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Hannah L. Miller

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Updated Oct 25, 2023

15 of the World’s Best Leadership Books

• The 15 top leadership books every great leader needs on their bookshelf:

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Great leaders intentionally make time for continued education. As difficult as it may be to step away from the office, reading a variety of books on leadership is an important key to refueling and refocusing yourself as a leader. For instance, it helps reveal your strengths, weaknesses, and provide the tools needed for innovation and growth.

Ready to reach your full potential as a leader? The following list of leadership books helps build a solid foundation of team-building and problem solving skills.

The 15 top leadership books every great leader needs on their bookshelf :

1. the 21 irrefutable laws of leadership.

Author: John Maxwell 

One-Sentence Description: Maxwell finds the commonal ities of great leaders, while also guiding readers through the 21 universal laws of successful leadership. 

Favorite Quote: “ I believe the bottom line in leadership isn’t how far we advance ourselves but how far we advance others. That is achieved by serving others and adding value to their lives. ”

Why You Should Read It: There’s a reason it’s ranked as one of the best leadership books of all time. Entrepreneurs, executives, and managers find Maxwell’s advice useful because it’s practical and easy to follow. Furthermore, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership helps high performers figure out what they’ve been doing right and play into their strengths. Additionally, the book is beneficial because it offers plenty of ideas on how to fine-tune weaker leadership qualities . 

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2. Good to Great : Why Some Companies Make the Leap… and Others Don’t

Author: Jim Collins

One-Sentence Description: This book follows a five-year study that determines how “good” companies become great, beat their competitors, and achieve long-lasting success. 

Favorite Quote: “ Greatness is not a function of circumstance. Greatness, it turns out, is largely a matter of conscious choice, and discipline. ”

Why You Should Read It: Good to Great : Why Some Companies Make the Leap… and Others Don’t emphasizes the point that success doesn’t happen overnight. For entrepreneurs and leaders who feel frustrated, tired, and out of steam, this book helps reinvigorate drive and passion . Additionally, it’s comforting to know that many of the difficulties business owners experience as they grow aren’t uncommon. In fact, growing pains are evidence that a company is developing. Overall, the core message is progress is a process.  

3. Start with Why

Author: Simon Sinek

One-Sentence Description: Sinek provides a three-step framework that purpose-driven leaders use to inspire people to take action.  

Favorite Quote: “ People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it. And what you do simply proves what you believe. ”

Why You Should Read It: Start with Why is one of the best leadership books for receiving a foundational understanding of what it means to lead with purpose. Those wanting to refresh and revive their organizations should read this book first. Without a doubt, Start with Why changes the game on how leaders guide their companies. It explains the importance of putting purpose at the center of the business so owners and executives don’t lose focus on fulfilling the company’s mission . An understanding of how to lead with why has the power to truly transform any business for the better.

4. Think and Grow Rich 

Author: Napoleon Hill 

One-Sentence Description: Published in 1937, Think and Grow Rich studies the lives of wealthy individuals such as Henry Ford and Andrew Carnegie, defining 13 habits successful people share. 

Favorite Quote: “ The starting point of all achievement is DESIRE. Keep this constantly in mind. Weak desire brings weak results, just as a small fire makes a small amount of heat. ”

Why You Should Read It: Consistently ranked as one of the best books on leadership of all time, Think and Grow Rich helps readers understand the unique mindset of high performers. On the whole, Hill spent 25 years researching, analyzing, and understanding what makes people successful. Through 500 interviews, he found and wrote a formula for prosperity. Undoubtedly, the directive strategies are easily applicable, motivational, and provide timeless wisdom to anyone interested in leadership .

5. Wooden on Leadership 

Author: John Wooden

One-Sentence Description: Famed basketball coach John Wooden explains the 15 principles of success and the characteristics great leaders share. 

Favorite Quote: “ The best leaders are lifelong learners; they take measures to create organizations that foster and inspire learning throughout. The most effective leaders are those who realize it’s what you learn after you know it all that counts most. ”

Why You Should Read It: Wooden on Leadership inspires leaders through adages and advice given by one of the most successful coaches in sports history. In summary, Wooden teaches business professionals how to build a great team people love belonging to through his motivational words focused on morals and ethics. Overall, this is a must-read for anyone who wants to build an inspiring, sustainable team culture within their organization.

6. Extreme Ownership

Author: Jocko Willink and Leif Babin 

One-Sentence Description: Written by two Navy SEAL officers, this best-selling book relates their special operations experience to the leadership qualities all business owners, executives, and managers should possess.  

Favorite Quote: “ Implementing Extreme Ownership requires checking your ego and operating with a high degree of humility. Admitting mistakes, taking ownership, and developing a plan to overcome challenges are integral to any successful team. ”

Why You Should Read It: The unique, interesting angle the authors take creates a fresh perspective within the genre. While some professionals might not feel this book would be applicable to their businesses, Extreme Ownership teaches lessons that help leaders understand what it truly means to lead—not manage or direct—others. With unique messaging filled with real-life experience, the book additionally provides instruction on how to successfully develop high-performing teams that can fulfill even the most difficult mission.

7. Dare to Lead

Author: Brené Brown

One-Sentence Description: Dare to Lead focuses on building a strong culture at work through vulnerability, courage, core values, and trust.  

Favorite Quote: “ I define a leader as anyone who takes responsibility for finding the potential in people and processes, and who has the courage to develop that potential. ”

Why You Should Read It: Dare to Lead is one of the best leadership books for building team culture . Brown, an accomplished researcher with a Ph.D. in social work, argues the long-standing belief that vulnerability correlates to “weakness” is false. In fact, she writes an entire book to prove that being vulnerable is both courageous and brave. Specifically, this trait is one of the best leadership qualities found in business owners, executives, and managers. For this reason, Dare to Lead is perfect for anyone interested in creating a constructive, supportive workplace. It teaches people how to connect, be more empathetic, and show up with authenticity.

8. The Effective Executive

Author: Peter F. Drucker

One-Sentence Description: This book focuses on effectiveness as a form of self-discipline—a requirement for all leaders (and a skill anyone can learn).

Favorite Quote: “ Intelligence, imagination, and knowledge are essential resources, but only effectiveness converts them into results. ”

Why You Should Read It: Success is dependent on effectiveness. From exacting change to inspiring employees, this is a quality leaders can’t afford to lack. Nevertheless, many business owners and executives unknowingly or knowingly behave, act, and communicate in ways that don’t positively impact their organizations. For example, ineffective leaders lack emotional intelligence and don’t dedicate themselves to learning how to become stewards of their employees and customers. In essence, The Effective Executive is for people who want to actively learn how to work on eliminating ineffective leadership traits and become drivers of positive impact.

9. 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Author: Stephen R. Covey 

One-Sentence Description: Covey believes effective people align their values with universal principles—the seven habits describe a person’s relation to independence, interdependence, and continuous improvement. 

Favorite Quote: “ As you care less about what people think of you, you will care more about what others think of themselves .”

Why You Should Read It: While this leadership book has a simple title, the pages inside reveal Covey’s philosophical nature. For instance, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People asks readers to examine themselves by challenging their beliefs, perception, and world view. This book is important for leaders at all levels because it essentially teaches people how to be better, more connected, empathetic humans.

10. The Art of War

Author: Sun Tzu

One-Sentence Description: The Art of War teaches leaders how to create and implement strategic initiatives.

Favorite Quote: “In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.”

Why You Should Read It: Out of all the best leadership books mentioned, this 5th century B.C. military treatise is the oldest. There’s a reason it’s continued inspiring generations of strategic thinkers. While it was written for military leaders, the text translates well for business owners and executives who are responsible for developing and executing the company’s vision. In short, it takes readers through 13 chapters, each dedicated to a particular stage in the strategic implementation process.

 11. Awaken the Giant Within

Author: Tony Robbins

One-Sentence Description: World-renowned motivational speaker and coach Tony Robbins helps readers replace their bad habits, retrain their mindset, and increase their happiness so they can step into their greatness. 

Favorite Quote: “ Enjoy making decisions. You must know that in any moment a decision you make can change the course of your life forever . . . If you really want your life to be passionate, you need to live with this attitude of expectancy. ”

Why You Should Read It: Published in 1991, Awaken the Giant Within is full of the passion and charged words people would expect from a young Tony Robbins. As a coach focused on elevating people to their full potential, this is a great read for leaders dissatisfied by mediocracy. Although this book is more targeted toward young entrepreneurs and new business owners, it is a powerful read for those who want to live extraordinary lives as leaders.

  12. The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team

Author: Patrick Lencioni 

One-Sentence Description: Lencioni uses his knack for storytelling to resolve five common dysfunctional behaviors that inhibit even the best teams.  

Favorite Quote: “ Not finance. Not strategy. Not technology. It is teamwork that remains the ultimate competitive advantage, both because it is so powerful and so rare. ”

Why You Should Read It: Leaders must know how to both guide their teams and be a team player. This book stresses the importance of having a cohesive team dynamic. While the book is a fictional fable, it is a story many business owners and executives struggle with. Companies cannot succeed unless their teams work together. For this reason, the book points out dysfunctional behaviors that harm team culture . As a result, leaders can repair and avoid toxicity within their organizations using this insight.

13. How to Win Friends and Influence People 

Author: Dale Carnegie 

One-Sentence Description: Carnegie’s book provides insight on how likability leads to strong relationships, new friends and influence. 

Favorite Quote: “ You can’t win an argument. You can’t because if you lose it, you lose it; and if you win it, you lose it. ”

Why You Should Read It: First published in 1936, How to Win Friends and Influence People provides timeless lessons on how to win people over without using manipulation and morally unethical tactics. In essence, this book is a great read that proves likability goes a long way in life. The knowledge provided in Carnegie’s work is invaluable to leaders and customer-facing team members, such as sales teams. Additionally, the book teaches you how to advance your interpersonal skills.  

14.   Team of Rivals

Author: Doris Kearns Goodwin

One-Sentence Description: In this Lincoln biography, Kearns shows how the president united his former political competitors to abolish slavery and win the Civil War. 

Favorite Quote: “ In order to ‘win a man to your cause,’ Lincoln explained, you must first reach his heart, ‘the great high road to his reason. ‘”

Why You Should Read It: This leadership book is a masterclass on leadership and an interesting read for anyone who loves history. It shows how important it is to toss your ego aside when working with others. Rather than punishing his rivals, Lincoln welcomed several of these people into his cabinet and created a unified front that was capable of holding the country together. While the book has a rather political motif, it teaches executive leaders the value of bringing teams together toward a collective cause. Personal beliefs of individual group members may vary but there can be healthy competition among them, as long as it doesn’t get in the way of a larger, common objective.

15.   15 Invaluable Laws of Growth

Author: John C. Maxwell

One-Sentence Description: The third book in Maxwell’s “Laws” series provides readers with a new set of principles designed for growth and self-development. 

Favorite Quote: “ Most people who decide to grow personally find their first mentors in the pages of books. ”

Why You Should Read It: The continuous path of self-improvement differentiates a good leader from a great leader. When starting a business or accepting a leadership role, a person is really accepting the responsibility of dedicating their life to learning how to become better for those they’re responsible for guiding. To summarize, Maxwell helps people understand the required growing process and how to apply it to everyday life. 

Improving leadership skills by reading books requires an insatiable desire for applicable knowledge. However, those in leadership positions live busy lives, so it can be difficult to find time for continued education. This is why scheduling time on the calendar for learning and development is an important component of effective time management . Furthermore, doing so also helps keep people accountable for developing their leadership qualities and abilities.

Get started by:

• Selecting five books from this list.
• Determining how much time it will take to finish each book.
• Setting reading completion goals.
• Meeting the established deadline.
• Starting the process again.

Making reading a habit keeps leaders continuously learning. It’s also a great idea to share what you’re learning. For example, after finishing a book, write an encouraging, personal message on the cover page and pass it along to the friend, coworker, or employee it would best serve.

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14 Best Leadership Books to Read

By: Angela Robinson | Updated: July 23, 2022

You discovered our list of the best leadership books .

Leadership books are resources that teach leadership competencies, skills, and best practices. These works analyze which qualities great leaders share, and provide frameworks for building effective teams.

These books are similar to management books and books for CEOs , and include leadership books by women and mentorship books . These books help explore styles of leadership and develop leadership skills , executive skills and good leaders .

This article contains:

• the best leadership books for new leaders
• top leadership books
• good business leadership books
• executive leadership books
• the best books on leadership and management

So, here is the list!

List of leadership books

Here is a list of newer releases and older bestsellers that cover effective leadership.

1. Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek

Like many great leadership books, Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek draws inspiration from military principles. The concept in question: high-ranking officers eat after their men, putting their reports’ needs before their own. Sinek makes the case that people-first leadership makes crews feel supported and respected. These feelings in turn compel employees to exhibit loyalty and exceed expectations. Sinek states that trust and psychological safety are the keys to excellence, illustrating this argument with multiple examples from different types of organizations around the world.

Notable Quote: “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”

Buy Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek .

2. Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sanderson

Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Facebook executive Sheryl Sanderson is one of the most popular leadership books for women. Inspired by personal experience and a TED Talk Sanderson gave in 2010, Lean In details the ways women hold back and miss career opportunities by being passive and polite. Sanderson encourages women to seek strong mentors, advocate for themselves, and assert their place in the business world. These actions can empower women to transform into leaders instead of merely accepting assigned roles.

Although the book is a few years old, the lessons are still relevant. Given the challenges to women’s careers a remote workforce presents, Lean In is worth a revisit.

Notable Quote: “In the future, there will be no female leaders. There will just be leaders.”

Buy Lean In .

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3. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You by John C. Maxwell

In The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, John C. Maxwell outlines clear guidelines for leaders to follow to maximize influence and ensure that employees achieve a common vision. The book shares wisdom such as “leadership develops daily, not in a day,” and “leaders understand that activity is not necessarily accomplishment.” The book explains each rule plainly and provides anecdotal examples, covering every aspect of leadership from attracting and forming teams to securing legacy by planning for succession.

Notable Quote: “You can’t move people to action unless you first move them with emotion…. The heart comes before the head.”

Buy The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership .

4. Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts by Brené Brown

Dare to Lead shares lessons on the power of vulnerability and empathy in leadership. Renowned “courage and shame” researcher Brené Brown makes the case that leadership is not about status or control, but rather recognizing potential in individuals and ideas. Dare to Lead presents a guide to becoming a courageous and confident leader.

Notable Quote: “I define a leader as anyone who takes responsibility for finding the potential in people and processes, and who has the courage to develop that potential.”

Buy Dare to Lead .

5. The Mentor Leader: Secrets to Building People and Teams That Win Consistently by Tony Dungy

Tony Dungy is a celebrated former NFL coach, and this work is a valuable leadership book. The Mentor Leader explains how to elevate those around you towards success with one simple principle: “your only job is to help your players be better.” Dungy outlines the critical elements of mentor leadership, including introspection, altruistic mindset, and modeling values. The Mentor Leader demonstrates how to maximize team potential and drive individuals towards optimal performance.

Notable Quote: “Engage, educate, equip, encourage, empower, energize, and elevate. Those are the methods for maximizing the potential of any individual, team, organization, or institution for ultimate success and significance. Those are the methods of a mentor leader.”

Buy The Mentor Leader.

6. Minority Leader: How to Build Your Future and Make Real Change by Stacey Abrahms

Representative Stacey Abrahms’ Minority Leader: How to Build Your Future and Make Real Change is one of the best leadership books around. The book gives instructions for leading as an outsider. For example, by using your unique perspective and resilience to enact impactful and lasting change even in the most seemingly rigid institutions. This work is a mix of memoir and instruction, guiding readers through steps to find passion and develop skills through topics like embracing otherness, owning opportunity, and overcoming failure.

Notable Quote: “Logic is a seductive excuse for setting low expectations.”

Buy Minority Leader .

7. The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers by Ben Horowitz

Becoming a leader may not mean assuming a pre-existing executive position within an established organization, but rather blazing an entirely new path and creating a company from scratch. In The Hard Thing About Hard Things, Ben Horowitz illustrates the realities of entrepreneurship, addressing how to build a business from the ground up, uncover unclear answers, and make tough calls and hard decisions with minimal guidance or backup.

Notable Quote: “Build a culture that rewards—not punishes—people for getting problems into the open where they can be solved.”

Buy The Hard Thing About Hard Things .

