leadership books

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By Hannah L. Miller Leaders Staff

Hannah L. Miller

Hannah L. Miller

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Hannah L. Miller, MA, is the senior editor for Leaders Media. Since graduating with her Master of Arts in 2015,...

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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.

leadership books

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

leadership books

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

leadership books

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 

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 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Five Dysfunction 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 

How to Win Friends & 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

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

The 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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Hi, I'm Toby.

As an organisational leader, I'm always looking to learn insights from the best thinkers on the planet. I've read hundreds (maybe thousands) of books to become a better leader.

In 2020 I came to a realisation: I wasn't turning knowledge into action. 🤦‍♂️

Inspired by reading Tiny Habits by Fogg  I formed a new habit of writing  Book Summaries.

Since then I've written over 50 business summaries. These include Atomic Habits by James Clear , Trillion Dollar Coach by Eric Schmidt , The Practice by Seth Godin .

Each summary is written from my experience as a practising organisational leader. There are many other book summary sites such as Blinkist but what they often lack is the experience of how those insights have been applied in the workplace. 

These books share how I've become a better leader. For example:

How to focusing on the vital few rather than the trivial many will help you succeed .

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14 Best Leadership Books to Read in 2024

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

Leaders Eat Last

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

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

Laws of Leadership

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

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

The Mentor Leader

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

Minority Leader

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

The Hard Thing About Hard Things

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

Primal Leadership

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

Leadership in Turbulent Times

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

Extreme Ownership

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

How to Win Friends & Influence People

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

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

Leadership: Theory & Practice

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

How to Lead

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 .

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

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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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The 40 Best Leadership Books of All Time

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Blog – Posted on Monday, Jul 19

The 40 best leadership books of all time.

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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Book summaries, the latest and greatest books for leaders.

We work hard to stay abreast of the current writings on leadership, especially those books our clients are reading or have been recommended to read. As a benefit to our clients and to facilitate our own learning, the Admired Leadership team has long maintained a tradition of summarizing the newest books of interest to leaders. Better to read a summary for eight minutes before investing 8 hours in the entire book. After reading a good summary, we believe leaders are able to make better choices as to what to ignore, what to peruse and what to make the time to read closely.

The summaries are just that and not book reviews. They focus on the practical suggestions offered by the author(s) as is consistent with our value on actionable advice. We select the books based more on what everyone is reading rather than on what is special. Special is a high bar and not many books reach it. We find that most new books are chock full of good reminders that anyone can benefit from, and occasionally an insight we can all act on. That makes the pursuit of staying current worthwhile.

Look for new summaries every month as our team scours what’s new.

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Leadership Book Summaries

Welcome to my leadership book summaries page. 

This page is a distillation of everything I’ve learned from the best leadership books of all time.

From business to marketing, copywriting to positioning,  you’ll find more than 100 good leadership book summaries, organized by title.

If you’re looking for other book recommendations, check out my book summaries page at the bottom of the page to browse other book summaries by category.

Leadership Book Summaries

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Leadership & Communications

The best books on leadership.

“Everything rises and falls on leadership.” This quote by John Maxwell says it all. Great leaders inspire, mobilize, empower and unite people to solve problems and build extraordinary organizations. At some point in your life, you too, have probably met a good leader who impacted you in a deep and profound way. The great news is, leadership is a learnable skill. And here, we’ve shortlisted a list of the best leadership books that will equip you with the range of perspectives, skills and tools to become the best leader you can be. [ Click here to start reading free leadership book summaries ]

Learn from the Best Leadership Books

What does it take to become a great leader? Do you need a grand vision, emotional intelligence, authenticity, charisma, discipline, decision-making and organization skills, influence and communication skills, the ability to embrace uncertainty, or all of the above? More importantly, what type of leader do you want to be?

The truth is, depending on your personality, strengths, phase in life and existing roles or challenges, you’ll need to develop different leadership skills. That’s why the best leaders never stop learning. And, one of the best ways to learn is by reading books on leadership by (or about) other successful leaders. Different books deal with different aspects of leadership—from problem-solving to people-skills, coaching, crisis-management, and pretty much anything that a good leader should know. By reading and applying the insights from a range of top leadership books, you can broaden your perspective and overcome any barrier.

Are Leadership Books Really Practical?

One misconception is that the strategies in leadership books are impractical and are only workable in an ideal world. You may think, “My situation is different; this won’t work for me.” It’s true that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution to a problem. To put the strategies from these books to practice, you must understand:

  • The essence or principle behind an idea, approach or technique;
  • Examples of how they can be applied in the real-world; and
  • How can you apply them to your situation?

That’s why ReadinGraphics has curated a range of leadership books from various authors and leaders , to provide different perspectives, frameworks, tools and skills. And, we’ve summarized them into 3 forms: infographic, text, and audio summaries. This allows you to dive into the detailed examples and actionable tips for each book, then visualize and recap the core ideas at a glance. Below, you’ll find the free versions of these summaries to help you get started.

