As an aspiring leader, you're eager to make a difference. The right
master's degree program will equip you with the skills you need to make your mark — but a strong reading list is also essential.
You like the idea of stocking your bookshelf with quality titles, but perhaps you're wondering: what leadership books should I read? To help, we've identified ten leadership books that are not to be missed:
1. On Becoming a Leader
No list of books about leadership would be complete without the seminal work from the pioneer of leadership studies: Warren Bennis. As the founding chairman of the University of Southern California's Leadership Institute, Bennis transformed his interest in humanistic leadership into a practice that has shaped how we conceive of effective leaders and remains widely utilized to this day.
The main argument Bennis makes in this work is that leaders are made, not born. He proves his point by analyzing the efficacy of historical leaders. Insights from the likes of Gloria Steinem and Apple's John Sculley reveal how personal reflection can make all the difference as passionate individuals move into leadership positions. Bennis believes that this process should be conscious — and that leaders should also be proactive about developing their perspective.
2. Wooden on Leadership
Renowned basketball coach John Wooden shares his secrets to success in this bestselling book, which is as relevant in the athletic world as it is among aspiring business leaders. Regarded by many as the greatest college basketball coach of all time, he believes that his Pyramid of Success deserves credit for all that he's accomplished. This concept is explained thoroughly in
Wooden on Leadership, which breaks down a system known as the 12 Lessons in Leadership.
One of the main takeaways from this book is Wooden's core philosophy: any leader's overarching goal should be to teach team members to "be at [their] best when [their] best is needed." This was always his main objective as a basketball coach, even above winning titles or building a sports dynasty. Business leaders can benefit from taking a similar approach. Wooden's insights on defeat, self-control, and teamwork are equally valuable.
3. Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don't
Have you ever wondered why some companies consistently triumph while others struggle to rise above the competition? Management expert and Socratic advisor Jim C. Collins finds this distinction fascinating, and, in his book
Good to Great, draws on extensive research to explain this complicated divide.
In this study of several dozen companies, Collins reveals why some manage to rise above mediocre beginnings to achieve true greatness — while others remain stuck in the good category (or worse).
Collins has discovered that this leap isn't possible without combining a discipline-oriented company culture with entrepreneurial ethics. He suspects that some of his findings "fly in the face of our modern business culture and will, quite frankly, upset some people," but it's worth pulling the Band-Aid off, nonetheless.
4. How to Win Friends and Influence People
This iconic read should be featured on every adult's bookshelf or downloaded to every Kindle. It has inspired multiple generations of leaders and continues to be one of the most important resources for leading an influential life to this day. It provides a blueprint for communicating with all types of people while developing empathy and self-control. Use it to improve relationships in the professional sphere and in your personal life.
While some of the information can feel dated at times, history buffs will no doubt appreciate the various anecdotes and examples contained within these pages. Ultimately, however, the meat of the book is timeless, as evidenced by the many generations of groundbreaking communicators and leaders that Dale Carnegie has inspired over the years.
5. Primal Leadership: Unleashing the Power of Emotional Intelligence
The term "emotional intelligence" seems ubiquitous in the professional sphere these days, but it was a revolutionary concept when it was first introduced.
Psychologist and science journalist Daniel Goleman helped to bring this idea to the mainstream with
Primal Leadership, in which he joined forces with acclaimed authors Annie McKee and Richard Boyatzis to explain how a leader's mood and corresponding behaviors influence all that occurs within a given organization.
This particular book is definitely more impactful if you've already been exposed to Goleman's prior work. Still, it functions as a standalone read. It's chock full of case studies, with useful information easy to discern from charts and actionable insights. Techniques acquired while reading this book should prove beneficial in both your personal and professional lives.
6. TheLeadershipChallenge
Like the aforementioned Warren Bennis, James Kouzes and Barry Posner believe that leadership can be learned. However, they concede that developing as a leader is far from easy. Roadblocks exist at every turn — and those who fail to overcome these challenges will struggle to make a meaningful difference in the organizations they serve.
In The Leadership Challenge, Kouzes and Posner draw on a wealth of research to demonstrate what, exactly, makes modern leadership so difficult to conquer. Through studying varied practices from the world's top leaders, they've discovered that the most influential individuals are able to clarify their values, align these with their actions, and inspire a shared vision of the future that incorporates bold and exciting possibilities. Finally, leaders must take initiative and seek innovative opportunities for improvement, rather than accepting the status quo.
7. Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action
There's a lot to be said about scouring the classics, but a fresh perspective is also needed from time to time. That's exactly what you'll find as you read a top book from unshakeable optimist Simon Sinek. While it's fun to view his videos, you'll gain far more from diving into his written work.
In
Start With Why, Sinek explains that the world's greatest leaders all share one common trait: they were able to understand and communicate the
why behind their various initiatives. He illustrates this "split" between
what leaders do and
why with compelling examples from success stories like Apple, Costco, and Starbucks.
This read is a great follow up to many of the books highlighted above. It will help you clarify and relate to the leadership concepts contained within these other works. Don't forget to check out
Sinek's famous TED talk, which provides a more succinct take on his concept of
why.
8. Leading Change
John Kotter is arguably today's most influential voice in change management. He's developed a highly respected eight-step process that details how different types of organizations can achieve their goals, even as they deal with considerable obstacles. In his seminal work
Leading Change, he provides a practical toolkit that readers can rely on when they need actionable advice for dealing with professional challenges that seem overwhelming.
This book isn't quite as packed with data or case studies as some of the other titles on this list, but that's exactly why you might find it appealing when you're short on time. A quick read, it will give you the information you need in short order — but don't forget to follow up with more in-depth books.
9. First, Break All the Rules: What the World’s Greatest Managers Do Differently
Take a brief glance at a list of the world's top business leaders, and it may be difficult to discern a pattern. According to Marcus Buckingham, however, these leaders hold quite a bit in common. He dives into these shared attributes in his popular book about business-oriented rule-breaking.
If you prefer books that are loaded with data, this resource is definitely for you; while it can feel dense at times, there is never any question as to whether Buckingham's concepts are well-researched. Between his data and interviews with thousands of managers, Buckingham has revealed that outstanding leaders have a discernible impact on company performance — but what makes a leader qualify as outstanding isn't always what we anticipate.
Perhaps the greatest benefit of this book as opposed to other top leadership titles? It's uniquely relevant to people who lead smaller teams. Yes, there's a lot to be gained from reading books targeted at upper management, but this particular title may prove the most beneficial of all as you take your initial steps into a leadership role.
10. The Lean Startup: How Today’s Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses
Discover a revolutionary startup strategy from entrepreneur Eric Ries, who has worked with a variety of recognizable names in hopes of making today's organizations more nimble. He hopes that his insight will help leaders at all types of businesses — ranging from small startups to established Fortune 500 companies — embrace creative solutions.
Through the practical ideas offered in this book, you'll discover how to streamline processes that might otherwise bog down your organization in today's fast-paced market. The concept of validated learning is a key component of this approach, encouraging you and your cohorts to consistently gather and analyze relevant data to keep your organization on track.
Give Your Leadership Skills a Boost at Wilmington College Cincinnati
You can definitely improve your leadership acumen with the books highlighted above, but nothing compares to a concentrated academic program that delivers direct insights from today's top leaders.
If you are interested in learning more about the
master’s degree in organizational leadership offered at Wilmington College Cincinnati, request information today!