8. Primal Leadership: Unleashing the Power of Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman, Richard E. Boyatzis, and Annie McKee

Emotional intelligence is one of the most underrated leadership skills. Leaders need to connect with their people to motivate and resonate with employees. Primal Leadership teaches professionals to identify and navigate feelings, empathize with employees, and build emotionally intelligent organizations. Emotionally intelligent leadership enables leaders to avoid misunderstandings and incorrect judgements, relate more closely to workers, and collaborate in true tandem with employees. The authors are professionals with years in the psychology and business consulting worlds, and illustrate their arguments through lived and observed experiences.

Notable Quote: “Not that leaders need to be overly “nice”; the emotional art of leadership includes pressing the reality of work demands without unduly upsetting people.”

Buy Primal Leadership .

9. Leadership: In Turbulent Times by Doris Kearns Goodwin

Leaders have a lot of pressure to lead their staff through times of turmoil. Perhaps the guidance leaders most need is on navigating a crisis, and reassurance that history’s greats encountered comparable challenges. Leadership: In Turbulent Times analyzes the obstacles faced by four American presidents: Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, and Lyndon Johnson. Goodwin’s work examines the struggles, triumphs, and tactical approaches of each subject, holding each president up as an example of how to turn tragedy into achievement. This book is a masterclass in crisis management and transformational leadership, as well as a roadmap out of dark times.

Notable Quote: “Establish a clear purpose; challenge the team to work out details; traverse conventional departmental boundaries; set large short-term and long-term targets; create tangible success to generate accelerated growth and momentum.”

Buy Leadership: In Turbulent Times .

10. Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin

The extreme environments of Navy SEAL missions provide the ultimate platform for leadership. Former commanders Jocko Willink and Leif Babin apply battlefield wisdom to the business world, preaching the philosophy of admitting mistakes and owning failure as a means to earn trust and respect from followers. Only by overcoming ego and facing reality head-on can leaders gain the clarity and strength to act in difficult situations. The authors employ military discipline and combat strategy to break down traits and approaches necessary to effective leadership.

Notable Quote : “Implementing Extreme Ownership requires checking your ego and operating with a high degree of humility. Admitting mistakes, taking ownership, and developing a plan to overcome challenges are integral to any successful team.”

Buy Extreme Ownership .

11. How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie

Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends & Influence People is one of the top leadership books of all time. Almost a century after the book’s initial publication, the sentiments within the pages still ring true. Carnegie’s guide to winning favor in the business world is a masterclass in soft skills. Leadership hinges upon resonating with people and winning followers. Carnegie breaks down the basics of persuasion, revealing how to sell others’ on your abilities, convince them of your vision, and assure folks that you have their best interests in mind. After all, one of the main components of effective influence is reading your audience’s feelings and motivations and reflecting that psychology and desire in your pitch.

Notable Quote: “Instead of condemning people, let’s try to understand them. Let’s try to figure out why they do what they do. That’s a lot more profitable and intriguing than criticism; and it breeds sympathy, tolerance and kindness. “To know all is to forgive all.”

Buy How to Win Friends & Influence People .

12. Conscious Leadership: Elevating Humanity Through Business by John Mackey, Steve Mcintosh, and Carter Phipps

Conscious Leadership is a manifesto to moral business practice. Head author John Mackey founded Whole Foods, and his commitment to sustainability, integrity, and compassion flavor his leadership advice. Conscious Leadership champions purpose and value-based leadership, urging leaders to embody beliefs and serve as role models for their working and wider communities.

Notable Quote: “Whether they know it or not, every person and every organization has the potential to embrace, enact, and unify people around a higher purpose.”

Buy Conscious Leadership: Elevating Humanity Through Business .

13. Leadership: Theory and Practice by Peter G. Northouse

Peter G Northouse’s Leadership: Theory and Practice is one of the best leadership books for new leaders. The book serves as a comprehensive textbook for leaders, covering a wide range of academic concepts and evidence-based learnings related to the field of leadership. The book covers various traits, behaviors, approaches, theories, and styles of leadership, serving as a catch-all index and manual for managers looking to make a mark.

Notable Quote: “Leaders who use coercion are interested in their own goals and seldom are interested in the wants and needs of followers. Using coercion runs counter to working with followers to achieve a common goal.”

Buy Leadership: Theory and Practice .

14. How to Lead: Wisdom from the World’s Greatest CEOs, Founders, and Game Changers by David M. Rubenstein

In How to Lead, David M. Rubenstein gathers insight, advice, and philosophies from trailblazing visionaries like Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and more. Each chapter has a unique perspective on leadership, offering multiple viewpoints on the secrets of success and the qualities of an effective leader . From these examples, readers can find inspiration and guidance to achieve their own visions. The content of How to Lead comes straight from Rubenstein’s own experience interviewing these industry leaders throughout the years.

Notable Quote: “A fair question might be, why should anyone really want to be a leader? First, a leader can create the type of change or results that will improve the lives of others. Second, a leader can motivate others to become leaders, and in turn improve others’ lives. And third, a leader can feel a sense of accomplishment and achievement that provides human fulfillment and happiness.”

Buy How to Lead .

The simple act of reading a book will not automatically transform an individual into a skilled leader. However, these books provide insight, guidelines, and actionable advice to build strong teams, earn respect, maximize potential, and leave a lasting impression on organizations.

Next, check out our lists of employee engagement books and books on diversity and inclusion , and these post with employee engagement best practices and leadership activities for work .

You may also be interested in executive team building activities , these ways to differentiate managers vs leaders , this guide to collaborative leadership and this one on servant leadership at work .

Plus, this guide to employee management styles and this list of the top leadership conferences .

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FAQ: Leadership Books

Here are answers to common questions about leadership books.

What are leadership books?

Leadership books are works that teach readers how to be skilled and influential leaders. These books tend to be a mix of instructions, advice, and anecdotes from experts in the realms of psychology and business, and provide step by step guides to becoming a role model and visionary.

What are the best books about leadership to read?

There is no shortage of books about leadership full of expert advice on the market. Some great options include:

• Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek
• Lean In by Sheryl Sanderson
• The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell
• Dare to Lead by Brené Brown
• The Mentor Leader by Tony Dungy
• Minority Leader by Stacey Abrahms
• The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz
• Primal Leadership by Daniel Goleman
• Leadership: In Turbulent Times by Doris Kearns Goodwin
• Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink
• How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie
• Conscious Leadership by John Mackey, Steve Mcintosh, and Carter Phipps
• Leadership: Theory and Practice by Peter G. Northouse
• How to Lead: Wisdom from the World’s Greatest CEOs, Founders, and Game Changers by David M. Rubenstein

Though these authors employ different approaches, one underlying principle runs throughout these works: good leaders are not necessarily born gifted, but rather, leadership is a developed skill that requires continual learning and effort.

What are good leadership books for women?

There are certain books that speak to the unique challenges of being a female visionary in the modern workforce. Particularly good leadership books for women include Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sanderson, Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts by Brené Brown, and Minority Leader: How to Build Your Future and Make Real Change by Stacey Abrahms.

What are the best leadership books for new leaders?

The best leadership books for new leaders include Leadership: Theory and Practice by Peter G. Northouse, How to Lead: Wisdom from the World’s Greatest CEOs, Founders, and Game Changers by David M. Rubenstein, How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie, and The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell

Author: Angela Robinson

Marketing Coordinator at teambuilding.com. Team building content expert. Angela has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and worked as a community manager with Yelp to plan events for businesses.

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15 Best Leadership Books To Read in 2023

Updated: March 11, 2024

Published: September 06, 2023

If you want to become a better leader, it’s important to stay on top of the latest leadership trends, theories, and strategies. Doing so keeps you informed, lets you try out new ideas, and empowers you to synthesize it all into your own unique leadership style .

One way to achieve this is by reading some of the best leadership books in the industry. They come out regularly, so you’ll need to refresh your reading list every few years to stay on top of the latest leadership best practices. 

What are the best leadership books?

The best leadership books provide readers with the tools and insights they need to become better leaders.

With this in mind, here are some criteria you can use to determine what makes a great leadership book:

• A clear and concise writing style that is accessible to all levels of readers
• Detailed examples from real-life situations to illustrate key points
• Strategies and tactics for leading people in various contexts, such as team management, individual coaching, or boardroom negotiations
• Insights into organizational structures and cultures that help guide effective decision-making
• Easy-to-understand explanations of complex theories
• Practical advice that can be applied to a variety of leadership positions
• Compelling and engaging style that will keep readers motivated to read on

15 best leadership books of all time

1. good to great: why some companies make the leap… and others don’t by jim collins.

Good to Great focuses on the principles and practices that differentiate great companies from good ones. It dives deep into the business strategies, culture, decision-making processes, and the role of leadership in driving organizations from good to great.

This book helps new and experienced leaders, empowering them with insightful concepts that can transform their leadership style and drive performance. It emphasizes the importance of humility, determination, a disciplined mindset, and surrounding oneself with the right people as crucial factors for successful leadership.

“Greatness is not a function of circumstance. Greatness, it turns out, is largely a matter of conscious choice and discipline.” - Jim Collins

2. Start With Why by Simon Sinek

Start With Why delves into the quest for purpose and fulfillment in our personal and professional lives. Its central idea is the Golden Circle — a strategic framework that empowers organizations to thrive. The Golden Circle enables movements to succeed, and inspires individuals to pursue their dreams by starting with the “why.” The book emphasizes that exceptional leaders motivate people to take action by communicating their “why” — the driving force behind their beliefs, values, and goals.

This book can benefit leaders of all kinds, including entrepreneurs, executives, teachers, and parents. It helps leaders understand the importance of having a clear sense of purpose and how that purpose can influence their decision-making, communication, and leadership style. 

“People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it. And what you do simply proves what you believe.” - Simon Sinek

3. Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin

Extreme Ownership shares hard-hitting Navy SEAL combat stories that translate into lessons for business and life. The authors served together in SEAL Task Unit Bruiser and now teach leadership principles to companies that want to build high-performance, winning teams.

Extreme Ownership teaches proven leadership principles used by thousands of people in leadership positions, resulting in improved productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness in their teams and organizations. These valuable lessons can help any leader improve their team's performance.

“Leaders must own everything in their world. There is no one else to blame.” - Jocko Willink and Leif Babin

4. The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown

The Gifts of Imperfection is a guide to embracing your imperfections and living a wholehearted life. Brown encourages readers to let go of societal pressures and expectations and to instead cultivate self-love, self-compassion, and authentic connections with others. She provides actionable steps and insights on how to cultivate these qualities and embrace vulnerability. This book is helpful for any leader who wants to cultivate a deeper sense of self-awareness and authenticity in their leadership style. Brown’s emphasis on vulnerability and wholehearted living can help leaders connect more deeply with their teams and foster a culture of trust and openness.

“Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It’s about the choice to show up and be real. The choice to be honest. The choice to let our true selves be seen.” - Brené Brown

5. The Art of Possibility by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander

The Art of Possibility provides a unique perspective on how to live a more fulfilling life. The authors use inspiring stories and examples to encourage readers to embrace the power of possibility and cultivate a mindset focused on opportunities rather than limitations. This book is ideal for leaders who want to inspire their teams and create a positive work culture. It helps leaders to shift their perspective from one of scarcity to one of abundance. And to approach challenges with a growth mindset, unlocking their true potential and that of their team.

“In the measurement world, you set a goal and strive for it. In the universe of possibility, you set the context and let life unfold.” - Benjamin Zander and Rosamund Stone Zander

6. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People teaches readers how to develop personal and interpersonal effectiveness through seven habits. Covey argues that success results from fundamental character traits rather than skills and practices that bolster the public image. 

The book helps readers shift their paradigm to focus on what they can control, establish guiding principles, prioritize essential tasks, and work collaboratively with others to achieve common goals. This book helps leaders who want to improve their personal and interpersonal effectiveness by developing new habits. 

“Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.” - Stephen R. Covey

7 . The Untethered Soul, by Michael Singer

The Untethered Soul explores the relationship between our thoughts and emotions, and how they affect our consciousness. It offers practical techniques to help readers let go of negative energy patterns and live in the present moment.

The book can be helpful to leaders looking to develop their emotional intelligence and become more self-aware. It teaches readers how to recognize their thoughts and emotions and how they impact their leadership style. 

“Unconditional happiness is the highest technique there is. You don’t have to learn Sanskrit or read any scriptures. You don’t have to renounce the world. You just have to really mean it when you say that you choose to be happy.” - Michael Singer

8. Immunity to Change by Robert Kegan and Lisa Laskow Lahey

Immunity to Change is about identifying and overcoming personal barriers preventing individuals from achieving their goals. It delves into the concept of “immunity to change,” which refers to people’s hidden assumptions and beliefs that can hinder their growth and progress. The book offers a unique approach to tackling internal resistance to change, revealing unconscious roadblocks that hinder personal and organizational growth.

This book is ideal for leaders looking to improve their personal and professional growth. It helps leaders identify the hidden assumptions and beliefs that may be hindering their progress. 

“When we have the privilege to make a change, we also get a chance to make a change for our organization.” - Robert Kegan and Lisa Laskow Lahey

9. Opening Your Presence: Presenting the YOU You Want Others To See by Greta Muller

Opening Your Presence: Presenting the YOU You Want Others To See is a guidebook written by a coach and trusted adviser to Fortune 500 companies. However, it’s for anyone who wants to present themselves authentically and confidently. The book is written in a candid, humorous, and graceful manner that’s easy to understand and follow.

This book is ideal for the nonprofessional speaker who must present at company meetings and events. It helps them clear their fears and misconceptions, prepare for their encounters, craft their message, and present with confidence. 

“Say it with me: People buy you (or don’t) before they buy (or not) whatever it is you’re selling.” - Greta Muller

10. Leading Inclusion: Drive Change Your Employees Can See and Feel by Gene Cox

Leading Inclusion provides a practical guide for leaders to build inclusive organizations. It challenges preexisting beliefs about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and offers a strategic way for leaders to incorporate DEI efforts into their organizations from the top down.

The book is perfect for CEOs, C-suite leaders, board directors, human resources professionals, and other leaders who want to understand inclusion from a strategic perspective. 

 “In this new day, you can do things that will help with healing and forward movement.” - Gene Cox

11. Dare To Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. by Brené Brown

Dare To Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. teaches readers how to be daring leaders in a culture of fear and uncertainty. The book explores the four skill sets that make up daring leadership — rumbling with vulnerability, living into our values, braving trust, and learning to rise.

This book is for anyone who wants to step up and lead with courage and empathy, whether in a small entrepreneurial startup or a Fortune 500 company. It helps leaders cultivate the skills needed to be brave, have tough conversations, and show up with their whole hearts.

“If we shield ourselves from all feedback, we stop growing.” - Brené Brown

12. Good Power: Leading Positive Change in Our Lives, Work, and World by Ginni Rometty

Good Power: Leading Positive Change in Our Lives, Work, and World is a mix of a memoir, leadership lessons, and big ideas by former IBM CEO Ginni Rometty. The book explores the concept of “good power,” which aims to drive meaningful change for ourselves, our organizations, and the world.

This book caters to leaders seeking to cultivate authentic leadership, inspire teams, improve their companies, and create healthier societies. It shares practical guidance on using good power through five key principles: be in service of others, build belief, know what must change and what must endure, steward good tech, and be resilient.

“Power can be good when it seeks to maximize beneficial impacts and avert rather than ignore harmful consequences. Power can be good when it’s inclusive, shared, and distributed.” - Ginni Rometty 

13. Leading Lightly: Lower Your Stress, Think With Clarity and Lead With Ease by Jody Michael

Leading Lightly offers a new perspective on leadership, emphasizing mental fitness, emotional intelligence, and mindfulness. Michael provides a road map for transforming performance, achieving greater self-awareness, and managing work and life with clarity and ease.

This book suits leaders struggling with stress, anxiety, and fatigue at work. It helps them shift their mindset, think differently, and respond to situations with more agility. 

“Leading lightly means that no matter what happens during your day, you have the capacity to approach everything with enduring ease and clarity.” - Jody Michael

14. Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek 

Leaders Eat Last explores the key elements of successful leadership and why some organizations thrive while others struggle. It delves into the concept of trust in leadership and how it impacts the success of organizations. Sinek explores trust’s biological and anthropological roots, the importance of creating a healthy environment within organizations, and the role of empathetic servant leadership.

