The best 100 Leadership books

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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 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.

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

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.  

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.

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. 

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

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.

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?”

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.

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.  

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.