3 Best Business Books for Leaders
Dunne et al.’s (2016) research concerning small business owners’ leadership style resulted in findings that indicate that leadership style affects small firm innovation. With this being said, it will be critical for business leaders to develop a keen sense of self-awareness. These books may help.
1. The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter – Michael Watkins
First on the list of Harvard Business Review’s Top 40 Essential Business Books to Read (n.d.) is an excellent resource for successful transitions titled The First 90 Days.
Transitions may include beginning a new position, experiencing a promotion, or settling into a position as CEO. This time period is crucial, and your actions could determine your success or failure.
This trusted guide includes actionable strategies to meet and exceed the expectations of your role.
Find the book on Amazon.
2. The Outsiders: Eight Unconventional CEOs and Their Radically Rational Blueprint for Success – William Thorndike
A highly acclaimed book with outstanding reviews, this quick read gathers experience from eight successful, and sometimes unconventional, CEOs.
Through these stories, which have been described as both eye opening and counterintuitive, the reader will learn traits and methods for exceptional performance.
This is a must-read for those wanting to excel at capital allocation.
Find the book on Amazon.
3. Your Next Five Moves: Master the Art of Business Strategy – Patrick Bet-David
Another Amazon bestseller, this book helps entrepreneurs plan what’s next.
After reading this book, you should have clarity, strategies, growth tactics, skills, and insight into successful leadership. Bet-David gathers and conveys these strategies from his own principles and revelations on his journey to becoming a successful CEO.
Each chapter contains real-life examples that can be applied in a multitude of areas, including personal life.
Find the book on Amazon.
Short Leadership Books for Busy Managers
In the fast-paced realm of modern management, where time is a precious commodity, the need for concise-yet-impactful leadership books becomes paramount.
A leader must not only be able to think systematically and be able to plan, but also have the knowledge to carry out these actions (Persada & Nabella, 2023). This is why constant self-development is critical. Do you feel that your time is limited? Peruse one of the following short leadership books and choose an audiobook format for your commute.
1. Stick Together: A Simple Lesson to Build a Stronger Team – Jon Gordon and Kate Leavell
This quick and easy read highlights the values of successful teams.
Gordon and Leavell take you on the fictitious journey of a high school basketball coach motivating his team. He tasked his team with several missions, and gave them sticks with words etched on them to complete these missions. These exercises lead them to excel and bond as a team.
This book would be ideal for organizations, classrooms, sports teams, or any group wanting to bolster their team’s success. This resource is currently rated 4.7 stars on Amazon and has only 128 pages.
Find the book on Amazon.
2. Strengths Based Leadership: Great Leaders, Teams, and Why People Follow – Tom Rath and Barrie Conchie
In current trends, especially from a positive psychology standpoint, a strengths-based approach has been found to be beneficial for many industries. Leadership is no exception, as strengths-based leadership increases employees’ task performance (Wang et al., 2023).
Strengths Based Leadership provides insight into some of the most successful and recent organizational leaders, including the president of Ritz-Carlton and the founder of Teach for America.
This book provides actionable steps for fostering success by leaning on the strengths of your team members.
Find the book on Amazon.
A Unique Organizational Leadership Book
Leadership is one of the most widely researched constructs in the management field (Schneider, 2002). As such, it is imperative to remain current.
Organizational leadership requires specific attributes and competencies necessary for overseeing a company. To learn more about this type of leadership, we’ve selected the following book to explain more.
Transformational Leadership: A Blueprint for Real Organizational Change – Randy Dobbs
This insightful book includes personal stories of both success and failure and is currently rated 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon.
The author discusses how to improve the internal structure of an organization by using the transformational leadership style of empowering others to accomplish positive change. This practical guide offers sensible suggestions and tangible examples.
These strategies hold relevance for organizations from major corporations to small businesses, as well as nonprofits, universities, hospitals, and other institutions.
Find the book on Amazon.
3 Popular Books for Personal Growth
Personal growth, a fundamental element of positive psychological functions, involves the degree to which individuals actualize their potential and expand as individuals (Lopez et al., 2020).
Successful leaders perpetually strive for personal growth. Below are a few leadership books to guide you in your self-improvement.
1. Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life – Arnold Schwarzenegger
One of the Best Life Advice Books of 2023 according to Barnes & Noble (n.d.) was written by a world-renowned bodybuilder, actor, and governor. This book uncovers Schwarzenegger’s insights on living a meaningful life and demonstrates how to employ these tools to construct a fulfilling future.
From an early age, Schwarzenegger developed mental tools to escape the constraints of poverty and narrow-mindedness in his rural Austrian hometown.
These strategies are shared in this worthwhile book to help you become a leader who reaches their potential.
Find the book on Amazon.
2. Atomic Habits: An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones – James Clear
This book made the list of top Amazon sellers for January 2024 and is a must-read for anyone with a desire to improve their life or overcome adversity.
The author shares his personal experience of overcoming challenges presented after an accident in high school.
He employed several strategies to improve the quality of his daily routine, thus improving the quality of his life. Atomic Habits offers a proven framework for success, whether that involves weight loss or climbing to the top of the corporate ladder.
Find the book on Amazon.
3. The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and Team with Positive Energy – Jon Gordon
Saving the best for last, The Energy Bus is a personal favorite of mine and could be included under nearly all of the categories mentioned above.
This relatively quick read presents 10 positive secrets that can be applied to both professional and personal lives.
The book chronicles a few weeks in the life of George, a man whose job and home life are in jeopardy. He is forced to take the bus to work, where he is met with an engaging group of characters who help him turn his life around using the 10 rules.
This book is perfect for leaders and anyone wishing to turn their negative energy into positive success. Check out the video to learn more about Gordon’s vision.
Find the book on Amazon.
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