It’s valuable for leaders at all levels, from CEOs to team leaders, helping them to understand the importance of putting their employees’ needs first and inspiring trust through their actions. 

“Leaders are the ones who are willing to give up something of their own for us. Their time, their energy, their money, maybe even the food off their plate. When it matters, leaders choose to eat last.” - Simon Sinek

15. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You by John C. Maxwell

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership is about the fundamental principles of leadership. It explains 21 laws that every leader should follow to become an effective and successful leader. The book provides practical examples and insights to help readers understand each law and how to apply it in their personal and professional lives.

The book is suitable for business leaders, executives, entrepreneurs, and even aspiring leaders. It helps them understand a good leader’s essential qualities, such as vision, integrity, influence, and communication. It also teaches how to build a strong team, make effective decisions, and motivate and inspire others.

“There are different types of leaders, one who attracts followers and the other is one who develops the other leaders.” - John C. Maxwell

Now that you have a solid list of leadership books to read, it’s time to get started. Select several that resonate with your needs as a current or aspiring leader, buy them as ebooks or hardcovers, and set aside time to read them every day.

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Best leadership books for personal development

Best leadership books for people managers

Best leadership books for organizational leaders

Whether you’re a new leader or a veteran entrepreneur , a commitment to learning will help you become as effective as you can be — and there’s certainly no shortage of great leadership and management books to help you do just that.

The problem is that if you search "leadership books" on Amazon, you'll see over 50,000 titles. So how do you know where to begin? We’re here to make it simple for you with this list of the best leadership books of all time.

"Self-awareness and self-love matter. Who we are is how we lead" Brené Brown

If you want to become a good leader, it starts with working on yourself . Why? Effective leadership requires you to be able to manage yourself as well as others.

When you have a foundation of psychological strength, emotional intelligence , and self-awareness, it will naturally impact and improve your leadership skills. 

Below are the best leadership and self-help books for anyone who wants to work on their mindset, emotional regulation, and beyond. 

1. The Gifts of Imperfection , by Brené Brown

The Gifts of Imperfection is about practicing self-compassion and self-love. It asks us to embrace our own imperfections as we would anyone else’s and to accept our talents and gifts less as gifts for ourselves, and more as a gift to give to others. Once we know who we are and love who we are, we can engage others at that same level.

2. The Art of Possibility , by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander

The Art of Possibility teaches readers how to think divergently about the possibilities in front of them. The 12 practices for this pursuit can then open new avenues of thought and self-image. As a result, you can become a more insightful, better leader.

3.  The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People , by Stephen R. Covey

“If I really want to improve my situation, I can work on the one thing over which I have control: myself.” ― Stephen Covey

So many of us are outwardly successful, but still find ourselves wrestling with our inner habits. Enter bestselling author Covey’s seven habits to help you become more productive, build stronger relationships, and focus on priorities.

4. The Untethered Soul , by Michael Singer

The Untethered Soul is one of the most philosophical and spiritual leadership books available. It can help you pursue your inward journey by observing your ego self more objectively and dispassionately. By untethering yourself from the automatic thoughts and emotions that limit your conscious awareness, you can open the door to growth . 

5. Immunity to Change , by Robert Kegan and Lisa Laskow Lahey

This book offers an approach to change that can help you get unstuck from patterns that no longer serve you. By understanding your goals and what behaviors get in the way, you can release them and find the path forward.

6. Lean In , by Sheryl Sandberg

In Lean In , former Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg shares practical tips to help women succeed at home and in the workplace . The book is a compelling read backed by hard data and research, inspiring many women to take more risks and boldly pursue their goals.

7. Man’s Search for Meaning , by Victor Frankl

“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms — to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.” 

This quote from the author, who survived Nazi concentration camps, sums up the essence of this book quite nicely. 

8. GO: Put Your Strengths To Work , by Marcus Buckingham

Buckingham proposes that our strengths are those things that energize us (and make us stronger) and weaknesses are those things that drain our energy. Through that lens, we can look past our learned skills to our authentic talents.

9. The Five Thieves of Happiness , by John Izzo

Izzo’s main premise is that our natural state is happiness, yet there are forces at work to steal it from us. He names the five thieves as control, conceit, coveting, consumption, and comfort. Understanding the thieves lays a path back to happiness, or at least contentedness.

10. The Power of Meaning , by Emily Esfahani Smith

In The Power of Meaning , Smith teaches that ‘meaning’ and ‘purpose’ are not synonymous. Instead, purpose is but one of four pillars of meaning. The other three are belonging, storytelling, and transcendence. Each of us has a unique mix of these pillars that creates meaning in our lives. 

Knowing that allows us to apply ourselves more consciously to increase our sense of meaning, and thus increase engagement in our work. As leaders, we may also try to understand what gives our team members meaning.

11. How to Win Friends and Influence People , by Dale Carnegie

"Success in dealing with people depends on a sympathetic grasp of the other person’s viewpoint." - Dale Carnegie

Every successful leader knows that empathy is crucial to team collaboration. If you can’t connect on a deeper level with your employees, you’ll struggle to get results from them. Carnegie’s book is a roadmap to building that skill.

12. Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us , by Daniel H. Pink 

13. Tomorrowmind,  by Gabriella Rosen Kellerman and Martin Seligman

Navigating today's workplace can be challenging. With increasing fluctuations in workplace wellness, economic uncertainty, and work environments, flourishing can seem like an uphill battle. In their future-forward book, Seligman and our very own CPO, Gabriella Kellerman, have analyzed hundreds of thousands of workers in global industries to identify five psychological powers that are critical for workplace thriving in the 21st century. In their book, they offer actionable advice and science-backed insights to help leaders and their teams thrive.

The best leadership books for people managers 

Once you know how to manage yourself and your career , you’re ready to become an effective leader and manager. This is tricky, though, because leading people is about more than practical communication skills. There are many theories on what makes a great leader .

You’ll need to work on leadership traits like accountability and trustworthiness, as well as concrete things like managing poor performance and holding productive meetings . 

To help you learn both, here are the best leadership and business books for anyone in charge of managing a team .

14. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership , by John C. Maxwell

“True leadership cannot be awarded, appointed, or assigned. It comes only from influence, and that cannot be mandated. It must be earned.” - John C. Maxwell

Maxwell is a widely respected author and speaker with over 30 years of leadership experience. In this foundational book, he shares the core, timeless laws of leadership that you’ll be sure to reference many times over the course of your career. 

15. Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win , by Leif Babin and Jocko Willink 

In this bestselling leadership book, U.S. Navy Seal Officers Willink and Babin share lessons learned on the battlefield. Using their experience as leaders of the most highly decorated special forces unit in the Iraq war, they teach readers powerful strategies to succeed in life and at work. 

16. True North , by Bill George

True North is about the art of leading others. According to George, True North is “the internal compass that guides you successfully through life. It represents who you are as a human being at your deepest level. It is your orientation point that helps you stay on track as a leader.” In short, this is a guidebook for authenticity in leadership .

17. Dare to Lead , by Brené Brown 

In this book, prolific author Brené Brown works to answer the question that early-stage startups, Fortune 500 companies, and everyone in between is asking: “How do you cultivate braver, more daring leaders, and how do you embed the value of courage in your culture?” The insights gained from her research will be sure to help you become a better, bolder, and more empathetic leader for your team.

18. Primal Leadership , by Daniel Goleman, Richard Boyatzis, and Annie McKee

Primal Leadership is all about the importance of emotionally intelligent leadership. In addition to offering practical advice, the authors address why great leaders need self-awareness and empathy in our increasingly technologically complex and oft-uncertain world. 

19. Beyond the Wall of Resistance , by Rick Maurer

Maurer is a change management advisor who understands that you have to overcome inevitable resistance in order for change to happen. He provides a compelling description of three levels of resistance: “I don’t understand it” (a knowledge gap); “I don’t like it” (an emotional gap); and “I don’t like you” (a trust gap). Then he explores strategies to make successful changes more often.

20. Five Dysfunctions of a Team , by Patrick Lencioni

“Remember, teamwork begins by building trust. And the only way to do that is to overcome our need for invulnerability.” -Patrick Lencioni

This book is important for teams looking to overcome the five common “dysfunctions”: absence of trust, fear of conflict, lack of commitment, avoidance of accountability , and inattention to results. When leaders carry a clear understanding of these five behaviors and how to remedy them, they are more likely to identify and correct them.

21. The 11 Laws of Likability , by Michelle Lederman 

This book explores the 11 laws that contribute to how likable someone is, and the success they will have networking and building relationships. The power in the laws comes from finding the ones most authentic to us and using them to tailor our engagement with others. 

The best books for organizational leaders 

The most senior business leaders in an organization are responsible for defining the company’s mission, values, culture, and strategy. The following books address many of these topics, for organizational leaders and those who want to become them.

22. Conscious Business , by Fred Kofman 

"Consciousness is the main source of organizational greatness." - Fred Kofman

This bestseller describes conscious business as transferring our conscious values as individuals into our work, and even better, into company values . It explores expressing values, understanding boundaries, communicating constructively, effective negotiations, and more.

23. Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap , by Jim Collins

"Greatness is not a function of circumstance. Greatness, it turns out, is largely a matter of conscious choice." - Jim Collins

Good to Great is a classic, must-read leadership book. In it, Collins outlines the research-based principles that separate consistent market segment outperformers from other companies with equal opportunity to do the same. 

It also provides insights into what makes a successful leadership team, how to build a culture of discipline, and how technology and analytics can make a difference in an organization's growth – when used correctly.

24. Start with Why, by Simon Sinek

Simon Sinek is an inspirational speaker and author best known for Start with Why . In the book, Sinek outlines his leadership theory , which is called the Golden Circle theory. Basically, he argues companies need to go beyond the practical benefits of what they offer. Instead of focusing on the “what,” they should turn their attention to “why?” This is because as Sinek says, “People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it.”

25. Leaders Eat Last , by Simon Sinek

After the success of Start with Why , Sinek continued his work with the New York Times bestseller Leaders Eat Last. Using true stories from Sinek’s work with the military, big business, and beyond, the book unpacks the idea that the best leaders sacrifice for their teams. Instead of operating solely from self-interest, they foster cooperation, trust, and safety.

26. Dealing with Darwin , by Geoffrey Moore

The core of this book is about understanding what gives organizations market power, and why it is difficult to find the resources to exploit those traits. The “core vs. context” framework of this book is brilliant in its ability to define the true power of your company, how to release resources for pursuing that advantage, and the implications for managing the strengths of your organizational talent pool .

27. How to Be an Anti-Racist , by Ibram Kendi 

When social injustices exist at the levels they do today, simply not being racist isn’t enough — one must be anti-racist. Kendi has a great knack for reducing this charged topic to a set of definitions and dimensions surrounding racism. 

This allows for more rational, and less emotional, discussions about dealing with racist policies and ideas rather than racists. The book contains a blueprint for organizations that want to re-examine their approach to inclusion and unconscious bias .

28. Moneyball , by Michael Lewis

Moneyball is a book about market disruption and competitive strategy. It chronicles the low-budget 2002 Oakland Athletics team and how they disrupted their industry with new approaches that gave them a distinct competitive advantage. That is until the industry changed.

Disruption sounds harsh, and it can be, both to your competitors and to your team who may be stuck in “old ways.” That said, good change management creates an opportunity for added market power.

29. The Hard Thing About Hard Things , by Ben Horowitz

“That’s the hard thing about hard things—there is no formula for dealing with them.” - Ben Horowitz

Ben Horowitz is a successful Silicon Valley founder and investor. His book is one of the best guidebooks out there for entrepreneurs , whether they’re just starting out or raising their final round of funding. Even if you’re not building a company from scratch, Horowitz provides great insights on mindset, business strategy, and old-fashioned hard work. 

Moving forward

Whether it’s audiobooks, e-books, or hard copies, consuming leadership books is one of the best ways to grow your skills and accelerate leadership training . — and your business. The most important thing is to take the time to prioritize learning from the many amazing business leaders who came before you.

Lead with confidence and authenticity

Develop your leadership and strategic management skills with the help of an expert Coach.

Ian Munro is a BetterUp Fellow Coach. Ian's passion in life is facilitating progress for others by synthesizing separate ideas and concepts into new ways of moving forward. As a Coach, he helps others find their authentic vitality and ways to let that lead the way in their life and career. Ian is a happy denizen of Vancouver Island off the west coast of Canada. His career as a leader in various business facets of IT allowed him to build a broad context of what makes businesses tick. He's never had a book speak to his true self as much as Fred Kofman’s Conscious Business (Brené Brown’s Gifts of Imperfection comes close).

The key mindsets sales leaders need to unlock success: Q&A with Brad McCracken, Global VP of Sales at BetterUp

Shift 2018: reimagining work and bringing more meaning to the employee experience, data shows since pandemic team performance hinges on this leader skill, leading people as people, a conversation with cynt marshall, ceo of the dallas mavericks, 5 top companies share their best leadership development practices, professional leadership skills to incorporate on your resume, how leadership coaching helps leaders get (and keep) an edge, become a better leader by learning how to stop micromanaging, what makes an inclusive leader these 6 behaviors are a good start, similar articles, feel inspired by the 12 best ted talks on leadership, 15 of the best leadership podcasts for professional growth, become a great leader with these 10 tips, how the golden circle sheds light in a world full of noise, 13 imposter syndrome books from psychologists and coaches, how to develop google's top 7 leadership competencies, build the career you want. these 12 books will show you how, 14 self-help books for every challenge, 20 books for personal growth in 2024, stay connected with betterup, get our newsletter, event invites, plus product insights and research..

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If You Want to Lead, Read These 10 Books

• Whitney Johnson

Must-read titles — by men and women — for those looking to be both powerful and beloved in business.

Last week, John Coleman posted a list of recommended books, 11 Books Every Young Leader Should Read .

• WJ Whitney Johnson is the CEO of Disruption Advisors, a tech-enabled talent-development company and author of Smart Growth: How to Grow Your People to Grow Your Company .

Join Discovery, the new community for book lovers

Trust book recommendations from real people, not robots 🤓

Blog – Posted on Monday, Jul 19

The 40 best leadership books of all time.

Who even needs leadership books? Surely I can just learn everything on the job, right? But try asking any CEO and they’ll no doubt tell you about how much they wished they’d known before setting out on their leadership journey.

The greatest leadership books offer insight and advice you can apply to both your professional and personal lives. In this post, we've put together the 40 best leadership books to give you a headstart on your peers. From world leaders like Nelson Mandela to business titans like Warren Bennis, they'll cover all the angles of leadership you'll need to sharpen your instincts and prepare to tackle the role head-on.

1. Legacy by James Kerr

What can the world’s most successful national sports team, New Zealand’s All Blacks, teach us about business and leadership? A lot, in fact: in Legacy, bestselling author, speaker, and coach James Kerr shares 15 lessons to learn from this legendary squad. 

Legacy offers a perspective that many others don’t, tackling everything from achieving world-class standards to creating a legacy to be proud of. However avid a rugby fan you are, this is one of the best leadership books to read if you want to learn from people who are the best at what they do.

2. Start With Why by Simon Sinek

In his global bestseller (and third most-watched TedTalk of all time), Simon Sinek posits the idea that why you do something is much more important than what you’re actually doing. Start With Why is based on that compelling premise: anyone can be a leader if they start by questioning their ‘why.’ Only once you find it, Sinek argues, can you encourage customers to believe in your business and lead a team of employees who understand your mission — giving your business the longevity it needs to survive.

3. The First 90 Days by Michael D. Watkins

Transitioning into a new role, especially as a manager, can be one of the most daunting and stressful challenges within a workplace. In The First 90 Days, Michael Watkins reveals a way to make these transitions as smooth as possible, offering strategies to avoid  the most common mistakes made by new leaders. With self-assessments and checklists to complete as you go, this leadership book is the perfect guide for leaders of any level who want to make the most of their first 90 days in a new role.

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4. Lead from the Outside: How to Build Your Future and Make Real Change by Stacey Abrams

Stacey Abrams is one of the most influential and accomplished politicians in the US. In reaction to her home state’s voter suppression laws, she worked tirelessly to galvanize 800,000 people of color to register as voters in Georgia. 

Lead from the Outside is her must-read guide, based on years of Abrams’ personal experiences, on how to harness your strengths as an outsider to become a better leader and inspire others to do the same. Particularly relevant for future leaders outside of the traditional white male hierarchy, it touches upon rarely discussed topics (such as the relationship between leadership and money), and will give you practical tools to make a difference yourself.

5. Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel H. Pink

Do you know what really motivates you? According to Daniel Pink, too many business leaders mistakingly rely on extrinsic motivators (spoiler alert: it’s usually money). Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us shows how, by first understanding how motivation works, leaders can encourage their team far more effectively and produce real, meaningful results. Pink’s engaging writing style makes this book an easy read, powerfully inspiring people to examine their own motivational practices.

6. Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t by Simon Sinek

Great leaders make sacrifices so that their whole team can thrive — not just those at the top. The second Simon Sinek entry on our list of the best leadership books, Leaders Eat Last pulls back the curtains on all of the qualities of a true leader, including that willingness to eat last. After all, an office isn't so different from the battlefield. As in the Marine Corps, the best teams are formed when leaders put the needs of their teammates above their own, creating a trusting, mutually cooperative environment in the process.

7. How to win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnies

Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People has achieved superstar status within the genre of leadership books. And for good reason: Carnegie’s 1936 bestseller was one of the first to reveal how to achieve your maximum potential as a leader, sharing then-revolutionary advice such as being generous with praise, remembering people’s names, and showing genuine interest in other people’s opinions. 

Now in its tenth decade, the book has naturally been criticized in recent years for being somewhat outdated in its outlook — however, with investor and philanthropist Warren Buffett swearing by the book’s lessons, there’s still much you can  learn from Carnegie’s words.

8. The Making of a Manager: What to Do When Everyone Looks to You by Julie Zhuo

At 25, Julie Zhuo taught herself how to manage a team on the job. In her 30s, she published this critically acclaimed book so that you don’t have to make the same mistakes she did. 

The Making of a Manager is the culmination of her years of leadership experience, offering crucial strategies for dealing with pressure at work — especially when you don’t have formal management training. Zhuo is generous with her wisdom, sharing tips on succeeding in your first three months as a manager, hiring well to build the best team possible, and giving feedback which leaves people feeling more inspired and driven.

9. Leading Change by John P. Kotter

Change — whether that be personal or professional — happens every day. And in his book, Leading Change, John Kotter argues that we shouldn’t be afraid of it: instead, we should learn to make the most of it in order to maximize our opportunities. His legendary 8-step process is meant for people who not only want to deal with change, but also lead change within their organizations.

10. Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela

If you want to learn from one of the world’s most outstanding moral and political leaders, then Nelson Mandela’s autobiographical work Long Walk to Freedom should be on your list of great leadership books. An undeniably important voice in human rights and the fight for racial equality, there is much to be learned about leadership from the way Mandela approached struggle and adversity, becoming an inspiration for millions. You don’t have to be changing the world to implement some of his lessons — which include learning to forgive and to develop the strength to never give up — into your daily life.

11. The Truth About Leadership by James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner

James Kouzes and Barry Posner, two of the biggest names in leadership circles, offer ten truths that all leaders should know in their bold, honest, and personal book, The Truth About Leadership . Based on 30 years of advanced research, it offers proven advice to help leaders move beyond the temporary trends and fads that modern-day social media spurs on. For millennials who want to go back to the basics and understand the simple truths of leadership, this is a must-read.

12. Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown

Feeling overworked and yet unproductive in a fast-paced environment? Trying to figure out what, exactly, is negatively impacting your leadership and overall output? As a Silicon Valley CEO, Greg McKeown is well-placed to impart the strategies needed to survive — and lead — in intense, competitive environments. McKeown believes the best leaders should develop set criteria for what is deemed essential work: as leaders, this allows us to channel our time and energy more efficiently to achieve greater results.

13. Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. by Brené Brown

Next up on our list of the best books on leadership, Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead calls for more daring leaders who will take responsibility for finding potential in those around them. The struggles of leadership are not sugar-coated in this book! Instead, Brown reveals that to ‘dare to lead’ means tackling difficult conversations head-on, staying curious, and sharing our power with others around us to see the results we need.

14. The Four Fixations of a Brilliant Leader by Alan J. Sears

The Four Fixations of a Brilliant Leader continues the trend of Alan J. Sears’s brilliant books about leadership and management. Sears presents a unique setup: Part one is structured as a fictional anecdote, with leadership teachings woven throughout part one of the book. Part two then pulls back the curtains and explains the technical features, background, and key management behaviors shown in Part one. 

After his previous bestselling success, The Four Fixations of a Brilliant Leader proves that Sears has perfected the art of creating easy-to-visualize and relatable leadership scenarios for you to understand.

15. First, Break All the Rules: What the world's Greatest Managers Do Differently by Jim Harter

A few years ago, management consulting company Gallup studied more than 80,000 managers to reveal what the best ones do to stand out from the rest. Their findings? The best leaders didn’t hesitate to First, Break All the Rules — and they weren’t afraid of deviating from the norm. How do you blaze a fresh trail when it’s tempting to follow the crowd and safely blend in? Read this to find out.

16. Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, Think, and Do by Jennifer L. Eberhardt

Unconscious biases affect our behaviors every day, no matter how well we think we navigate them. Jennifer Eberhardt is a pioneer in the field and has compiled her revolutionary findings in Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, Think and Do. 

For all leaders, this book is doubly important to read: biases can affect staff diversity and retention rates and negatively impact the sense of unity among your team. Although bias is a universal human phenomenon, Eberhardt reassures us that, with a bit of work, it can be overcome.

17. The Introverted Leader: Building on Your Quiet Strength by Jennifer B. Kahnweiler

Jennifer Kahnweiler’s The Introverted Leader deals with an underrepresented topic in business. The broader culture often dismisses introversion as shyness or a lack of confidence. But Kahnweiler explains that the assumption that all introverted people are too shy to lead a team couldn’t be further from the truth. In reality, introverts have a different (but no less worthy) set of strengths which they can harness. And she’ll show you just how to capitalize on those strengths to shine in the workplace as an introverted leader.

18. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey

A staple in any list of the best books on leadership, Stephen R. Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People has been read by millions of people worldwide. First published in 1989, Covey’s book's timeless insights cover proactivity, time management, and how to take the lead on what’s within your control. By Habit 7, you’ll be learning how to ‘Sharpen the Saw’ by creating a better work-life balance, leaving you with more energy to apply yourself as a leader to the right places.

19. Seeing Around Corners by Rita McGrath

The best leaders can anticipate change before it happens and “see around corners,” so to speak. Seeing Around Corners — the aptly titled book by Columbia Business School professor Rita McGrath — reveals just how to do that. More than that, McGrath demonstrates how to use what she calls ‘discovery-driven planning’ to predict and take control of these changes to lead your organization to success.

20. How to Own the Room: Women and the Art of Brilliant Speaking by Viv Groskop

While women have made numerous advancements in the business world in recent years, we have yet to arrive at true gender equality in the workplace. Viv Groskop wrote How to Own the Room: Women and the Art of Brilliant Speaking to show what some of the world’s most influential and inspirational women can teach us all about how we can replicate their confidence and conviction in our own personal and professional lives. From classic heavyweights like Virginia Woolf to modern-day icons like Michelle Obama, every woman is given a voice in this book to inspire others to own the room for themselves and continue fighting for a fair workplace for all.

21. Thinking, Fast and Slow by Kahneman

In a fast-paced and highly accessible read, Daniel Kahneman takes readers on a tour of the mind and explains how to utilize it to the fullest extent. Thinking, Fast and Slow breaks our thinking process down into two systems: System 1 is fast, instinctive, and emotional; System 2 is slower and more logical. 

While leaders of the past have often propped up System 1 as the preferred mode of thinking, Kahneman argues that the obvious assets of fast thinking can also incur faults and biases. By shedding light on the benefits of rational thought, Kahneman offers practical advice to help you tap into your own thinking system and take the lead in your business as well as your personal life.

22. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

If you prefer to take age-old advice from emperors, the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius (the final of the “Five Good Emperors” of the Roman Empire) is the one for you. Aurelius famously adhered to the Stoic philosophy, which focused on humility, awareness, and control of one’s emotions. 

Meditations outlines the complex spiritual reflections and practices that Aurelius developed to lead a little organization known as the Roman Empire. While never intended for publication, the collection has since inspired countless leaders — including former president Theodore Roosevelt, who took a copy with him on a near-fatal eight-month journey through the Amazon.

23. Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don't by Jim Collins

What makes a company go from simply ‘good’ to ‘great’? What does it take to stand out from the crowd and make that leap? After five years of research and some surprising results, Jim Collins singled out 11 top businesses who have done just that for his book Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...and Others Don’t. This bestselling leadership book introduces key concepts such as ‘Level 5 Leadership’ and ‘A Culture of Discipline,’ offering a comprehensive framework for both new and experienced  business leaders to take their companies to the next level.

24. On Becoming a Leader by Warren G. Bennis

Warren Bennis believes that leaders aren’t born — they’re made. And in times of so much global uncertainty, it’s never been more important to encourage people to take up leadership roles. On Becoming a Leader offers essential insights into what it takes to lead and has become a frequently-cited classic within the genre. Warren Bennis’s decades of experience (as President of the University of Cincinnati, visiting Professor of Leadership at the University of Exeter, and an advisor to four US Presidents) make him more than qualified to offer advice on becoming a leader.

25. If I Could Tell You Just One Thing by Richard Reed

Can’t settle for reading just one person’s leadership advice? Don’t worry. If I Could Tell You Just One Thing brings together the big names from a wide-ranging spectrum of industries to present all of their most valuable life tips. With people ranging from Sandi Toksvig and Olivia Coleman to Bear Grylls and Bill Gates, there’s truly something for everyone in this illustrious archive of advice. This book contains advice on work, relationships, creativity, and so much more — all of which can help boost your confidence and leadership skills in your own life. If we could tell you just one thing, it’s to pick this book up.

26. High Output Management by Andrew Grove

High Output Management immortalizes the management skills that Andrew Grove developed as the driving force behind Intel Corporation. This leadership handbook sugarcoats nothing and unveils Grove’s tried-and-tested techniques to motivate teams and increase performance. With his hard-won knowledge about building and managing a company from the ground up, High Output Management is an excellent handbook for anyone looking to actually exercise leadership!

27. Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg

Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead quickly topped bestseller lists after its release in 2013, igniting crucial discussions on women and leadership. Gender equality in the workplace has undoubtedly improved in recent years — however, as Sandberg explains, there is still a long way to go. 

Indeed, many have criticized Lean In itself for its limited white and white-collar feminist perspective, and Sandberg has since admitted that her book wasn’t as inclusive as it could be. That said, the groundbreaking COO of Facebook still provides concrete advice for women on how to feel more confident in the workplace through small but crucial day-to-day changes.

28. Mental Models: 30 Thinking Tools that Separate the Average From the Exceptional. Improved Decision-Making, Logical Analysis, and Problem-Solving by Peter Hollins

Written by bestselling author and human behavior researcher Peter Hollins, Mental Models divides the psychological traits of good leadership into thirty defined models. With a laser-sharp focus on typical psychological traits in leaders, Hollins takes the best-fitting ways natural leaders react psychologically to situations and teaches you how to apply them to your own life as a leader.

29. Now It Can Be Told: The Story Of The Manhattan Project by Leslie R. Groves

Everyone knows of the Manhattan Project, perhaps the most intense and deadline-driven project in history. And for this project, one man was placed in charge of America’s efforts to build the first atomic bomb: Lt. Gen. Leslie Groves. 

This is his story, which doubles as a revealing and compelling account of multifaceted project management. From the technical details that Groves shares about decision-making and mitigating mistakes to dealing with conflict resolution in a large team, this book covers everything you need to know about large-scale leadership and management. If you’re looking for detailed insight on planning, communication, or how to lead a massive, compartmentalized team, then you won’t be let down by the man who went through it all under immense pressure to deliver.

30. Leadershift by John C. Maxwell

Globally renowned leadership-guru John C. Maxwell offers a written masterclass in how you can continue to innovate and improve your business in his formative work Leadershift. Maxwell outlines 11 key shifts — such as ‘Ladder Climbing to Ladder Building’ and ‘Positional Authority to Moral Authority’ — which every leader must embrace if they want to see success across their team. 

And you can trust him on this: each of these shifts played a role in shaping his personal trajectory, setting him up for new and better opportunities. The book’s simple and straightforward approach makes it one of the best leadership books for anyone ready to examine how they think and put in the work to achieve the best results possible.

31. Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

Viktor Frankl’s 1946 book chronicling his time captive in Nazi concentration camps during World War II has riveted readers for decades. Man’s Search for Meaning is a deep exploration of Frankl’s lessons for spiritual survival, based on his own experiences surviving Auschwitz, as well as those of his patients during his time as a psychiatrist. Most of all, it is an enduring testament to Frankl’s theory that humans are driven by finding meaning in life — even if it stems from suffering.

32. Becoming by Michelle Obama

A captivating memoir in its own right, Becoming is a heartfelt invitation into Michelle Obama’s world that shines a light on her experiences and challenges from childhood to her time as the first African American First Lady of the U.S.A. As one of the most recognizable world leaders, Obama explains how the biases she faced motivated her to create the most inclusive White House to date. Like the woman herself, Becoming will inspire you, too, to carry on leading despite the adversities that you may face along the way.

33. More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are (No Matter What They Say) by Elaine Welteroth

Brought to you by the revolutionary editor who introduced social awareness to Teen Vogue, Elaine Welteroth’s More Than Enough will take you on a journey to come into your own. Welteroth draws on her experiences of climbing the ranks in the media and fashion world, particularly as a Black woman from small-town California, to share the lessons she learned along the way. 

This book stays true to its name, exploring how young women (particularly young Black women) bosses are more than enough, despite often being told otherwise — a highly recommended read, especially for aspiring Black female leaders.

34. Primal Leadership: Realizing the Power of Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman, Richard Boyatzis & Annie McKee

In Primal Leadership , Daniel Goleman argues that the critical role of a leader is to manage the emotional atmosphere of their community. We’ve all experienced our moods brightening and dampening based on the people around us; Goleman expands upon this to build a compelling case that people look to their leaders to set the overall mood. This book shows that it’s possible to learn effective leadership, and Goleman has the practical advice that will help you develop that emotional intelligence and leadership competency.

35. Leadership Is an Art by Max DePree

If you’re less interested in the “hows” of leadership — particularly corporate leadership — and more interested in the “whys,” then you may want to turn to Max DePree’s pivotal book, a treatise on leading in a way that focuses on employee autonomy and well-being. DePree views leadership as a stewardship that cannot work without also empowering employees first. His book underscores the importance of building relationships, developing ideas, and creating strong systems within an organization.

36. The Ride of a Lifetime by Robert Iger

After becoming CEO of The Walt Disney Company in 2005, Robert Iger had a clear idea of where the company needed to go. The Ride of a Lifetime details his successful leadership as one of the most prolific CEOs in the world. Iger breaks down Disney’s success into four parts: quality content, embracing technology, large-scale thinking, and, most importantly, taking a decency-over-dollars approach to every project. According to Iger himself, this isn’t just a leadership book for aspiring CEOs , but for “anyone wanting to feel less fearful [and] more confidently themselves.” This is a large-scale success story to teach large-scale leaders!

37. How to Be a Positive Leader: Small Actions, Big Impact by Jane E. Dutton and Gretchen M. Spreitzer

How to Be a Positive Leader captures insights into how the small actions that leaders take can greatly affect individuals and organizations, encouraging them to be their best. Jane E. Dutton and Gretchen M. Spreitzer have built this book on a foundation of contemporary research from positive organizational scholarship to give you the most informative read. If you’re focused on creating a positive atmosphere and impact in your workplace, then Dutton and Spreitzer have got your back.

38. We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Adapted from her viral TEDx talk, We Should All Be Feminists draws on Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s experiences as a professional woman in a world filled with issues from blatant discrimination to more normalized and insitutionalized sexism. Adichie offers an analysis of what “feminism” means in the twenty-first century, and why gender discrimination is detrimental to both women and men. Of course, Adichie's nonfiction prose is just as witty and observant as in her fictional books — her recognizable writing style makes this book a masterclass in leadership as a woman and a joy to read as well.