Best Leadership Books to Read

Feel free to search our database if you want to read a specific book summary, or to zoom in on a specific challenge (e.g. team building, productivity, conflict or talent management). If you’re unsure where to start, here are 3 best books on leadership that will help any leader at any level:

  • The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier: 7 questions to coach and lead more effectively;
  • The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell: 21 principles to become a more powerful and effective leader; and
  • Drive by Daniel Pink: Unlock the inner motivation in yourself and others

Start reading the free leadership book summaries below!

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Book Summary – Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life

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HarperCollins Leadership Essentials

Leadership Book Summaries: Leadershift by John C. Maxwell

leadershift by john maxwell book summary

Have you ever wanted to read Leadershift by John C. Maxwell? Book summaries are a great way to learn a little bit more about a book before buying it.

Leadershift was the 101st book released by John Maxwell. It was published in 2019 by HarperCollins Leadership. Maxwell also released a companion workbook to help readers take his insights and turn them into action.

The premise of the book is this: change is not a worry, it’s a given in today’s business environment. Leaders must be nimble and ready to adapt if they intend to survive.

Maxwell believes success can be found by making 11 crucial “leadershifts” which he describes in the book through engaging stories and bite-sized tips.

Explore this Book Summary

About the Book

Chapter-by-Chapter Summaries

Top Quotes  

Sneak Peek at the Leadershift Mini Course  

summary of leadership books

In Leadershift, John C. Maxwell helps leaders gain the ability and willingness to make leadership changes that will positively enhance their organizational and personal growth.

He does this by sharing the eleven shifts he made over the course of his long and successful leadership career. Among these leadershifts are:

  • The Adaptive Shift from Plan A to Option A
  • The Production Shift from Ladder Climbing to Ladder Building
  • The Influence Shift, from Positional Authority to Moral Authority

Maxwell gives specific guidance to readers about how to make these shifts in their own lives. Each one requires them to change the way they think, act, and ultimately lead so they can be successful in a world that never remains the same.

Chapter-by-Chapter Book Summaries

Chapter 1: Why Every Leader Needs to Leadershift

If you want to be an effective leader, you must leadershift. You cannot be the same, think the same, and act the same if you hope to be successful in a world that does not remain the same.

Chapter 2: Soloist to Conductor / The Focus Shift

You can be a successful person on your own, but not a successful leader. The way forward as the leader of an organization is to utilize the gifts of the entire team.

Chapter 3: Goals to Growth / The Personal Development Shift

It is imperative for leaders to make the personal development shift from a short-term goal orientation to a long-term growth orientation. There are three significant changes needed to achieve the shift: growth outward to growth inward; growth in everything to growth in a few vital things; and growth with a timeline versus growth without a finish line.

Chapter 4: Perks to Price / The Cost Shift

There are three common costs that every leader needs to take into account to make the cost shift: reality, example, and consistency.

Chapter 5: Pleasing People to Challenging People / The Relational Shift

You can never really lead your organization, serve your people, or reach your leadership potential if you are always trying to make others happy. The stark reality is that you cannot lead people if you need people.

Chapter 6: Maintaining to Creating / The Abundance Shift

If you want to shift from maintaining to creating in your life and leadership, then you need to learn and live by a few creative principles including building a creative culture, making everything better, making plans but looking for options, and more as outlined in the book .

Chapter 7: Ladder Climbing to Ladder Building / The Reproduction Shift

This leadershift is about changing from being a personal producer to an equipper of others. When it comes to investing in and helping someone by holding, extending, and building his or her ladder, it is important who you choose to mentor.

Chapter 8: Directing to Connecting / The Communication Shift

Changing from directing to connecting is one of the most valuable shifts you will ever make as a leader. When you direct, it is like building a bridge to others, but the traffic only goes one way. When you connect, it is a two-way street. And because of that, everything improves.

Chapter 9: Team Uniformity to Team Diversity / The Improvement Shift

When properly led, motivated, and unleashed, a diverse group of professionals can give your leadership team an uncommon advantage over your competitors.

Chapter 10: Positional Authority to Moral Authority / The Influence Shift

Moral authority can sound mystical and out of reach. However, it is grounded in four things: competence, courage, consistency, and character.

Chapter 11: Trained Leaders to Transformational Leaders / The Impact Shift

To be transformational, leaders must develop and reproduce leaders. As leaders, we have to be changed to bring change.

Chapter 12: Career to Calling / The Passion Shift

It is useful to identify the characteristics of a calling in order to home in on yours. In this final chapter of Leadershift , Maxwell provides steps for maximizing your calling.

Top Quotes from Leadershift

“As leaders, we must stop wishing and start working. Instead of looking for the ‘secret sauce’ of success, we must start sowing seeds of success.”

“What sets great leaders apart from all other leaders is this: they act before others and they do more than others.”

“If you want learners to follow directions, you only need to provide the what/ If you want them to lead others and give directions, they must also have the why.”

Sneak Peek: Leadershift Mini Course by John Maxwell

Want more from the Leadershift Mini Course?  

After you purchase Leadershift, enter your 8-digit receipt number below to receive a free gift: the full Leadershift Mini Course featuring 8 video lessons including teachings from John Maxwell, Trent Shelton, Rachel Hollis, and Mark Cole.

