think Like an Entrepreneur, Act Like a CEO about?

People used to follow a straightforward path in their careers from education to steady employment and on to retirement. But the world has changed, and it’s more important than ever to know how to adapt. In Think Like an Entrepreneur, Act Like a CEO (2015), Beverly E. Jones outlines her tips for becoming a more agile, resilient professional in charge of her or his career.

Who should read Think Like an Entrepreneur, Act Like a CEO?

  • Careerists
  • Young people entering the professional world
  • Experienced professionals looking to make a change

89
Just Work

Just Work

Kim Scott
How to Root Out Bias, Prejudice, and Bullying to Build a Kick-ass Culture of Inclusivity
3.5 (129 ratings)

What's Just Work about?

Just Work (2021) reveals just how damaging unchecked bias and discrimination are in the workplace. Everyone has unconscious biases and prejudices that they bring with them to work. But if these aren’t confronted head-on they can create a toxic work environment with unhappy employees who can’t do their best. Tackling bias is a win for everyone.

Who should read Just Work?

  • CEOs wanting to create thriving workplaces
  • Anyone who’s experienced workplace harassment, and wants tools to address it
  • Workplace bullies who want to confront their prejudices

90
The Introverted Leader

The Introverted Leader

Jennifer Kahnweiler
Building on your Quiet Strength
3.8 (145 ratings)

What's The Introverted Leader about?

Kahnweiler explores the specific challenges introverts face in an extroverted business world. She then sets out to show how introverted executives can push their limits, employ their characteristic strengths and still become great leaders.

Who should read The Introverted Leader?

  • Anyone who is introverted and interested in leadership
  • Anyone who is extroverted and wants to better understand their introverted colleagues
  • Anyone coaching or mentoring prospective leaders

91
Transforming Project Management

Transforming Project Management

Duane Petersen
An Essential Paradigm for Turning Your Strategic Planning Into Action
3.9 (90 ratings)

What's Transforming Project Management about?

Transforming Project Management (2021) sets out to address a number of problems in the world of project management. From strategic planning to scheduling and budgeting, it points in the direction of smoother and more successful projects.

Who should read Transforming Project Management?

  • Experienced project managers looking to up their game
  • Anyone skeptical about the usefulness of project management
  • Executives eager to hire better management consultants

92
What Got You Here, Won’t Get You There

What Got You Here, Won’t Get You There

Marshall Goldsmith
How Successful People Become Even More Successful!
4.2 (181 ratings)

What's What Got You Here, Won’t Get You There about?

Your people skills become increasingly important the further you climb up the ladder of success. What Got You Here, Won’t Get You There (2007) describes some of the bad habits that commonly hold back successful people and explains how to change them.

Who should read What Got You Here, Won’t Get You There?

  • Managers wanting to become more successful
  • Anyone who wants to gain respect in the office and improve relationships with coworkers
  • Leaders and executives who are proud of their personality flaws

93
First, Break all the Rules

First, Break all the Rules

Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman
What the World’s Greatest Managers Do Differently
4.2 (122 ratings)

What's First, Break all the Rules about?

First, Break all the Rules (1999) shows how great management differs from conventional approaches. The authors demonstrate how some commonly held notions about career and management are actually misleading. Based on interviews conducted with successful managers (research that the authors did for Gallup) the book introduces its readers to the key notions that great managers – those who get their employees to achieve performance excellence – use in their jobs.

Who should read First, Break all the Rules?

  • Anyone who wants to understand what jobs they might be best suited to
  • Anyone who wants to better understand their manager’s staffing decisions
  • Unit leaders, managers, human resource professionals

94
The No Asshole Rule

The No Asshole Rule

Robert I. Sutton
Building a Civilised Workplace and Surviving One That Isn't
4.1 (140 ratings)

What's The No Asshole Rule about?

The No Asshole Rule delves into the problem of bullying or aggressive co-workers, who in many cases rise to management positions. Sutton provocatively labels them assholes.

The book lays out the effect these employees can have on a business, and gives advice on how to develop an asshole-free environment.

Who should read The No Asshole Rule?