39. The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers by Ben Horowitz

Ben Horowitz does not shy away from the thorniest leadership issues that even business schools don’t cover. Indeed, the whole premise of The Hard Thing About Hard Things discusses the problems that aren’t usually spoken aloud — like having to fire friends or poaching from competitors. This brutally authentic book breaks down the hardships that come with being a leader into three key ideas: being clear about what you want to be done, making sure other people are clear about what has to be done, and facing difficult questions early. Discussions on honesty and transparency — and their positive effects  on leadership — are at the forefront of this read.

40. Excellence Wins: A No-Nonsense Guide to Becoming the Best in a World of Compromise by Horst Schulze

A no-nonsense compilation of the leadership values that helped Horst Schulze triumph as cofounder of the Ritz-Carlton hotel brand, Excellence Wins argues that you can still follow the same principles to success, no matter your title or age. And of the principles that it advocates, Excellence Wins champions self-discipline and self-standards above all else — even in scenarios where it may not seem necessary. Give this a read if you’re willing to challenge yourself to become a more self-aware — and overall better — leader.

Looking for more books to leave you inspired and motivated? Check out our lists of 35 Inspirational Books to Change Your Life or 50 Best Self-Help Books of All Time !

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13 Top Books to Ace Your Next Job Interview [& Land the Job]

Interviews are one of the most nerve-racking parts of any job hunt. 

From fresh graduates to seasoned professionals, job-seekers are always looking for an edge to make it run smoother.

This is where interview books come in. 

By informing yourself about the interview process and learning how to “wow!” hiring managers, you increase your odds of landing that job you’re after.

So to help you gain as much of an upper hand in job interviews as possible, we’ve compiled this list of 13 must-read interview books for 2024.

Let’s check them out!

13 Must-Read Interview Books in 2024

#1. job interview masterclass.

If you want a book that breaks down job interviews into their most basic parts and gives you a window into a hiring manager’s mind, look no further.

“Job Interview Masterclass” by Novorésumé has you covered!

Job Interview Masterclass is split into four main chapters:

• The first one goes over topics such as how to research a company, what to do before your interview day, and how to dress to impress during the job interview itself.
• The second chapter digs deeper and shows you the most important interview questions and everything you need to know to answer them effectively.
• Chapter three focuses on behavioral interview questions and Novoresume experts’ advice on how to ace them.
• In chapter four, the guide goes beyond the job interview itself and coaches you on what to do once you get the job or how to handle rejection gracefully.

Whether you’re a seasoned or an entry-level professional, “Job Interview Masterclass” is the perfect read if you want to learn how to excel in job interviews or simply brush up on your skills.

#2. Job Search Masterclass

You can find everything you need to know to nail a job application in Novorésumé's “Job Search Masterclass”. The book details the entire journey, from creating a flawless resume to adding an effective cover letter and wowing any job interviewer.

“Job Search Masterclass” is an invaluable companion to your job search, whether you’re a senior professional calculating your career’s next steps or a recent graduate making the first move towards your career journey. 

Job Search Masterclass is divided into the following chapters:

• How to write a resume. All the information about creating a resume is detailed here, including picking the right format, choosing the best resume layout, adding your contact information, creating a great resume summary, listing your work experience right, highlighting your skills, and so much more.
• How to write a cover letter. A must-have companion piece to your resume is an equally eye-catching cover letter. From addressing the hiring manager to using an effective call to action, this section of the book will show you how to match your resume with a cover letter to match.
• How to nail an interview. For most candidates, interviews are the bane of the entire application process. So, this chapter teaches you all about how to prepare for interviews. You’ll see the most common interview questions and the best answers to them as well as tried and tested interview tips to help you ace your next interview.
• All about remote work. As an increasingly large part of the job market, remote work is the talk of the town. This chapter will show you how to find remote job offers, which roles are most remote-friendly, and teach you how to ace a remote work interview.
• Hack your job search. The book finishes with a special bonus chapter with some life-saving job-hunt hacks that you wish you’d known sooner.

#3. Basic Interviewing Skills

Raymond L. Gordon’s titular interview book sets itself apart from others in the genre since it’s aimed at recruiters, not candidates. That said, it still provides insight into the minds of interviewers which all candidates can benefit from.

“Basic Interviewing Skills” is a practical guide that aims to equip you with the skills and techniques necessary to conduct interviews and provide you with an in-depth understanding of the interviewing process. 

After reading it, you’ll understand how important communication skills, active listening , and empathy are in helping you establish rapport and elicit information more easily. An especially useful part is the explained art of phrasing questions and how interviewers encourage a natural flow of conversation to obtain candid responses.

The book covers all the most important subjects any job-seeker wants to know, including how an interviewer sees you, how they choose resumes, why they ask certain common questions, and what they want to hear you say. 

The practical approach and focus on basic techniques make it useful to readers at any career stage and industry.

#4. Smart Answers to Tricky Interview Questions

Rob Yeung’s guide to interviews comes with practical advice and a strong focus on handling any questions an interviewer can throw your way. 

“Smart Answers to Tricky Interview Questions: How to Prepare for a Job-Winning Interview” offers useful strategies you can apply and helps you craft the most effective responses to a hiring manager’s concerns. Yeung emphasizes the importance of understanding the role you’re applying for and tailoring your responses to the company’s culture and values.

This interview book gives insight into the hiring manager’s perspective, prepares you for challenging questions, and puts forth real-life examples from interviews to show you what works best and what interview mistakes to avoid . 

“Smart Answers to Tricky Interview Questions” explains tricky questions and equips you to handle them gracefully.

#5. Interview Like A Boss

“Interview Like A Boss: The Most Talked About Book In Corporate America” by Hans Van Nas is a well-researched and to-the-point book that dives into interviews and how to own them. 

The interview book covers the main aspects of the interviewing process, such as preparing ahead of time, personal presentation, including what to wear to an interview , and follow-up tips to solidify the impression you’ve made. The author gives a practical guide to researching your desired company , preparing for the most common interview questions, and the ones that might otherwise surprise you.

“Interview Like a Boss” shows you the big picture and offers a direct approach to tackling job interviews, without sparing the details. 

Do you have something you’re scared an interviewer will ask about, such as a former arrest? No worries, this interview book has got your back on that. We recommend you add it to your reading list to help boost your confidence before that upcoming interview.

Are you incredibly anxious about flunking a job interview? Then this interview book is for you. 

“Aced” by Gerald Ratigan shines through as an introvert’s lifeline to making it through an interview as a winner. The book helps readers navigate the modern interview process and land that dream job. The author shares his own experiences, including his worst failures, and highlights what works and what doesn’t.

“Aced” gives you practical tips and focuses on interview preparation, as well as covering essential soft skills that will help you in the long run. As someone with decades of experience as both an interviewer and an interviewee, Ratigan explains the importance of personal branding and creating a lasting impression and how it can make or break your interview. Overall, “Aced” is an insightful read for any job-seeker.

#7. GET THAT JOB!

“Get That Job!: The Quick and Complete Guide to a Winning Interview” by the career coach Thea Kelley is more than just a motivating title. The book is designed as a roadmap for interview success, and the final destination is your dream job.

The book starts with the mindset of interviewers and the need for you to present a strong and consistent brand in front of them. The author emphasized the use of research and preparation, including coming equipped with persuasive answers to the most common questions you might expect. Kelley offers frameworks to help you analyze your past experiences and present them clearly in response to situational interview questions related to your problem-solving and decision-making abilities.

“Get That Job!” lists the presentation skills and preparation you need to wow an interviewer and leave a long-lasting impression. It includes a section on handling stress and anxiety before and during the interview, so you can keep your cool and ace it. Make sure to check out the post-interview tips, such as sending thank-you notes and following up with the employer. Finally, you can learn how to negotiate a job offer to secure the best terms and set yourself up for career growth. All in all, “Get That Job!” is a worthwhile read.

#8. How to Talk to Anyone

“How to Talk to Anyone: 92 Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships” by Leil Lowndes is a useful guide to navigating all sorts of communication, and interviews especially. The book gives detailed advice on how to improve your communication skills and build meaningful relationships across different social contexts. It’s a great read for brushing up on your networking skills , too.

The essential aspects of interpersonal communication, such as body language, conversation starters, and active listening are some of the aspects that can help you ace your next interview. 

Some of the 92 easy-to-follow strategies Lowndes offers include showing genuine interest in the person you’re speaking to, offering compliments when appropriate, using humor to ease tension, and more. “How to Talk to Anyone” will leave you feeling more confident in your people skills and help set you up for success, both professional and personal.

#9. What Color Is Your Parachute?

Richard Nelson Bolles’ contribution to the career book genre is a great choice for job-seekers on the lookout for a fulfilling career path. “What Color Is Your Parachute?” prepares its reader with tips for every part of the job hunt and hiring process, including how to write a resume , interviews, and follow-up. This book will turn answering the question “ Why do you want to work here? ” into your favorite part of the interview.

The book starts by teaching you how to leverage your skills, values, and interests to find your ideal job. Through introspection and self-assessment, you learn what your strengths and weaknesses are and how to talk about them at a job interview. “What Color Is Your Parachute?” offers valuable networking tips , how to tap into a hidden job market, and the A to Z on how to prepare for an interview. By following the author’s advice, job-seekers can expect a lot more satisfaction in their professional lives.

#10. How To Win Friends & Influence People

Dale Carnegie’s classic published in 1936 still rings true. “How to Win Friends and Influence People” is beneficial across all walks of life because what it teaches are valuable interpersonal skills that help you achieve personal and professional goals more easily. Fostering positive relationships, practicing effective communication, and persuading others is part of the strategies the book offers.

Despite not being an interview book, Carnegie’s principles are timeless and find their use during interviews, too. Showing genuine interest in people, handling criticism constructively, and understanding the perspectives of others are all key to developing your social skills, and confidence and ultimately conveying your best self to your future employer.

#11. The Art of the Interview

James Storey’s “Interview: The Art of the Interview - The Perfect Answers to Every Question” comes through as a guide designed to help any job-seeker deliver outstanding answers to the most common interview questions . The book gives you insight into the interviewer’s mindset in order to understand them and address their questions and concerns most effectively.

The book includes practical tips for crafting well-rounded and persuasive answers to any type of interview question. Storey aims to arm you for any of the behavioral interview questions that candidates dread. “The Art of the Interview” details essential aspects of interviewing, such as non-verbal cues, communication skills, and anxiety-reduction strategies. Storey’s focus is on motivational interviewing, and as such the book will help you build up your confidence, present your best self and score the job position you’re after.

#12. 60 Seconds and You’re Hired

Robin Ryan’s 1994 book has been revised several times and offers job-seekers practical advice to secure their desired positions. “60 Seconds and You’re Hired” emphasizes the importance of concise answers and introduces the “60 Second Sell” strategy.

A successful interview is all about making a strong impression and making it fast, and that’s where “60 Seconds and You’re Hired” comes in. Several aspects of the interview process are discussed in detail, such as preparing for the most common questions and learning to negotiate for your salary. And don’t forget to ask the interviewer some of the questions Ryan’s book lists in order to secure the best offer you can get. 

#13. Gravitas

“Gravitas: Communicate with Confidence, Influence and Authority” by Caroline Goyder teaches you something that will make any interview child’s play. While not necessarily specific to interviews, the book teaches readers how to communicate effectively, exude confidence, and project authority in various professional and personal settings. As a voice and communication expert, the author uses her know-how to give you practical techniques, exercises, and relatable examples to help refine your communication skills .

The book follows the six so-called principles of gravitas: passion, knowledge, conviction, integrity, connection, and projections. When you understand and incorporate them into your communication style, you’ll be sure to make an impression whenever you speak. Conveying your meaning with clarity, persuading others, establishing yourself as a respectable figure, and honing your leadership skills are all connected to gravitas. And you can use all of these skills to impress the next hiring manager you meet with your silver tongue.

The book touches on some of the same bases as other interview books, such as the importance of body language and keeping your nerves in check when you have to speak. “Gravitas” is a great choice for anyone out to improve their communication skills and can be adapted to different contexts, such as speeches, presentations, and interviews.

7 Advantages of Reading Interview Books

By reading a book on a specialized subject, you stand to gain the valuable insight you might otherwise miss. 

As such, expanding your knowledge of job interviews can help you prepare well-rounded answers and face your interviewer more confident about your skills. 

These are some of the top benefits that come with reading interview books:

• Preparation. By reading interview books, you enhance your job interview skills through the useful tips and techniques they provide, making you more confident.
• Understanding the interviewer. Interview books offer insight into the interviewers’ mindset and allow you to anticipate certain questions, understand why they are asked, and address the interviewer’s concerns more effectively.
• Self-awareness. Interview books encourage you to identify your own strengths, weaknesses, and goals, which allows you to convey them to an interviewer clearly.
• Better communication skills. Studying common interview question and answer examples helps you articulate your thoughts and experiences more clearly.
• Improved negotiation skills. Many interview books offer guidance on how to negotiate a job offer and secure the best terms for your employment.
• Enhanced self-presentation skills. Interview books frequently mention body language and other non-verbal cues which helps you make a good impression both during the interview process and later on in your career.
• Reduced anxiety. Becoming familiar with the interview process and preparing some answers beforehand saves you a lot of stress and anxiety during the interview.

FAQs About Interview Books

Do you still have some questions about interview books? Check out the answers to the most frequently asked questions below:

1. What is an interview book?

An interview book is a sub-genre of a career book that gives job-seekers advice, helpful tips, and strategies to excel in job interviews. These books cover several aspects of the interview process, including the most commonly asked questions and effective communication methods. 

2. What are some good interview books for when you’re changing careers?

Our top interview book suggestions for career changers are Novorésumé’s “Job Interview Masterclass” and “What Color Is Your Parachute?” by Richard Nelson Bolles.

The “Job Interview Masterclass” offers a detailed breakdown of everything you need to know about interviews, hiring managers’ points of view, and how to sell yourself as the right candidate before the interview even starts, all while in the middle of a career change . As an older resource, “What Color Is Your Parachute?” has now been updated and rereleased for the current age, and helps you make sure you’ve set yourself on the right gig in the first place, as well as guide you through the interview.

3. What are the best interview books for students?

The top interview books for students we recommend are “Job Search Masterclass” and “Gravitas”.

You’ll get a holistic introduction to the world of job interviews through “Job Search Masterclass”, along with some exclusive tips about topics like remote work and remote work interviews. Meanwhile “Gravitas” will help you confidently present yourself and speak in a way that makes people listen. All of which are important advantages for students with no experience in the job market.

4. What’s the purpose of interview books?

The main purpose of interview books is to prepare the job candidate for what might be the most stressful part of their job hunt. Interview books offer specific guidance, strategies, and insightful perspectives that can put the reader’s mind at ease during the interview.

That concludes our list of awesome interview books to read in 2024!

A great interview book can enhance your communication skills, boost your confidence, and inspire you to keep going on your career journey. We hope you find the book you need to help you walk out of your next job interview with a smile and a great employment offer.

Check out our career blog for any other job-hunt resources you might need.

To provide a safer experience, the best content and great communication, we use cookies. Learn how we use them for non-authenticated users.

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Business Books » Leadership

The best books on leadership, recommended by brett wigdortz.

Good leaders combine iron will with a dose of humility, says the founder of groundbreaking teaching charity Teach First. He traces leadership skills back to Moses, and tells us about books we can all learn from.

Tribal Business School by Jo Owen

The Tipping Point by Malcom Gladwell

From Good to Great by Jim Collins

Freedom from Fear by Aung San Suu Kyi

The book of exodus by various.

1 Tribal Business School by Jo Owen

2 the tipping point by malcom gladwell, 3 from good to great by jim collins, 4 freedom from fear by aung san suu kyi, 5 the book of exodus by various.

B efore we talk about the five books, can you give me some examples of how you have seen leadership helping children with their education?

Let’s discuss what makes a good leader. Your first choice is Jo Owen’s Tribal Business School , which explores how we can learn lessons of survival and success from different tribes around the world.

What is interesting in Jo’s book is how he shows that the challenges of leadership are so similar even if they are set in diverse contexts. I think it is a good example of how people who think of themselves as leaders in countries like Britain, and think they have very stressful lives, need to understand that it is much tougher for many leaders in other parts of the world. If you take the example of some tribal leaders, in many situations leadership decisions for them really are a matter of life or death. Within these tribes, if the leaders fail then their family and the tribe could die of starvation. So I think this is an extreme reminder, when you lead an organisation, that there are more difficult forms of leadership out there than we have to deal with.

What are some of the qualities that make a good leader that might surprise people?