Want to read more? Get the book and the companion workbook!

summary of leadership books

John C. Maxwell

John C. Maxwell is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, coach, and speaker who has sold more than 33 million books in fifty languages. He has been identified as the #1 leader in business and the most influential leadership expert in the world.

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Leadershift Summary

1-Sentence-Summary: Leadershift will show you how to become a great leader by identifying the need to constantly improve your mindset and methods and showing you what to do so that you can make the biggest impact on your team and your organization.

Favorite quote from the author:

Leadershift Summary

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In our rapidly changing world, we often wonder what aspect of life is going to need the most adjustment going forward. Too many things we do are just a result of outdated thinking and cultural norms. We need to make some adjustments. 

One of the most important areas for this is leadership. It’s important, for one thing, that we have good leaders to help us navigate the turbulence of our time. But those in charge also have to be agile themselves.

John C. Maxwell knows a few things about leadership and will teach them to you in his book Leadershift: The 11 Essential Changes Every Leader Must Embrace . You’ll discover how to change your mindset so that you, your company, and those you lead can become more successful.

Here are the 3 of the greatest lessons to change your mind about leadership:

  • The attitude of “climbing the ladder” yourself is outdated, you should instead construct ladders that you can help others ascend through mentoring.
  • Directing others used to be the norm for a leader, but now the best results come from connecting with your people.
  • The influence that comes from how much people trust you is far more powerful than any title you can ever have.

Got your growth mindset handy? You’re going to need it to have a successful Leadershift ! Let’s go!

If you want to save this summary for later, download the free PDF and read it whenever you want.

Lesson 1: Bad leaders try to climb the ladder, exceptional ones build ladders for others to ascend by mentoring them.

Although the attitude of “climbing the ladder” doesn’t help others much, it is necessary to get ahead if you want to help others. Strive to be in the top 10% of your field. This sets you apart and ensures that you’ll have plenty to teach.

You need to begin by shifting your mentality about your experience. It’s not a badge of honor, but rather a well from which you can draw lessons from to help others. 

The best leaders, according to Kevin Myers, the leader of 12Stone church, are those that desire more for their people than they expect of them.

If you want to help your people reach their full potential you need to learn the art of mentoring. It begins with you choosing who you want to mentor. You don’t have unlimited time, so you need to decide well. 

Start by asking yourself some vital questions. Are the people you’re considering for mentoring really hungry to learn? If they’re the kind of people that say “I’ll find a way” instead of “maybe there’s a way but I don’t know,” then you’re on the right track.

Next, question whether the individuals have real potential to become leaders themselves. They’re going to have a lot of influence, and you want to make sure it’s good. 

After finding the right people to mentor, consistently give them small nuggets of wisdom from your well of experience. Then, let them have options for pathways to develop their skills.

Lesson 2: You will make a far greater impact on the lives of others and in your business when you connect with people instead of simply directing.

This is a truth that Maxwell discovered while visiting the locker room of the University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball team. Their coach, Pat Summitt, was well-known for her success.

It’s half-time and the players are coming into the room. Rather than going right to Summitt to learn from her, they huddle together at a whiteboard. They ask themselves three questions:

  • What went well?
  • What didn’t go well?
  • What are we going to change?

Once the team finishes discussing, they then turn to Summit with a report and also seeking her counsel. Instead of lecturing them, she connects with them by listening .

It would have been easy for the coach to assume what the team needed and just speak it to them in the locker room. But instead, she sought to understand their perspectives and needs with questions and listening. 

Summitt connected rather than directed, and you need to learn this skill too. Practice asking the right questions and active listening and you’ll be a champ in no time. 

To help himself do this, Maxwell uses a notepad when meeting with people. He writes a big “L” on it to help him remember to listen more than he speaks.

Start improving your own communication skills by asking others how good you are at listening on a scale of 1-10. Also invite them to tell you whenever you’re not listening to them in the future.

Lesson 3: Your title is meaningless compared with the power that you can have when your team trusts you.

To be a good leader, you need the ability to influence others. But where do you get that? Maxwell learned early in his career that it doesn’t come from your position. Right after graduating from college became the pastor at a small church. Expecting to be in charge at the first of the church’s board meetings, he was surprised when a member named Claude took charge.

Claude led the whole meeting, only having Maxwell say the opening and closing prayers and little else. It was hard for Maxwell, but he realized that this man’s integrity spoke louder than any title of his ever could. 

In other words, Claude had moral authority, which people that always live their values and do what they say they will have. You can recognize a person with these traits because they are trustworthy and dependable. 

When others know that you are going to follow-through with your promises, this makes them willing to follow you more than any position can.

You also need to have courage to help you and those you lead reach their full potential .

We all know that David slays Goliath in the notorious bible story. But did you consider what the army was doing while this was happening? At first, they were cowering in fear. But seeing David’s courage to stand up to Goliath, they burst through their fears to defeat the Philistine army.

Leadershift  Review

I can’t help but love everything that John Maxwell writes, and Leadershift  is no exception! Society definitely has some traditions surrounding management that we need to annihilate, and this book does an excellent job of starting the process. Anyone that reads this book is going to benefit, too, not just people in authority!

Who would I recommend the Leadershift summary to?

