Recommended Reading
Your one-stop resource for informative, entertaining and engaging leadership reads.
The Leadership Challenge: How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations
By James M. Kouzes & Barry Z. Posner
Thirty years of research into leadership yields impressive results–like The Leadership Challenge by Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner, now in its fifth edition. Culled from decades of asking leaders what they’re doing when they’re in top form, the authors distill leadership to its essence.
“Leaders accept and act on the paradox of power,” they write. “You become more powerful when you give your own power away.”
The Click Moment: Seizing Opportunity in an Unpredictable World
By Frans Johansson
In every great career, Frans Johansson writes in The Click Moment, there’s a time when talent and luck intersect in a fit of business serendipity.
“If you scratch underneath the glossy exterior of success stories, you’re actually going to find that behind those things you’re going to find an unexpected meeting, a surprising insight, and that’s what’s behind most success,” he tells us. “It follows then that we should court those types of things.”
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business
By Charles Duhigg
In The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg explores how habits shape our lives–and how savvy businesses can shape them.
Febreeze, for instance, flopped when it launched as an odor killer, because, as Duhigg says, “the people who needed it, who lived with nine cats, had adapted to (it).” After noticing that people look proud after making their beds–a habit to capitalize on–P&G rebranded the spray as a post-cleaning reward, one that now makes $1 billion a year.
Beyond the Obvious
By Phil McKinney
Quote pulled from book cover: “Many assumptions about our business ultimately turn out to be wrong, which is why it’s so important to ask the right questions at the right time. In Beyond the Obvious, Phil McKinney arms readers with the skills to ask razor-sharp questions that lead to better ideas and more effective innovations.” – - Wendell P. Weeks, Chairman and CEO, Corning
Monday Morning Leadership
By David Cottrell
Quote pulled from book cover: “Monday Morning Leadership is as insightful as it is concise. Its ‘to the point’ style provides a clear roadmap for becoming a better manager…” – - Dan Amos, Chairman and CEO AFLAC, Inc.
10 Books Recommended for Leadership Development
Automate This: How Algorithms Came to Rule Our World
By Christopher Steiner
Quote pulled from book cover: “Algorithms are affecting every field of human endeavor, from markets to medicine, poker to pop music. Read this book if you want to understand the most powerful force shaping the world today and tomorrow.” — Andrew McAfee, principal research scientist, MIT; coauthor of Race Against the Machine
The Story of Dr. Sidney R. Garfield – The Visionary Who Turned Sick Care into Health Care
By Tom Debley in collaboration with Jon Stewart
Quote pulled from book cover: “Dr. Garfield was a remarkable man and this book does an excellent job of chronicling his contributions. I am optimistic that as a result of his visionary leadership, Kaiser Permanente is about to become the model for health care in this nation.” – - Robert Pearl M.D., Executive Director and CEO, The Permanente Medical Group
Disciplined Dreaming – A Proven System to Drive Breakthrough Creativity
By Josh Linkner, Founder & Chairman, ePRIZE
Quote pulled from book cover: “…one of our core values is to be adventurous, creative and open-minded. Disciplined Dreaming can help spark your creative potential.” – - Tony Hsieh, CEO, Zappos.com
The Shift Age
By David Houle
Quote pulled from book cover: “Fills a useful niche between the technicl emphasis of Kurzweil and the societal aspects of Toffler.” - – Dennis Bushnell, Chief Scientist, NASA Langley Research Center
It’s Your Ship – Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy
By Captain D. Michael Abrashoff
“This book is now one of my favorites. It offers a great message on how to empower your people.” – - Lead IT reader
Never Eat Alone – And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time
By Keith Ferrazzi
“A great read about networking: who you know, strengthening relationships, connecting with people, etc. Not about ‘what’s in it for me.’” – - Lead IT reader
Sway – The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior
By Ori Brafman and Rom Brafman
“A thought-provoking discussion about being a leader by rising above the noise and how to be firm in your opinions without being overly influenced by others.” – - Lead IT contributor
Delivering Happiness – A Path to Profits, Passion and Purpose
By Tony Hsieh
“A fun and informative read about customer service and company culture by the founder and CEO of Zappos.” – - Lead IT reader
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