One of the lessons I took from the book which might surprise people is that there is no universal leadership model. People look for the perfect leader but there is no such thing. I think the right leader is right for his or her context. So someone who can lead a tribe in the deserts of Africa would not be successful leading the same tribe in the snows of northern Norway. Everyone has to find their own leadership model and adapt it to their context.

But the one quality that I think does unite all leaders is the importance of strong values, which is discussed in all my book choices. All the successful leaders in the different tribes build strong values within their tribes. Another lesson that I took was that the best leaders avoid direct conflict if there is another way to achieve their goals. Then, if you do need to fight, make sure you have as much of an unfair advantage as possible.

And presumably it is a good idea not to fight within the tribe as well.

Next up is The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell, which looks at how little changes can have big effects.

This was a book that I read when I was starting Teach First, and it had a big influence on me. I had all my early staff read it. I think the leadership lesson here is that big change can happen through little things. For example, at Teach First when we began, people thought that it was impossible and that exceptional graduates would never be interested in teaching in challenging schools. It meant completely tipping people’s perception of it, to do something that no one would dream of doing. We were aiming for it to be the absolutely most prestigious thing that people would want to do – even more so than being employed by the top employer out there.

How did you go about that?

I took other lessons from The Tipping Point, such as the importance of using connectors. That is, developing relationships with a few key people who can positively influence others. We used this approach on different university campuses where we found the people we thought would be able to convince others well, and trained them to be Teach First campus brand managers.

There is also the idea of the “stickiness factor” [of your organisation’s message]. This was particularly important at the beginning of Teach First. For example, we used some very radical approaches that flew in the face of current thinking. We told people that working for us was not a lifelong sentence. They could keep their options open, which is not something that you hear from most graduate recruiters. We wanted to do things differently.

In your next choice, From Good to Great, Jim Collins explores what makes a truly exceptional company.

The Tipping Point was more important for the early part of Teach First, and this book was a kind of follow-on. It is really about how you change and break through in an organisation. There are a few points he makes that I think are really important. One of the main ones is the idea of “level five leadership” – that the best leaders “build an enduring greatness through a paradoxical combination of humility and professional will”. I think it is this combination of humility and will that is important in so many great leaders I have seen. You need the humility to take feedback and constantly be looking to improve, and not think you are the magical leader who has all the answers. Yet you still need to have that steely will which enables you to take things forward. That is a very powerful combination.

Also there is the idea again of creating good values.

All five of these books have that in common, the importance of values. Jim Collins talks about confronting the brutal facts which are really important. There is this idea of a culture of focused discipline which you get in my first choice as well. For example, if the tribal leaders spent too much time thinking about the colour scheme for their office and not about the big stuff – as some corporate CEOs have in the past – then their tribe would be decimated, and the same thing applies to an organisation. You need to concentrate on the important things. You need to be goal-focused and simple. This is the hedgehog concept [originally formulated by Isaiah Berlin] of focusing on what you do really well.

Recently there has been a lot of talk about Apple losing Steve Jobs, and the effect that will have on the company. Do you think a great company like Apple will fail because the leader has gone, or is it the job of a good leader to leave a legacy where that doesn’t happen?

Aung San Suu Kyi was awarded the 1991 Nobel peace prize for courageous leadership of the Burmese people. What kinds of thing did you learn about leadership from her book Freedom from Fear ?

Possibly more so than any other leader in the world today, she lives strong values in her every decision. We have seen that her values and focus on her mission – the freedom of the Burmese people – are more important to her than her personal freedom, and even being able to see her family. She was tortured, put under house arrest and not allowed to see her dying husband because of her values. There is no more powerful leadership story.

As you read this book, you can see similarities with the previous book’s idea of “level five leadership”. In Aung San Suu Kyi there is a gentleness, humility and amazing spirit of reconciliation with some truly horrible people, but also the most iron will. She could easily leave the country at any point, but she has chosen to stay. It certainly puts into perspective some of the leadership challenges that any of us might have if we are working with someone you don’t agree with. This is the extreme.

Your last book is The Book of Exodus in the Old Testament.

I wanted to throw this in because I think a lot of leadership books believe the problems that leaders are dealing with are all new, and have never been dealt with before. But in an example that almost seems trite, because it is such a part of our cultural knowledge, if you read the book of Exodus from the point of view of leadership theory there were the same leadership lessons 3,000 years ago that people talk about today. For example, the leadership style of Moses in this book broadly has the combination of humility and will discussed by Jim Collins. He needed a great deal of convincing that he was the one who should be leading his people, but once he became that person he had the iron will to be the leader they needed.

The story can be read as a company that had a slave mentality, and what Moses did was the biggest organisation turnaround in world history. There was a group of a million or so people, who had for generations seen themselves as slaves and a lower form of life within the mighty Egyptian nation, and through a very strong values-based leadership, Moses turned them into a proud people who went on to build a nation and influence western culture today. What is the 10 commandments but a series of values that could be used as a leadership tool to unite a people?

There are also great examples of how he used modern management techniques, which consultants charge a lot of money to teach today. One of the things he did very powerfully was to appoint a strong senior leadership team to make up for his personal deficiencies. He understood quite clearly that there is no such thing as a perfect leader who can do everything well. For example, because he wasn’t a confident public speaker, he brought in Aaron to be his spokesperson. He brought in Jethro as an organisational consultant, to determine how to structure reporting lines during the journey in the wilderness. And he had Joshua as his military leader. It is clear that he had lots of gaps in his leadership ability, but what he was good at was finding the right people to fill in those gaps.

So what did Moses have to offer himself?

What he had was a very strong vision of where they needed to get to, and he was the custodian of strong values. He was also excellent at managing upwards – he had good relations with the chairman upstairs! That’s very important for any successful CEO. As a leader you shouldn’t do everything yourself.

To sum up, what are the key leadership skills to remember?

A combination of humility and will is very important. You need strong personal values, a strong vision, and a belief that you will achieve even the most unlikely goals.

September 21, 2011

Five Books aims to keep its book recommendations and interviews up to date. If you are the interviewee and would like to update your choice of books (or even just what you say about them) please email us at [email protected]

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Brett Wigdortz

Brett Wigdortz is the founder and CEO of UK-based independent charity Teach First, which places graduates to teach in schools in challenging circumstances across England, to raise the attainment, access to opportunity and aspiration of its pupils. He also serves as a trustee of PEAS (Promoting Equality in African Schools), Future Leaders – which recruits and trains the next generation of head teachers for urban secondary schools – and is co-founder and a trustee of Teach For All, a network which supports Teach First sister programmes in 20 countries. Wigdortz is a former UK Ernst & Young Social Entrepreneur of the Year and won the 2010 CASE European Leadership Award

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11 Leadership Books Every Individual Should Read in 2024

• March 12, 2024

Table of Contents:

Essential reads on leadership for personal and professional growth in 2024, 1- start with why—how great leaders inspire everyone to take action by simon sinek, 2- coaching for performance, sixth edition by sir john whitmore.

• 3- Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap…and Others Don't by Jim Collins

4- Doing Agile Right: Transformation Without Chaos by Sarah Elk, Darrell Rigby, and Steve Berez

5- influence: the psychology of persuasion by robert cialdini, 6- true north: discover your authentic leadership by bill george.

• 7- "Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones" by James Clear:

8- Managing Transitions: Making the Most of Change by William and Susan Bridges

• 9- The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People" By Stephen R.Covey
• 10- The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups" by Daniel Coyle:
• 11- "Leaders Eat Last" by Simon Sinek:

Conclusion:

Creating a comprehensive list of leadership books tailored for individuals in 2024 involves selecting titles that blend timeless wisdom with fresh insights applicable to the current context.

The evolving nature of leaders, influenced by global challenges, technological advancements, and shifting workplace dynamics, demands a curated selection of books.

Each book is chosen for its potential to impact an individual’s journey profoundly, whether they’re aspiring leaders or seasoned executives looking to refine their approach.

If you want to improve yourself and become a great leader in your field, whether that means being a thought leader as an expert, leading successful teams, departments, and projects, or all of the above, you should start by updating your library.

Reading analysis and how-tos from people who have been in your shoes and studied your industry is important if you want to keep growing professionally and succeeding in your job as you move up the ladder.

This list by Book Writing Founders  encompasses works that inspire transformational leadership, promote emotional intelligence, advocate for ethical practices, and provide practical strategies for navigating complex organizational landscapes.

“Start with Why—How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action,” a book by expert Simon Sinek, tells you to find out the “why” and the goal of your business to lead effective teams.

The book made Sinek famous in his TED talk with the same name. It is a big hit in the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. Even though the book wasn’t released recently, it is still very useful and important today.

This classic book was written by Sir John Whitmore, known as “the pioneer of coaching.” It was first published in 1992, and the sixth version will come out in 2024.

This amazing resource is the best guide for you, whether you’re a new manager-to-be or an experienced boss who wants to get your team to work better.

It has a lot of information on narrative writing elements and how to use the GROW model to teach high-performing teams in different situations. It also has a dictionary, a bank of useful coaching questions, and conversations.

3- Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap…and Others Don’t by Jim Collins

How can you make a business great, and what skills do young people need to run them?

With a research team reading “6,000 articles and generating 2,000 pages of interview transcripts,” Jim Collins’ instant classic Good to Great added a new level of seriousness to the business evaluation.

As a result, Collins wrote a structured book on how to make a company great. His research on what he calls “Level 5 Leadership” has greatly impacted modern business.

Doing Agile Right is a book by Sarah Elk, Darrell Rigby, and Steve Berez, partners and top leaders at Bain & Company. It shows you how to use the agile method to get your company out of sluggishness, stagnant growth, and silos and into higher output.

The most important thing is that it shows you how to use agile in the right places and with the right people, so it’s not a one-size-fits-all method.

Getting clients, customers, sellers, and workers to do what you want them to is at the heart of business. Cialdini’s famous work on the basic rules of persuading is a great example of how psychological ideas can be used in business.

Based on his experiences and conversations with professionals in every field, from car sales to real estate, Cialdini’s book is interesting and convincing.

It’s a great way to start reading other current authors like Malcolm Gladwell and Steven Levitt, who write about how book marketing strategy and ideas from the physical and social sciences can be used in real life.

Focusing on sincerity is something that next-generation business leaders do well. Bill George came up with a new way to help people become real leaders, and his second book, True North, explains it well.

The book was written with the help of more than 100 interviews with top leaders. George and I have written a book together before, and in it, he talks to young leaders about getting to know themselves and using that information to create their own set of leadership ideals.

7- “Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones” by James Clear:

Personal growth is often at the heart of effective guidance. Insights gained from Clear’s research on habit development are priceless for executives who want to foster an environment where habits drive performance.

Penned by William and Susan Bridges, this book teaches you that involving your employees in the process is the best way to prepare for organizational change.

Give them a purpose, a well-defined writing initiation guide, and a vision that takes place when employees have a clear purpose, a plan for, and a part to play in their changing surroundings.

Transitions are effective for you whether you’re a first-time manager or supervisor or work at the highest levels in the corporate hierarchy.

9- The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People” By Stephen R.Covey

There is a full method to personal and business success in this book. This book talks about seven simple habits that can change your life. These habits include being active, putting things first, thinking positively, and many more. The author tells readers how to make these habits a part of their daily lives.

10- The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups” by Daniel Coyle:

Every organization that does well has a strong culture. Coyle’s research into the DNA of high-performing groups shows the key elements that create a strong and successful culture. This information is important for leaders who want to guide their teams to success.

11- “Leaders Eat Last” by Simon Sinek:

Sinek’s classic look at leadership, trust, and putting together a strong team is a must-read. In a world where it’s hard for leaders to build trust and a sense of belonging, this book details being helpful and making a welcoming environment.

These books are like compass points because they give advice, tips, and viewpoints relevant to the problems and chances of 2024. Reading these books will help your leadership journey, whether you’re an experienced executive, a hopeful leader, or someone who is really interested in growing as a person.

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MockQuestions

Leadership Mock Interview

To help you prepare for your job interview, here are 30 interview questions and answer examples focused on your leadership skills.

Leadership was updated by Rachelle Enns on April 10th, 2021. Learn more here.

Question 24 of 30

Which leadership book have you most recently read?

How to answer, answer example.

Community Answers

It's widely agreed that reading books on leadership development is essential to personal and professional growth. The interviewer would like to make sure that you are self-aware and invest in yourself. Also, if you spend time investing in yourself, chances are you will also take the time to invest in your employees! Some excellent leadership books include: - 'Start With Why' by Simon Sinek - 'Primal Leadership' by Daniel Goleman - 'Extreme Ownership' by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin - 'Lean In' by Sheryl Sandberg

"The leadership book that I most recently read was 'The 10X Rule,' by Grant Cardone. He speaks not only of being a winner, at the front of the pack, but also giving your absolute best in everything that you do. It's one of my favorites, and I read it every year."

"Just this past week, I read 'Daring Greatly' by Brene Brown. The author is well-known in the personal growth space, and this particular book touches on vulnerability and setting out to be extraordinary in all that we do."

"My absolute favorite book on leadership and one that has shaped my management style is 'The New One Minute Manager' by Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson. It's an older book, originally written in 1982, with a newly revised version. The publication discusses the concept of one-minute goals, one-minute praisings, and one-minute reprimands when necessary. Have you read it?"

"I have read many wonderful books on leadership! Most recently, I have read 'The Five Dysfunctions of a Team' by Patrick Lencioni. I recently heard that many NFL coaches implement the concepts addressed in this book. The dysfunctions the author includes are the absence of trust, fear of conflict, lack of commitment, avoidance of accountability, and inattention to results."

"Right now, I am reading 'How to Win Friends and Influence People.' I know it's an oldie, but Dale Carnegie is a staple in the business world, and I believe everyone can learn a great deal from him. I plan to read all of his books, and I encourage my team to do the same."

"The best leadership book I have read, and I am currently reading it for the third time, is 'Good to Great' by Jim Collins. It's a book about leadership and companies in general. I have learned a lot about what separates a good company from a great company, and how most companies are never excellent and why."

"I am currently reading "Leaders Eat Last" by Simon Sinek. I like Sinek's teaching because his concepts are realistic and insightful. This particular book focuses on why some teams pull together and why some do not. I plan to take what I learn and implement it in my classrooms, encouraging my students to pull together."

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How to Answer: Which leadership book have you most recently read?

24. which leadership book have you most recently read.

Written by Rachelle Enns on June 11th, 2020

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Author Talks: Indra Nooyi on leadership, life, and crafting a better future

In this edition of Author Talks , McKinsey Global Publishing’s Raju Narisetti chats with Indra Nooyi, former chairman and CEO of PepsiCo, about her new book, My Life in Full: Work, Family, and Our Future (Penguin Random House, September 2021). Nooyi discusses her trajectory to become the first woman of color and immigrant to run a Fortune 50 company, the difficulties that came with managing a demanding job with a growing family, and what she learned along the way. She also makes an urgent call for male CEOs, business, and government to prioritize the care ecosystem and argues that providing support for young family builders will unleash the economy’s full potential. An edited version of the conversation—with relevant quotations from the book interspersed throughout (in blue)—follows.

“In the months before I left PepsiCo, in 2018, I thought about how I would contribute in the years ahead, knowing that I am one in a chain of women leaders who can help move us forward for generations to come. I set out to write a book and insisted to all around me that it would not be a memoir. Instead, I thought, I would devote every ounce of my experience and intellect to a manual for fixing how we mix work and family. The book you hold is not that book.”

Why did you write this book?

I never set out to write a memoir. I started off wanting to write a bunch of policy papers on how to grease the skids for women to reach the top of a company. And then, coming out of the pandemic, I wanted to make it easier for our frontline workers to be able to do whatever they do and still have a support structure for them to take care of their families.

That’s where I started. But then everybody who read my policy papers said, “Hey, nobody’s going to read these policy papers unless you inform [them] with the arc of your own life.” So this book resulted from those conversations. This is not a tell-all memoir. This is not filled with stories. This is about stories that inform the two issues that I’m talking about. This is a different sort of a memoir, and I hope you enjoy reading it.

“Mine is not an immigrant story of hardship—of fighting my way to America to escape poverty, persecution, or war. … Still, I do feel connected to everyone who streams into America, whatever their circumstances, determined to work hard and to set in motion a more prosperous life for themselves and their families. … I still have that fear—an immigrant’s fear—that presses me to try to do well and to belong.”