The 57-year-old manager who wonders if their methods are outdated, the 31-year-old that is just beginning their career who wants to make a positive impact on all that they interact with, and anyone that needs some advice on how to bring out the full potential in others.

Last Updated on September 19, 2022

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With over 450 summaries that he contributed to Four Minute Books, first as a part-time writer, then as our full-time Managing Editor until late 2021, Luke is our second-most prolific writer. He's also a professional, licensed engineer, working in the solar industry. Next to his day job, he also runs Goal Engineering, a website dedicated to achieving your goals with a unique, 4-4-4 system. Luke is also a husband, father, 75 Hard finisher, and lover of the outdoors. He lives in Utah with his wife and 3 kids.

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Summary: Leadership 101: What Every Leader Needs to Know by John C. Maxwell

By: Author Nina Norman

Posted on Last updated: October 28, 2023

Home » Summary: Leadership 101: What Every Leader Needs to Know by John C. Maxwell

  • Do you want to become a better leader? Do you want to learn how to unleash your leadership potential and influence others? If so, you might want to read Leadership 101: What Every Leader Needs to Know by John C. Maxwell. In this book, you will discover the key aspects, traits, and impact of successful leadership.
  • If you are interested in learning more about Leadership 101: What Every Leader Needs to Know by John C. Maxwell, you can continue to read the book summary below. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your leadership abilities and make a difference in the world!

Leadership 101 (2002) concentrates the wisdom and practical advice from decades of publishing and research on leadership. Written as an introductory short course, it’s packed with inspirational examples and concrete steps to grow the skills, character, and influence necessary to successfully lead in any area.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Cut through the hype and jump straight to the practice of leadership.

Chapter 1: success without leadership is possible, but it’s limited., chapter 2: leadership is a journey that never ends., chapter 3: the first person you lead is you., chapter 4: trust is the foundation of leadership – and its most precious asset., chapter 5: successful leadership is measured in influence., about the author.

Few buzzwords inspire more misunderstanding or confusion than leadership. After all, leadership is for business bros, Fortune 500 types, and entrepreneurs, right? And leaders are born – they’re not made.

If these myths about leadership ring hollow, it’s because they’re not true. Anyone can be a leader; anyone can inspire others into action or growth. Leadership can be learned, nurtured, and mastered.

Come on board for a quick tour of the big lessons, daily habits, thoughtful reflections, and self-discovery that will take your leadership to the next level. We’ll skip right to the good stuff to begin growing your leadership, and multiplying your impact, today.

Book Summary: Leadership 101 - What Every Leader Needs to Know

In this summary, you’ll learn

  • why working harder isn’t always smarter;
  • how the 20-80 rule can thin out your to-do list; and
  • why trust is the most valuable asset of all.

These days, it seems like everyone is extolling the virtues of leadership – but why?

Well, it all comes down to what it takes to be successful in life. Real success comes from mastering skills in four basic areas: relationships, self-directed learning, attitude, and leadership. And it’s that last one – leadership – that helps multiply the impact of the other three.

Why is leadership so important? Because the traits of leadership actually relate to all the other areas of success. Leaders know how to prioritize, and they show discipline in getting the job done. Leaders cultivate trust in others, and they do it by reflecting deeply on what’s most important. Leaders align their vision and character with their values, and they communicate those values clearly.

In short, getting leadership right can make or break success in other aspects of life.

Take two brothers, Dick and Maurice. These brothers opened a drive-in restaurant in Pasadena in 1937. They saw the potential in California’s booming car culture and created a restaurant where patrons were served food in their cars – complete with china and silverware! Their car-hop venture was a huge hit, and by 1940 they were enjoying enormous profits. But by 1948 they could see that drive-in culture was on the wane. So they made the smart decision to switch from a car-hop to a walk-up restaurant. They streamlined the menu to focus on hamburgers, and switched from china and silverware to paper and plastic. Their profits doubled with the changes, and they opened a second location.

And that’s exactly where the story of Dick and Maurice McDonald would have ended if it weren’t for the entrance of a visionary leader, Ray Kroc. The McDonald brothers wanted to grow, but they didn’t want to shoulder the extra work of opening more restaurants themselves. Kroc was familiar with the concept of franchising, and he saw the potential in McDonald’s opening up in many cities. In 1955, he partnered with the brothers to form the McDonald’s Corporation. In the next four years they opened 100 additional restaurants. Four years later, there were 500.

In 1961, for just over 2.7 million dollars, Ray Kroc bought the rights to McDonald’s. Today, McDonald’s has restaurants in most corners of the world. It’s true that Dick and Maurice McDonald worked hard and were very successful, but it took a leader to see the company’s true potential, develop a vision, and get the right team onboard to make it grow into a worldwide phenomenon.

So, how can you do the same? That’s what we’ll tackle in the next chapter.

If the story of a legendary leader like Ray Kroc is inspiring, that’s great! But leadership isn’t just for leaders. And – spoiler alert – those folks at the top of the corporate ladder might not be leaders, either. They may not even see what opportunities they’re missing, or what potential influence they aren’t having.

No matter where you are on your leadership journey, a good place to start is understanding the four phases of leadership. That’s right: leadership is a process, and it has four distinct stages.