  • Anyone who wants to learn how to identify and deal with assholes in the workplace
  • Every office worker, whether employee, manager, consultant or intern
  • Anyone who wants to avoid being seen as an asshole

95
No Bullsh*t Leadership

No Bullsh*t Leadership

Christ Hirst
Why the World Needs More Everyday Leaders and Why That Leader Is You
4.3 (200 ratings)

What's No Bullsh*t Leadership about?

No Bullsh*t Leadership (2019) dispels the myths we often hear about what makes a great leader. Whether you’re managing a company, school or sports team, the principles behind effective leadership aren’t rocket science. Nor do they require impressive titles or expensive suits. In this timely volume, experienced leader Chris Hirst explains how any of us can learn the philosophy behind great leadership if we put our minds to it.

Who should read No Bullsh*t Leadership?

  • Aspiring leaders looking to up their game
  • Experienced managers in need of refreshing ideas
  • Anyone interested in the science – or lack thereof – behind leadership

96
Scale for Success

Scale for Success

Jan Cavelle
Expert Insights into Growing Your Business
4.2 (160 ratings)

What's Scale for Success about?

Scale for Success (2021) is a guide to turning your small business into a far bigger and more successful enterprise than it is today. From crowdfunding to job descriptions, it covers the ins and outs – and highs and lows – of scaling up any firm.

Who should read Scale for Success?

  • Entrepreneurs trying to break into the big league
  • Anyone working at a small business or early-stage start-up
  • Veteran businesspeople interested in mentoring small business owners

97
Conscious Leadership

Conscious Leadership

John Mackey
Elevating Humanity Through Business
4.4 (118 ratings)

What's Conscious Leadership about?

Conscious Leadership (2020) reveals what it takes to lead a purpose-driven business that sees beyond the bottom line. Drawing on his experience as CEO of one of the largest supermarket chains in the United States, John Mackey shows how leaders can shape their businesses to become more innovative, competitive, and socially responsible.

Who should read Conscious Leadership?

  • Organizations seeking their purpose
  • Business coaches who want to help strengthen leaders, teams, and enterprises
  • HR departments looking to improve their hiring practices

98
Crushing it!

Crushing it!

Gary Vaynerchuk
How Great Entrepreneurs Build Their Business and Influence – and How You Can, too.
4.3 (177 ratings)

What's Crushing it! about?

Crushing It! (2018) explains and explores why having a strong personal brand is crucial in business. Following up on his 2009 best seller, Crush It!, the author draws on both his own experiences and those of readers to illustrate why having a strong presence across multiple digital-media channels is a blueprint for success.

Who should read Crushing it!?

  • Aspiring or established entrepreneurs ready to take their business to the next level
  • Employees who want to increase their professional opportunities
  • People who recognize the game-changing nature of digital and social media

99
The Dichotomy of Leadership

The Dichotomy of Leadership

Jocko Willink & Leif Babin
Balancing the Challenges of Extreme Ownership to Lead and Win
4.4 (111 ratings)

What's The Dichotomy of Leadership about?

The Dichotomy of Leadership (2018) chronicles the extraordinary experiences of two ex-Navy SEAL commanders. While stationed in Baghdad and Ramadi during the Iraq War, Jocko Willink and Leif Babin collected experiences which helped them become effective leaders. After returning to civilian life, they realized these leadership skills were equally effective in the business world. They figured out that, in both combat and non-combat contexts, you can only overcome the dichotomies of leadership and effectively run an organization by finding a sense of balance between opposing forces.

Who should read The Dichotomy of Leadership?

  • Business leaders looking to up their leadership chops
  • Anyone interested in the valuable lessons war can teach us
  • Military buffs looking for riveting accounts of close combat and guerilla warfare

100
The Hero Factor

The Hero Factor

Jeffrey Hayzlett with Jim Eber
How Great Leaders Transform Organizations and Create Winning Cultures
4.2 (62 ratings)

What's The Hero Factor about?

The Hero Factor (2018) explains why business leaders need to focus as much on their people as they do on their profits. Using fascinating real-world examples and inspiring true stories of success, the authors examine the true meaning of heroic leadership in the workplace.

Who should read The Hero Factor?

  • Managers wanting tips on how to become an inspirational leader
  • Those looking to brush up on their people skills
  • Entrepreneurs looking for a fresh perspective on success

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