What was your immigrant experience like?

I didn’t come here because of persecution or because I was fleeing problems in the country of my birth. But once you come into the United States, whatever the reason was that you left your country of birth, you are an immigrant in the country. And you go through all the teething pains of getting to know a new culture, understanding everything about it, and assimilating into it, in whatever shape or form you choose to assimilate. I didn’t have the entry pains that many people have, but once I got in, I had to go through the assimilation process.

I think, in many ways, it was easier for me because I was at Yale University, where it was a structured environment. Though at that time there wasn’t a big support structure for international students, there were other international students, who helped out, so I somehow made it. Other people may not have that infrastructure. They may not have family support. They may not have a network of friends to help out. The assimilation process is very similar for many of us; we just have different support structures.

“I wonder why I am wired this way where my inner compass always tells me to keep pushing on with my job responsibilities, whatever the circumstances. … I love my family dearly, but this inner drive to help whenever I can certainly has taken a lot of time away from them—much to their dismay. I sometimes wish I were wired differently.”

Why did you feel the need to prove yourself?

I felt that the United States did me a big favor by allowing me to come in. For whatever reason, that’s how I felt. And I felt that I had to prove that I was worthy of being a member of this country, so I always worked hard. Had I stayed in India, I would’ve continued to work hard—hard work is in my DNA. I worked hard my entire life because I wanted them to say, “She did good by the United States.” I wanted India to say, “She did good by India, because she didn’t bring any disrepute to the country.” And I wanted my family to say, “She never, ever let down the Krishnamurthy family,” which is my family of birth, and then, subsequently, the Nooyi family. I had all of these imaginary responsibilities that I took on.

Since I’ve finished my career at PepsiCo and retired, it’s no longer about achieving anything. It’s about giving back—as so much was given to me—to my community, the state, the country. I give back here in the US, and I give back in India. I’ve rebuilt all of the labs in all of the educational institutions that I studied in, from high school or middle school to college, to the Indian Institute of Management in Kolkata. In the US, I give back to every educational institution that I, my husband, and our kids have been involved in. So we’re in this giving-back phase, both in terms of money and time. In earlier days, it was about doing a good job and feeling like you accomplished something.

“Many women end up choosing, if they can afford it, to drop out of the paid labor force. … Some call this a ‘leaky pipeline,’ although I think that kind of language downplays the problem. The pipeline is way beyond ‘leaky.’ It is broken… We still have relatively few women with the experience and fortitude to be considered for the position of CEO of a multibillion-dollar enterprise. This is a real issue because we are not enabling so many talented young women to achieve their full potential—a loss for the overall economy.”

On the realities women face in business

Let me go back to the categorization of my book. I actually think it’s a realistic book. It’s not an optimistic book, because sometimes people write books that say, “Make a checklist, and your life is going to be OK. Just do A, or B, or C and—bingo—your life is going to be great.” That’s not how it is. When you’re juggling work, family, other pressures that you’re facing, your own hopes, dreams, and aspirations, it’s a lot to cope with. And there isn’t a manual that says, “If you have to worry about options A, B, and C, this is the checklist.” There isn’t a manual for life. Life unfolds, and you have to really figure out different pathways at every point in time and the trade-offs you have to make virtually every day. For me to suggest that there is a manual would be foolhardy. Realistically, there isn’t a manual. But what I can tell you is what kind of support structures we should be building to reduce stress on families.

I think we have to sit back and say, “Lots has changed.” When I entered PepsiCo, in 1994, there were zero women CEOs; in 2021, there are 41 women CEOs. Have we made progress? Optimistically, we’ve got 41 CEOs. That’s a big number. But it’s less than 9 percent of the Fortune 500 CEOs. There’s lots of room for women to grow and ascend as CEOs. The other part is that being a CEO is not the only hope, dream, and aspiration of many women. Women want to be entrepreneurs. Women want to start companies. Women want to run NGOs. Women want to be in other positions in society. That’s OK. All that we’re saying is whatever you want to do, we want to make sure that there are more tailwinds than headwinds when it comes to work and family and the integration of the two.

“If anyone is wondering, there is no club of the most senior women in corporate America. Men in business operate in a system with centuries of history related to playing that role in society. Their clubs and associations were established long ago, and they don’t have to do anything extra to set them up.” “Many men—CEOs and others—perpetually linger on the sidelines of the work–family debate, in part because they are reluctant to break routines that are, ultimately, easy, comfortable, and lucrative for them.”

Why should men get off the sidelines?

Men hold most of the positions of power, and it’s very, very important that they come to the table to talk about how we can make it easier for all family builders, not just women, to integrate work and family. Today we are in a war for talent. Women are 70 percent of the valedictorians in high school. Their graduation rate from college is ten percentage points higher than men’s. In STEM disciplines, their GPAs are one whole point higher than men’s. They are getting the majority of professional degrees. Even in engineering, MIT is 47 percent women. Caltech and Georgia Tech are more than 30 percent women. Women are a potent force in the economy. As somebody said, they represent the biggest emerging market opportunity in the United States.

If you really are in a war for talent, you should want these women to come into your company. If that’s the case, let’s find a way to make all of the family responsibilities equal between men and women. Let’s find a way to make it easier for women to come into the workplace and retain their jobs as opposed to dropping out in large numbers. So men in power have to start discussing these issues with a lot more heart than just saying, “Oh god, it’s a feminist issue.” This is an issue that has to be approached like an economist. It’s a resource that has to be allocated in the economy to improve the GDP of the country.

In fact, McKinsey studies  have been spectacular on what would happen if more women were deployed in the economy. The growth that the GDP will go through is really, really impressive. Why do we ignore all of the analysis that’s been done and scored? I wonder, for instance, if appointing a diversity and inclusion [D&I] vice president alone is the right approach. Diversity and inclusion cannot simply be delegated to one individual. That is a cop-out. It should be on the CEO’s plate as a priority and central to the HR agenda, not something that ebbs and flows with the quality of a diversity and inclusion leader.

On improving diversity and inclusion in the workplace

Typically, companies appoint a D&I head and say, “OK, it’s done. I’ve appointed a D&I head. Nobody can question me now, because I can point to the fact that I have a head of D&I.” But what people forget is that diversity is a mathematical number.

Are you diverse? On what metrics are you diverse? Do you have ethnic diversity? Gender diversity? Racial diversity? All that stuff. But inclusiveness is a state of mind. It’s an emotion. Are you going to make everybody feel welcome and included? That requires deep involvement by all people in power to make sure that you identify bad behavior that’s not inclusive, nip it in the bud, and model the right behavior. A D&I officer can’t do it. It has to be a responsibility and a tone at the top. And boards have to ask CEOs, “Why are your metrics not trending in the right way? Are you really looking for the right talent? What does the retention number look like? How many [diverse employees] are getting developed and promoted? Let me see the organization’s health scores. Do diverse people feel included? Does everybody feel included, but particularly the diverse people? Are they underrepresented in the country?”

I think these are the kinds of questions that boards should be asking. With a caveat: the board agenda is now getting more and more overloaded with issues related to cybersecurity, pandemic management, all the committee requirements. We have to think about whether boards have to meet for a longer period of time. Do boards need to have more committees? Do they need to increase in size? What can they drop? This is a very difficult discussion that needs to be had because as the world has gotten more complex, as companies have gotten bigger, boards have remained small and are still meeting on the same agenda.

“I also believe CEOs and boards have to finally step up on pay parity. We all know that women, on average, are paid less for the same work as men. This is a travesty, and we need a far more precise effort to resolve the discrepancies. Some companies are now publicly revealing their pay disparities, putting their own feet to the fire. I admire this, but I am not sure it’s needed. I absolutely believe, however, that directors should demand and review fully transparent compensation analysis and hold the CEO accountable for getting to pay parity. It’s about time.”

Do we have too much faith in boards to fix this?

One of two things has to happen for us to really make boards think about D&I in a wholly different way. Boards need to change their mindset so they can start to embrace these notions, and they need to lean in to hold CEOs and companies accountable. Or we have to add people to the board with this new skill set. Or alternatively, we have to refresh the board, for example, by adding term limits. Most importantly, boards should be shaped for the future, not stacked based on the past. Very often, there are people who are just on boards because they’ve been on boards for 20, 25 years, and more. One of the biggest “Aha!” moments for me is realizing you have to constantly think of your board in terms of shaping it based on the future needs of the company. Very often, you don’t think of the board that way, because there’s no mechanism to renew the board in US corporate-governance laws. We have to rethink how we reshape the board.

“Competing to reach the very top of an organizational pyramid is a brutal business no matter who you are, and once a woman or a man is within striking distance of the CEO’s office— two or three levels away—the idea of balancing work with any kind of normal life outside work isn’t practical. … Make no mistake, the required support systems and sacrifices to lead at the very top are enormous. Broad-based solutions that help most people find better work–family balance may not apply.”

Is work–life balance a myth?

That’s why I use the term work juggle. Work–life juggling. Are you constantly trading off priorities? It’s when you’ve constantly got multiple balls in the air and you hope nothing drops. It’s not easy for a stay-at-home mom who’s juggling so many home priorities. It’s not easy for a working woman without a family who’s also juggling other priorities—it could be an aging parent or a relative she’s looking after or a work environment that’s hostile. Everybody’s juggling all the time.

When you include work, home, and children—if you put all three together—that’s a lot to juggle because everybody wants you full time. And if you look at the CEO job as an “N minus two” position, when there are typically about 30 or 40 people, and many of them vying for the top job, all bets are off. It’s a slog. Whether you like it or not, to hold your job at the senior level, you’ve got to work extra hard. In that level, it’s either up or out. To compete with others, and contribute, and be noticed is a tremendous investment of time and energy. That’s why I think the hope is that by the time you reach that level, your kids are already going to college, so you can have all the time to focus on the job.

“I was always aware that women in the corporate world were climbing a steeper, more slippery ladder than the men. … Even when I was on the very top rung, I was still on the women’s ladder.” “At some point in my CEO years, I also learned about the power of looking the part. For a long time, I had paid little attention to my wardrobe. I worked with men, and they wore gray and blue suits with collared shirts. I did, too. … I got firsthand affirmation that changing my look made a difference in the boardroom, too. I started wearing nicely tailored dresses and jackets with pearls and maybe a scarf to work every day. At the end of one board meeting, one of our male directors wrote me that ever since I changed my clothing, he found me more intimidating.”

How is the women’s corporate ladder different from men’s?

I think women today are held to a different standard. They’re too loud or too soft. They’re too emotional or not emotional enough. They’re too strident, or they’re too weak or passive. Every possible badge is given to women. It’s disconcerting because you can feel it. You get these badges. You can see the looks among men when women dress a certain way. It’s the environment we live in, whether we like it or not. And that ranges from every business event you go to, every social event you go to, and sometimes even in boardrooms.

When I changed my clothing and went with more tailored outfits—and it wasn’t high fashion, it was just elegant corporate outfits—a board member told me that he found me intimidating, whatever that means. I don’t know. I don’t care. But the fact of the matter is somebody actually said they found me intimidating. If a man shows up in a business suit, is he intimidating? I don’t think so. Why is it when I showed up in a well-tailored business suit, I was intimidating?

“Women’s voices are too high or too low, or they are seen as too short or too tall, or too fat or too thin, to be great leaders. These judgments wear us down … I think women can’t escape the reminders that we must always weigh our power—whatever it may be—against society’s expectations that we must, at all costs, remember that we are imperfect.” “I had heard of and seen male CEOs yell, throw things, and use four-letter words with great gusto, apparently a sign of their passion and commitment. But I was well aware that showing any of these emotions myself would set me back with the people around me. … So on days that I was mad that people, both inside and outside the company, didn’t quite get what I was trying to do, I’d go into the little bathroom attached to my office, look at myself in the mirror, and just let it all out. And when the moment had passed, I’d wipe my tears, reapply a little makeup, square my shoulders, and walk back out into the fray, ready, again, to be.”

The fact of the matter is that there’s always a badge. There’s always a tag placed on women. We have to stop that. We have to stop defining women versus the ideal worker of the past, who was a man. If you constantly do that, women are going to get a raw deal. We have to say the ideal CEO, the ideal worker, the ideal executive of today is whoever’s doing the job the best. And we’re not going to constantly define them versus somebody else who’s our image from the past.

“I think the fundamental role of a leader is to look for ways to shape the decades ahead, not just react to the present, and to help others accept the discomfort of disruptions to the status quo.”

On being lonely at the top

When you’re a CEO, you’re always thinking about weighty things about the company—either a decision you have to make or data you’re looking at that could impact the quarter or the year. You’re in possession of a lot of data. You have to make sure that, whether it’s at home or anywhere, you don’t leave the data for people to see by accident and then blurt it out. People don’t realize it’s highly confidential, even for family members.

To be extra, extra, extra, extra careful, I would hide my bags under a cupboard or something like that because I wanted to make sure that there was never any paper left around the house that somebody might look at and say, “Mom, are you working on this?” You don’t want to discuss everything with your husband, because there’s only so much you can discuss that are problems. You also want to have a normal conversation with your husband. But more importantly, I think families are so vested in you. If I shared my problems with my husband and he had a negative perception of the person that I said something negative about, I didn’t want that, so I stopped discussing anything negative with my husband. I was also supercareful around my kids because one was already in business school and the other was in college. I did not want any of my stuff to get to them, for fear that they would say something.

I became much more cocooned when I became a CEO. You can’t discuss anything with other people either, except in generalities. To be in the role of the CEO, you’ve got to have incredible courage. You’ve got to have an incredible backbone. And you’ve got to have incredible fortitude because there aren’t too many people you can talk to. There aren’t too many people you can vent with. You’ve got to have your own strength and call on it in the toughest moments.

“I think that leaders need to understand the details behind what they are approving before they affix their signature to anything. This is not about trusting the people that work for you. It’s about basic responsibility. Don’t be a ‘pass-through.’ … I know I drove people crazy with questions, but this was my job.”

On bringing in experts

When I was doing it, I did it because I was clueless about that topic and I wanted to learn more about it. The first step is to get into the details. Don’t sign something unless you understand it. And if you’re confronted with a problem, really get into the details before going to the big picture. Zoom in and then zoom out. And third, have humility. If you don’t know something, feel free to reach out and talk to people. Because what happens is typically you say, “God, if I brought in an expert to help me, then I’d realize how little I know about the subject.” Big deal. You can’t know everything about everything. Bring in the expert. Let them coach you. Sitting in your office, you might be able to ask more questions than you could in a bigger meeting. I honestly believe that getting the experts in, sitting down one-on-one, and learning everything there is to learn is a good thing.

On really understanding China

I spent several weeks in China after I became CEO, and I wanted to understand the country because it represented such a big opportunity. The way we had to operate was in China, for China, with China, and I wanted to understand that better. I went with some members of my team and spent multiple weeks there. But I was told that you don’t go to China and spend multiple weeks without taking some time to understand the country, its history, its political structure, the players, et cetera.

For a period of six months, my team designed a training program for me. Every two weeks, a different speaker would come into my office—could be a professor, could be a China expert. They would come into my office and give me a two- to three-hour seminar session on China, along with a bunch of readings I had to do. Then the next person would come, and the next. They put a whole curriculum together. The final session was Henry Kissinger coming in and wrapping everything together to tell me the integrative picture on China.

Some people might have said, “You mean you don’t know anything about China that you have to go through this kind of education?” Au contraire. I was giving respect to the country and its culture and its history in saying that you don’t go and spend six or eight weeks in a country without really understanding what that country’s about. No CEO does this. I wanted to make sure that I was a CEO who was going in with some knowledge—a little sliver of knowledge—so I could appreciate the country a lot more. I would encourage other leaders to do the same.

“I was very proud of my work at PepsiCo. Total shareholder returns in the 12 years between December 2006 and December 2018 totaled 149 percent, beating the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, which was up 128 percent. The company returned more than $79 billion in cash to shareholders. … Market capitalization rose by $57 billion in those 12 years. … Net revenue jumped 80 percent to $64 billion in 2018. … I knew we could have done even more—or done it faster—if the financial crisis hadn’t tossed us around like the rest of the global economy, but we’d handled that well too. I had worked as hard as I could and had truly loved the company with all my heart and soul. … I also had no regrets about leaving my job and was sure I wouldn’t miss my role as PepsiCo’s chair either, when I stepped down in a few months.”

Is there anything you wish you had done differently as CEO?