The first phase is acknowledging that, like everyone else, you don’t know what you don’t know. Whether you want to grow in a new role or deepen an important relationship, you can’t know everything from the start. Uncovering your blind spots takes curiosity, soul searching, and research – but in the process, you’re already starting on the next phase.

Phase two is getting to the point where you know what you don’t know. This may be a phase you reach many times along your journey, and that’s a good thing. Successful leaders are lifelong learners, they learn today to lead tomorrow. They make reading, audio books, or study a daily habit, and education is an ongoing part of their lives. Do this, and phase three will take care of itself.

Phase three is trusting that as you grow, the effects will show. Patience with yourself is key to this phase. It might help to know that no one becomes a great leader overnight. Even those born with natural gifts have to work at it. And though it might feel strange at first, cultivating the self-discipline and perseverance to keep at it every day pays off, as do all the little, daily habits you adopt. Not only do the benefits compound over time, but you’ll also develop trust in yourself and your abilities, which brings you to phase four.

This final phase is when everything coalesces and leadership starts to come naturally. Again, don’t expect this to happen overnight; it takes daily practice. The good news here is that no matter where you’re at now, your leadership development is an ongoing process. Ask any effective leader in your life, and you’ll more than likely find out they rely on a self-development plan to maintain and grow their skills.

But what other traits do effective leaders develop along the way? That’s what we’ll dive into next.

Since discipline and perseverance are key to the four phases of leadership, how can you grow these in yourself? Well, this too comes down to a few simple steps.

First, to develop discipline, begin by challenging your excuses. The reason most of us fail to achieve our goals is that we’re really, really good at making excuses. Take Jerry, the promising young high school football player. One sweltering Mississippi day, Jerry caught himself sneaking back to the locker room to avoid doing uphill sprints with the rest of the team. Angry at himself for slacking, he told himself, “Don’t quit!” He knew that if he got used to quitting, it would become the norm.

Today, Jerry Rice is known not only for his outstanding sports leadership, but for his unrelenting approach to daily training and self-discipline. Quitting never became OK, and this impacted every aspect of his extraordinary professional life.

Once you’ve challenged your excuses, up the ante by removing positive rewards until you’ve accomplished your goals. This has a couple of benefits. First, if you lack self-discipline, you might be rewarding yourself before the job is done. Like eating dessert before your vegetables, this has additional, negative effects. If you have lots of great ideas but aren’t seeing much progress in your life, it could be that you lack self-discipline.

After challenging your excuses and saving rewards for a job well done, it’s important to stay focused on results. By concentrating on results rather than the temporary discomfort of your new routine, you’ll keep yourself from drifting into self-pity – the natural enemy of self-discipline.

Finally, understand that how you prioritize your time and effort is key. A common principle in business is the 20-80 rule. On average, just 20 percent of the people on any team provide about 80 percent of its success. And the top 20 percent of projects bring in 80 percent of revenue. So, it’s common for successful leaders to spend 80 percent of their time on the top 20 percent of their priorities. This works for everyday life too. Spend 80 percent of your time or resources on the top 20 percent of your people or priorities.

While your priorities will naturally shift over time, being aware of your choices can help you adapt quickly too. We often don’t realize what’s truly important until it’s too late. Remember that too many priorities can paralyze you, so just focus on those that are most important. Finally, it’s OK to prioritize the things that bring you the most reward. Nothing keeps your motivation higher than focusing on what brings the most joy.

As you grow in your leadership process, one of the most important lessons you can learn is how trust works. Imagine that you begin your first day in a new job with a pocket full of petty cash. Each good decision you make adds to the stash in your pocket, and each poor decision costs you. No matter how good your intentions might be, too many poor decisions will ultimately leave your pocket empty.

Similarly, every leader starts with a certain amount of goodwill when they begin in a new role. Over time, this trust either builds or fails based on a leader’s actions.

There are three basic traits you’ll need to demonstrate to inspire trust in others – competence, connection, and character – and they’re not all alike. For instance, many can forgive a leader for an honest mistake or a lapse in competence, especially when they’re new or always trying to learn. But lapses in character or violations of trust can have a lasting effect.

Like self-discipline, character is the secret to successful, enduring leadership. Not only does it communicate consistency and strength to those around you; it also demonstrates a real connection with others. Character communicates respect to those around you. When a leader makes sound decisions, readily admits to their mistakes, and puts their followers’ agendas ahead of their own, they foster mutual respect and trust that elevates any team.

And when all this trust and mutual respect is established, what’s next? That’s when the real power of leadership becomes clear, as we’ll see next.

At the start of this quick tour through the basics of leadership, we made a bold claim – that leadership is the “secret sauce” that multiplies and amplifies your success. Let’s dig a bit deeper into this. We’ll start by looking at why bad leadership sometimes prevails.

In business, even poor leaders have a lot of leverage, which they can use to their advantage. They control the working conditions and salaries of their employees, after all. The same is true for military leadership, where rank can be pulled to order compliance or punish insubordination. Parents, too, can be ineffective family leaders, but young children are dependent and have little choice but to follow.

But none of this applies to volunteer organizations, charities, or religious institutions. In fact, any group that relies on people choosing to follow a leader relies on the real power of leadership: influence.