I had a 12-year tenure as CEO, and you can either say I ran three four-year tenures or two six-year tenures. In the first six years of my CEO-ship, I was navigating through the financial crisis and creating a more international PepsiCo because we were more US-focused and had to build out the international footprint. I was also addressing the North American bottling relationship, which was not particularly great at that time. So six years of heavy lifting on that particular front, along with putting in performance of purpose. The second set of six years was delivering performance from the expanding core—both geographically and from a product perspective—and then not having to expend as much energy as I did on addressing the North American bottling issues.

When you look at these two eras, I wish I didn’t have the financial crisis, and I wish I didn’t have the bottling crisis to deal with. Because so much more could’ve been done with the company. But I also realize that’s foolhardy. Every person goes through some sort of a crisis in their tenure as a CEO. My successor’s dealing with COVID-19 now. The mark of a good CEO is knowing how to navigate through a crisis and constantly thinking about how to create a stronger company coming out of the crisis. As long as you have an eye toward the long term—as opposed to “How do I navigate for the quarter or for my duration as CEO and somehow come out looking good? I don’t care what happens to the company after me”—you’re OK. That’s what I was singularly focused on.

“Writing this book has been a new experience for me—a journey, a labor of love, a different kind of hard work. I didn’t intend to write my own story in such detail when I started out. I thought that I would write a few articles filled with facts and figures on how we must support women, young family builders, and our collective well-being, and I was sure I would find an audience.”

What advice would you offer to CEOs who want to write a book?

The most important thing to do when writing a book—and a memoir, in particular—is to put your story down on a piece of paper. It’s painful because it brings back memories from the past. It makes you think about all your past choices. It’s a period of introspection and reflection. Be prepared for that.

Second, while you’re early in your career, especially if you’re ascending, create a digital record of your entire life: every speech, every photograph, every piece of tape that’s available on awards you might’ve received. Collect all of that. Whether you write a book or not, collect all of that information because you never know when you’re going to use it.

Third, don’t write a book just to celebrate yourself. Write a book with a message. Write a book with a plan of action. Write a book about how you’re going to give back. At the end of the day, a lot of people write memoirs. They are informative, no question about it, but all of them would have a shelf life that’s longer if it leads to some tangible action.

“There is no single reason why more women don’t lead big companies. There is no list of ten items that simply need fixing. There are hundreds of issues—some tiny and difficult to pinpoint and some huge and structural—that add up to make it so. Despite all the progress we have made, the modern workplace is still replete with damaging customs and behaviors that hold women back.” “My conclusion is that our society can leap ahead on the work–family conundrum by focusing on three interconnected areas: paid leave, flexibility and predictability, and care.”

What lies ahead for Indra Nooyi?

It’s very easy for me to say we have to do this. We have to think about a care infrastructure. I’ve written the book, I’ve done the book tours, it’s done, and I want to take it a step further. Again, I want to give back my time and money. There are so many organizations that have been working on researching, scoring, prioritizing all the different initiatives to provide a care network. I want to bring them all together and figure out a way that we can intelligently work together to put in place a care network.

It may be a bunch of alternatives. It may be home care, community care, or organized childcare in companies. Whatever it is, it’s going to be a patchwork, a quilt of care options. But I want us to at least have a manual of care options, including the cost and the benefits. So when people are thinking about implementing it, they can fall back on this approach to care. I can’t do it myself, because I’m not a policy person. I’m more like, “Here’s the problem. This is how we need to go about addressing it.” I need to bring all the policy experts together to say, “How do we prioritize it? How do we fund it?”

I want to take this to the next level of progress so that people don’t say, “Hey, she wrote a book. So, big deal. So many people have written a book.” I want to actually make life better for those who are struggling so much with this care conundrum.

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Indra Nooyi is the former CEO and chair of PepsiCo. She is now a member of the board of Amazon, where she chairs the audit committee. She sits on the supervisory board of Philips, where she is also a member of the nominating and corporate-governance committee. She is a member of the International Advisory Council of Temasek, an independent director of the International Cricket Council, and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She is on the Dean’s Advisory Council at MIT’s School of Engineering and is a member of the MIT Corporation. She also serves on the boards of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and the Partnership for Public Service. Raju Narisetti is the leader of McKinsey Global Publishing.

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That’s where executive coaching comes in. Imbued with decades of experience at the highest echelons of the industry, Becoming Coachable guides readers through the ins and outs of a successful coaching experience. The authors—two veteran coaching experts and the world’s #1 executive coach—identify key leadership archetypes and unpack the intricacies of a typical engagement. They demystify the coaching relationship and outline a framework that hinges on the openness integral to reaping the most from such an experience.

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Marshall Goldsmith is the founder of the Marshall Goldsmith Group and 100 Coaches. The inaugural winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Institute of Coaching at Harvard Medical School and a Thinkers50 Management Hall of Fame inductee, he has advised more than 200 major CEOs and their management teams over the course of his career. A New York Times bestselling author, he is the author or editor of more than thirty-five books, including What Got You Here Won’t Get You There.

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Dr. Goldsmith is a new member of the Thinkers 50 Hall of Fame. He is the only two-time Thinkers 50 #1 Leadership Thinker in the World. He has been ranked as the World’s #1 Executive Coach and Top Ten Business Thinker for eight years. Marshall was chosen as the inaugural winner of the Lifetime Award for Leadership by the Harvard Institute of Coaching.

Dr. Goldsmith is the author or editor of 41 books, which have sold over 2.5 million copies, been translated into 32 languages and become listed bestsellers in 12 countries. Amazon.com recently recognized their ‘100 Best Leadership & Success Books’. His books, Triggers and What Got You Here Won’t Get You There, were both recognized as being in the top 100 books ever written in their field. Marshall is one of only two authors with two books on the list. His recent book, How Women Rise, with lead author, Sally Helgesen, is a BookScan #1 book for Women.

Marshall’s other professional acknowledgments include: Global Gurus - the inaugural Corps D ’Elite Award for Lifetime Contribution in Leadership and Coaching, Harvard Business Review - World’s #1 Leadership Thinker, Institute for Management Studies - Lifetime Achievement Award for Leadership Education, American Management Association - 50 great thinkers and leaders who have influenced the field of management over the past 80 years and BusinessWeek - 50 great leaders in America.

Dr. Goldsmith served as a Professor of Management Practice at the Dartmouth Tuck School of Business. His Ph.D. is from UCLA’s Anderson School of Management - where he was the Distinguished Alumnus of the Year. His MBA is from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business - where he was the Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year. He is one of a select few executive advisors who has worked with over 200 major CEOs and their management teams. He served on the Advisory Board of the Peter Drucker Foundation for ten years. He has been a volunteer teacher for US Army Generals, Navy Admirals, Girl Scout executives, and leaders of the International and American Red Cross – where he was a National Volunteer of the Year.

Dr. Goldsmith has over 1.3 million followers on LinkedIn. His YouTube videos have over 3 million views. Hundreds of his articles, interviews, columns, and videos are available online at www.MarshallGoldsmith.com for viewing and sharing. Visitors have viewed, read, listened to, downloaded, or shared his resources tens of millions of times

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[email protected] • www.MarshallGoldsmith.com

Phone: (858) 759-0950 • Fax: (858) 759-0550

Scott Osman is the founding CEO of Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coaches. An accomplished senior executive with more than thirty years of experience in leadership positions for companies in technology, strategy, and business development, and is well known as a thought leader in the area of purpose strategy. Scott has founded, grown, evolved, and marketed a diverse group of companies including serving as president of Doublespace, a digital agency located in New York City, and as Global Director at Landor Associates. Scott is based in New York and a graduate of Dartmouth College and has an MBA from NYU Stern.

Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coaches is an organization that brings together many of the world’s leading executive coaches, top business thinkers, and best leaders with the common purpose of making good executives better. The organization offers services, events, online courses, and other opportunities to inspire, develop, and energize leaders for the future. For more information, visit 100CoachesConsulting.com.

Jacquelyn Lane is the President of 100 Coaches Agency, an organization designed to amplify the collective impact of the world’s most iconic leadership thinkers and executive coaches. She is the co-designer of 100 Coaches Agency proprietary curation process and the company’s relationship-first philosophy. In her role as President, she oversees the growth and development of the Agency, serves as a critical pillar of the 100 Coaches community, and is a member of the editorial team that selects the authors and titles published in their new book imprint, 100 Coaches Publishing.

Jacquelyn comes to the world of executive coaching naturally through her lifelong commitment to improving the lives of all people by elevating the quality of leadership. Previously, she held various roles in the energy industry during which time she developed deep insights into the perils and privileges of leadership. Throughout her experience in corporate America, academia, and the international humanitarian space, she observed a common thread - people issues were consistently the most complex and most overlooked. She knew that these problems were the ones she wanted to spend her life solving.

Jacquelyn received her Master’s in Engineering for Sustainable Development from the University of Cambridge, and presented her Master’s Thesis on needs assessments and new solutions to support refugees in Greece. Through her work with vulnerable populations in Greece, Uganda, and South Africa, Jacquelyn has observed the impact of business on global development and human flourishing. She is a passionate advocate for conscious capitalism and entrepreneurship as a means to create sustainable solutions globally. As both a natural people person and systems thinker, Jacquelyn is committed to bringing the right people together to solve some of the world’s most complex challenges.

Together with Marshall Goldsmith, a 4-time New York Times Bestselling Author, and Scott Osman, CEO of 100 Coaches, Jacquelyn is a co-author of Becoming Coachable: Unleashing the Power of Executive Coaching to Transform Your Leadership and Life. It is a guidebook to get the most from executive coaching and chronicles their findings from observing hundreds of coaching engagements and why some flourish while others fizzle.

Jacquelyn graduated magna cum laude in chemical engineering from Oklahoma State University and received her MPhil from University of Cambridge. She developed a passion for rowing while at University and aspires to climb Kilimanjaro soon. She is a voracious reader and welcomes anyone who would like to discuss the classics.

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More From Forbes

5 books to help you become a better leader in 2024.

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Several books on shelf

U.S. News and The Harris Poll teamed up in November 2023 to determine the state of leadership in the United States. The results of the joint project’s survey found over three-quarters of respondents believe there’s a leadership crisis in the corporate sphere. And 59% of participants didn’t think there were any leaders in their organizations that they’d aspire to be.

If those stats aren’t enough cause for concern, there are more. File and rank workers, particularly younger generations, aren’t as keen to move up the ladder. A survey by Entrepreneur at an anonymous company showed only 38% of staff wanted to become a manager. Workers’ perceptions are that what managers have to deal with doesn’t justify the pay. They’re worried about the increase in hours, pressure, and stress.

These studies reveal today’s leaders have long strides to make. Becoming a better leader should be at the top of their priority list. Learning new techniques, approaches and mindsets can work wonders if they want to inspire, engage, motivate and develop their staff.

Leaders can begin the learning process with one or more of the books below. Each book provides insights and guidance on rethinking leadership’s role in teams, decisions, task delegation, and innovation. Regardless of where you are in your managerial journey , you’ll find useful tips in these authors’ words.

1. Vince Molinaro – Community of Leaders

People who make up organizations may have the best of intentions. However, working in and as a community can prove more difficult than it looks. Establishing trust, accountability, and common goals falls on all employees’ shoulders. But leaders have to forge the way, set the example, and course correct when there are complications.

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In Community of Leaders , Vince Molinaro explains the importance of having a strong leadership culture and community-building strategies. He emphasizes the power of emphasizing leadership communities. His insights can benefit the front-line supervisor all the way up to the C-suite executive. Molinaro stresses how creating a supportive environment can promote growth and collaboration.

Organizations are known to create silos — and the larger the company, the more likely those silos exist. The problems silos create are well known, including animosity among teammates and a lack of progress. Reading this book will give you strategies to build or rebuild authentic, collaborative environments in your organization.

2. Carl Oxholm – The Biology of Leadership

The Biology of Leadership by Carl Oxholm isn't just about techniques; it's about understanding ourselves on a whole new level to help us become better leaders. Imagine this: you're steering a ship, and instead of just navigating the waters, you're tuning into the very currents beneath you. The Biology of Leadership is all about tapping into the underlying biology that drives our actions, emotions, and energy as leaders.

Oxholm, a seasoned executive coach, doesn't just throw theories at you. He brings real-world experience, showing how understanding our biological responses can transform how we lead. It's not just about being in charge; it's about connecting with your team and guiding them with empathy and insight.

So, if you're ready to improve your leadership skills, buckle up. The Biology of Leadership isn't just a book; it's a journey into the core of leading effectively in today's business landscape.

3. Amy Kemp – I See You

No one said leadership is easy. The fatigue and burnout that can come with the role is why people sometimes hesitate to take it on. But for those who do, learning how to juggle competing responsibilities and take care of themselves becomes a challenge.

In I See You , CEO and coach Amy Kemp offers solutions for leaders struggling to overcome the realities of managerial life. Feeling stretched too thin and inadequate is typical, as is a need to simultaneously achieve greater heights. Kemp’s methods show how to get more results with less work—something that sounds counterintuitive.

But by setting boundaries, leveraging strengths, and delegating tasks, you’ll ensure you won’t exhaust yourself beyond capacity. Kemp’s book is written for women in leadership roles, but other genders can benefit from her advice. You’ll learn to work smarter, have greater influence, and make more of an impact with less exhaustion.

4. Brady Brim-DeForest – Smaller is Better

If decisions seem to happen at an iceberg’s pace in your company, Smaller is Better will be an insightful read. Besides slow processes, you might also be frustrated by a disconnect between your company’s decisions and customers’ needs. Out-of-touch and slow decisions usually happen when teams get stuck in their bubbles, otherwise known as silos.

To be a leader with impact, you’ve got to create and empower effective teams. Brim-DeForest shows you how with smaller groups. Yes, it’s possible, even in larger conglomerates. Smaller is Better offers real-world examples of companies with successful track records to inspire you.

Small, more specialized teams can deliver better products and innovate faster. Employees will be happier, more engaged, and willing to stick around. For these reasons alone, Brim-DeForest’s approach can change the outcomes of your leadership’s influence.

5. Amanda and Gene Hammett - How To Have Tough Conversations

Get ready to transform your approach to tough conversations with this practical and tactical guide. In the forthcoming book, How to Have Tough Conversations, authors Amanda and Gene Hammett cut through the noise and get straight to the heart of what it takes to say what needs to be said, when it matters most. No fluff, just actionable strategies that any leader can apply immediately.

From navigating difficult feedback sessions to addressing long-standing conflicts, this book equips you with the tools to get out of your own way and have the confidence to tackle even the most daunting conversations head-on. Say goodbye to avoidance and hello to effective communication that drives real results. It's time to step up, speak up and lead with clarity and conviction.

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While recent surveys highlight a concerning leadership crisis in the corporate realm, there is hope for improvement. By embracing new strategies and mindsets outlined in these insightful books, leaders can navigate challenges and cultivate environments that promote growth, collaboration, and meaningful impact.

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446: How to Tap the Hidden Wisdom of People Around You for Breakthroughs in Leadership and Life. Former Monitor Associate partner and Chief Learning Officer of Teach For America. Co-CEO of Transcend, Jeff Wetzler The Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving

Welcome to Strategy Skills episode 446, featuring an interview with the author of Ask: Tap Into the Hidden Wisdom of People Around You for Unexpected Breakthroughs In Leadership and Life, Jeff Wetzler. In this book, Jeff offers a hands-on, surprisingly effective way to find out what others really think, know, and feel. Jeff brings you a powerful method called The Ask Approach™, based on a simple premise that tapping into what other people truly think, know, and feel is a game-changing superpower. Ask leads to smarter decisions, more creative solutions, and deeper relationships.    Jeff Wetzler is co-CEO of Transcend, a nationally recognized innovation organization, and an expert in learning and human potential. Wetzler combines unique leadership experiences spanning more than 25 years in business and education, as a management consultant to the world’s top corporations, a learning facilitator for leaders around the world, and as Chief Learning Officer at Teach For America. Jeff earned a Doctorate in Adult Learning and Leadership from Columbia University and a bachelor’s in psychology from Brown University. Based in New York, he is a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network and is an Edmund Hillary Fellow.   Get Jeff’s new book here: https://rb.gy/6i05b7 Ask: Tap Into the Hidden Wisdom of People Around You for Unexpected Breakthroughs In Leadership and Life   Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach   McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf   Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo  

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