Why influence? It boils down to two major factors.

First, if you can’t force people to follow, then you’ll have to influence them. This is where all the personal and character development of leadership comes into play. For pastors, community leaders, educators, and the like, demonstrating the competence, connection, and character of a leader is essential to get anyone to follow.

Influence also requires vision. A vision is the shared future of any project or endeavor. If you can’t align that vision with everyone’s values, or communicate that vision clearly and passionately, no one will see it clearly or rally to bring it about.

The second factor comes with time. The most vital benefit of successful leadership is how it influences others to take up their own leadership journey. As your consistent and compassionate leadership develops, you’ll influence others to develop as leaders themselves.

In this way, the impact of your personal or professional growth can ripple outward through your network, family, or community. This multiplies your impact and influence many times over – without any extra time, energy, or expense on your part.

Influencing others to lead also leaves a legacy. Mature leaders understand that they don’t lead alone and that they’ll move on at some point. Preparing the organization for this transition is a part of their work right now.

Mentoring and growing tomorrow’s leaders helps ensure success long past the time your own life’s work is done. When nurturing future leaders, people follow your example because of what you have come to represent. This final stage of leadership is one very few achieve, but their legacy endures.

What does it take to achieve this kind of legacy? The same commitment to competence, connection, and character development of any leadership journey. The higher you go, the more commitment it will require – but the higher the rewards will be too.

You’ve just finish the summary to Leadership 101, by John C. Maxwell.

The most important thing to remember is that leadership is a process, and over time it can transform every aspect of your life. Unfolding in four phases, leadership demands consistent discipline, personal reflection and prioritization, character development, and a lifelong commitment to learning. But the benefits multiply with time; with enough perseverance, you can even change the world. Ultimately the measure of leadership is in influence – persuading others to follow and to take up their own leadership journey.

And here’s some more actionable advice for you:

Find your “top 20.”

You know that effective leaders spend 80 percent of their time on the top 20 percent of their people. But do you know who your 20 percent are?

To find out, make a list of all your current team members. Then ask yourself, “If this person withdrew their support, would I still be able to function?” If the answer is no, put a check mark next to their name. If it would hurt but not make or break you, then don’t add a check mark.

By the end, you should have marked between 15 and 20 percent of your team. Those are the people that should receive about 80 percent of your time, your resources, or your focus.

John C. Maxwell is an internationally recognized leadership expert, speaker, coach, and author who has sold over 19 million books. Dr. Maxwell is the founder of EQUIP and the John Maxwell Company, organizations that have trained more than 5 million leaders worldwide. Every year he speaks to Fortune 500 companies, international government leaders, and organizations as diverse as the United States Military Academy at West Point, the National Football League, and the United Nations. A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Business Week best-selling author, Maxwell has written three books which have each sold more than one million copies: The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, Developing the Leader Within You, and The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader. You can find him at JohnMaxwell.com and follow him at Twitter.com/JohnCMaxwell .

Management, Leadership, Christian Living, Business, Self Help, Personal Development, Christian,, Psychology

Leadership 101 is a concise and practical guidebook that offers insights and advice on how to become a more effective and influential leader. The book is based on the author’s extensive experience and research in the field of leadership development. The book covers three main aspects of leadership: the development of a leader, the traits of a leader, and the impact of a leader.

The development of a leader focuses on how to grow as a leader by increasing one’s capacity, skills, and influence. The author suggests that leaders should have a clear vision, a strong character, a positive attitude, and a willingness to learn from others. He also emphasizes the importance of self-discipline, prioritization, and trust-building as essential habits for successful leaders.

The traits of a leader explores the qualities and behaviors that distinguish effective leaders from others. The author identifies four key traits that leaders should possess: discipline, vision, communication, and influence. He explains how these traits can help leaders to inspire, motivate, and empower their followers. He also provides practical tips and examples on how to develop and apply these traits in different situations.

The impact of a leader examines the results and legacy that leaders can produce through their leadership. The author argues that leaders should aim to make a positive difference in the lives of others, not just in their own. He advises leaders to invest in their followers, mentor them, and help them grow. He also encourages leaders to create a culture of excellence, loyalty, and trust within their organizations. He concludes by challenging leaders to leave behind a lasting legacy that will inspire future generations.

Leadership 101 is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to improve their leadership skills and abilities. The book is written in a clear and engaging style that makes it easy to read and understand. The book is also full of practical wisdom and useful examples that illustrate the main points and concepts. The book is not meant to be a comprehensive or exhaustive treatise on leadership, but rather a brief and accessible introduction to the essential principles and practices of effective leadership. The book is suitable for both aspiring and experienced leaders who want to learn from one of the most respected and influential leadership experts in the world.

Nina Norman

summary of leadership books

Nina Norman is a certified book reviewer and editor with over 10 years of experience in the publishing industry. She has reviewed hundreds of books for reputable magazines and websites, such as The New York Times, The Guardian, and Goodreads. Nina has a master’s degree in comparative literature from Harvard University and a PhD in literary criticism from Oxford University. She is also the author of several acclaimed books on literary theory and analysis, such as The Art of Reading and How to Write a Book Review. Nina lives in London, England with her husband and two children. You can contact her at [email protected] or follow her on Website | Twitter | Facebook

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20 books every nonprofit leader should read.

Forbes Nonprofit Council

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For both new and experienced nonprofit leaders alike, the right insights and guidance can be transformative. Books offer a depth of knowledge and perspectives and can serve as invaluable tools for inspiration, strategy and practical advice.

To that end, 20 Forbes Nonprofit Council members highlight books that have profoundly shaped their professional journeys and organizational achievements as nonprofit leaders. Read on for a curated list of works that provide a foundation of timeless wisdom and innovative approaches to leadership and management while also delivering actionable strategies for effective nonprofit work.

1. Who: The 'A' Method For Hiring

To be successful, you need a solid strategic plan. Hiring the right people around you to carry out that plan is critically important. Who: The “A” Method for Hiring, by Geoff Smart and Randy Street, provides insights on evaluating the right outcomes, asking the right questions and finding the right person for the job. I recommend it to anyone searching to build and maintain an effective team. - Eileen Heisman , National Philanthropic Trust

2. Falling Upward

Falling Upward by Richard Rohr, which I read in my 15th year as OCCF's CEO in 2015, explores the second half of our life's journey and how to live fully in our purpose, free from the first-half burden of "striving to become." It shifted my leadership focus to center on mentoring and coaching emerging leaders and leaning into a more soulful and whole-hearted approach to my work. I highly recommend it! - Shelley Hoss , Orange County Community Foundation

Forbes Nonprofit Council is an invitation-only organization for chief executives in successful nonprofit organizations. Do I qualify?

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David McCullough's Truman is the book always within reach at my desk. Everyone knows Truman's desk sign, "The buck stops here," but the other side of the sign is equally essential. It said, "I'm from Missouri," reminding Truman of his core values. Truman led with the characteristics I keep in mind daily—working hard, letting truth guide my decision making and listening to good counsel. - Victor Stagnaro , National Fallen Firefighters Foundation

4. The Magic Mountain

100 years on and people are still rightly marveling at the insights within Thomas Mann’s The Magic Mountain , myself included. Mann meditates on the ways we insulate ourselves from the shock and dismay of life’s innate hardships. The only way to transcend is by pushing past those barriers and finding what’s worth preserving in our shared humanity—a notion that should be every nonprofit’s North Star. - Jose Luis Castro , Vital Strategies

5. The Little Prince

Amid all the important leadership and business development books on my shelf, The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry is always close by. The moral or message of "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye" reminds us of our leadership obligations to others through growth, curiosity, self-reflection, responsibility and compassion. - Rita Soronen , Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption

6. The Great Mental Models

The Great Mental Models: General Thinking Concepts by Shane Parrish and Rhiannon Beaubien upended how I thought about decision making and completely transformed the way I prepared for decisions. This multidisciplinary exploration of better frameworks for thinking is an indispensable read for curious and passionate leaders. - Erica Schoder , R Street Institute

7. The Curious Waltz Of The Working Woman

I read this book at an early stage in my career, and I felt truly seen as a woman who is ambitious both at work and in my personal life. Most empowering is the concept that there are seasons in our lives. We can do it all, just not at the same time. We must give ourselves permission to enjoy and embrace each season without worrying about the next. - Jennifer Sirangelo , Points of Light

8. Orbiting The Giant Hairball

Gordon MacKenzie's Orbiting the Giant Hairball: A Corporate Fool's Guide to Surviving with Grace made a huge impact on my career and leadership. To quote MacKenzie, “To be fully free to create, we must first find the courage and willingness to let go: Let go of the strategies that have worked for us in the past… Let go of our biases, the foundation of our illusions..." It’s powerful! - Jono Anzalone , The Climate Initiative

9. The Thin Book Of Trust

The four distinctions of trust outlined in the book (care, reliability, sincerity and competence) have been integral to how I conduct and present myself to my staff, board and industry. It has also impacted how I select my senior team and our ability to trust each other as we forge our organization's future. - Deb Callahan , National Fenestration Rating Council

10. No Time For Spectators

General Martin Dempsey's No Time For Spectators: The Lessons That Mattered Most From West Point To The West Wing has spurred a leadership evolution in my role as CEO. His lessons on active engagement, adaptability and service resonate deeply, shaping my approach to leadership. It’s a must-read for aspiring leaders! - Anne Marie Dougherty , Bob Woodruff Foundation

11. Five Dysfunctions Of A Team

This brilliant, entertaining and accessible book has been the centerpiece of my leadership journey for 20 years. This timeless fable offers tools to build effective executive teams through the encouragement of vulnerability-based trust, engendering constructive conflict, ensuring commitment, fostering accountability and, ultimately, producing real results. - Brigit Helms , Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship

12. Dare To Lead

I love Dr. Brown’s candor, compassion and vision for us to take off the armor we surround ourselves with in positional power and be willing to step into the arena and have the courage to lead. Being clear as a leader is kind. Stop trying to convince those critics in the "cheap seats" and bravely go forth as a leader that embraces vulnerability, courage and empathy. - Maureen Sedonaen , Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco

13. CEO Excellence

CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest by Carolyn Dewar, Scott Keller and Vikram Malhotra is about your mindset. The best CEOs embrace uncertainty as less a taker of their fate and more of a shaper of their fate. Only 10% of companies make 90% of U.S. profit, so learn to be bold and excellent through vision, strategy and resource allocation. Also note how creating a healthy culture creates a high-performance culture. - Nancy Padberg , Catholic Education Arizona

14. Good To Great

Jim Collins' seminal Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don't is indispensable and timeless. Through Collins' words, our 72-year-old organization created a transformative roadmap to focus our work and deliver relevant, measurable outcomes. We serve generations of farmers and ranchers to provide for their families, restore our nation’s soil and enrich our grazing lands. Collins’ teachings are found in our daily operations. - Steven Rhines , Noble Research Institute

15. The Soul Of Money

The Soul of Money: Reclaiming the Wealth of Our Inner Resources by Lynne Twist altered the way I think about fundraising. Twist suggests people want three things: 1. to love and be loved; 2. for their families to be healthy, happy and taken care of; 3. to make a difference. She says that by giving people a way to support those in need, we're helping people make a difference in their lives. It's just beautiful. - Caroline Boudreaux , Miracle Foundation

16. Poor Economics

Poor Economics by the great Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo is a must-read if you are working in low or middle-income countries to deeply understand how people living in poverty make economic decisions. Throughout the book, they do a great job of combining sound research with real examples of how good the world's poorest people are at managing money and what influences their decisions in life. - Bruce Maj Pelz , Maji Safi Group

17. The Agenda Mover

The Agenda Mover: When Your Good Idea Is Not Enough by Samuel B. Bacharach at Cornell helps you understand change management, change dynamics and the politics of change that are in all our organizations. Good ideas often fail because we haven't assessed all the factors that impact the change or don't take the culture or environment into consideration. I highly recommend this book and others by Bacharach. - Ellen Miller , International Ombuds Association

18. The Mountain Is You

The Mountain Is You: Transforming Self-Sabotage Into Self-Mastery by Brianna Wiest is a consistent resource for me. It is for seasoned leaders and beginner leaders. Leadership is built and honed, not innate. When I begin to go down that slippery slope of self-sabotage, I grab this book and recenter myself to self-mastery. - Erin Davison , Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Louisiana

19. Daring Greatly

This book has helped me learn more about showing up and being both brave and vulnerable in my work—and showing that to my team. It's helped me take note of who I am open to receiving feedback from as I lead and why it is so critical to have candid difficult conversations. It was both a check-in with myself and a call to leadership that is intentional. - Jennifer Thompson , Hope Loves Company

20. Leaders Eat Last

Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek is a great guide for new and experienced leaders on how to demonstrate the provision and protection of the organization. When I read the book many years ago, little did I know that every premise would be tested during the Covid-19 crisis. As a leader, you are called to make sacrifices, run towards danger and eat last to ensure that everyone else's needs are met. - Kimberly Lewis , Goodwill Industries of East Texas, Inc.

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The EU’s AI Act and How Companies Can Achieve Compliance

  • Reid Blackman
  • Ingrid Vasiliu-Feltes

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What your board, C-suite, and managers need to do now.

The EU’s forthcoming AI Act imposes requirements on companies designing and/or using AI in the European Union, and backs it up with stiff penalties. Companies need to analyze where they might fail to be compliant and then operationalize or implement the requisite steps to close the gaps in a way that reflects internal alignment. For most companies, that won’t be easy. The article lays out what boards, C-suites, and managers need to do to make this process work and ensure their companies will be compliant when regulation comes into force.

Earlier this month, member states of the European Union unanimously voted in favor of the AI Act , paving the way for its official passage in March or April of this year. Put simply, the Act is akin to Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), passed in 2016, but for artificial intelligence. The regulation imposes requirements on companies designing and/or using AI in the European Union, and backs it up with stiff penalties. Most violations of the act will cost companies €15 million or 3% of annual global turnover, but can go as high as €35 million or 7% of annual global turnover for violations related to AI systems that the act prohibits (e.g., using AI-enabled manipulative techniques, or using biometric data to infer private information).

  • Reid Blackman , PhD is the author of Ethical Machines (Harvard Business Review Press, 2022). As the founder and CEO of Virtue, an AI ethical risk consultancy, he and his team work with companies to design, implement, scale, and maintain AI ethical and regulatory risk programs. His work has been profiled by The Wall Street Journal, the BBC, CNN, Fox News, and Forbes. Reid also advises the government of Canada on their federal AI regulations, has been a senior adviser to the Deloitte AI Institute, and served on Ernst & Young’s AI Advisory Board.
  • IV Ingrid Vasiliu-Feltes , MD, MBA has served as Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Quality and Safety Officer in highly regulated industries. She has extensive experience in operationalizing complex regulatory frameworks, as well as designing effective Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement Programs. As a Senior Advisor at Virtue, she focuses on executing complex, large scale systems integration projects and designing state of the art customized digital ethics KPIs and metrics.

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Leadership Gold

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Good leadership always makes a difference. It can turn organizations around and positively impact the lives of thousands. Learning more about leadership will make a difference in you, and you will make a difference in the lives of others. John Maxwell shares a lifetime of leadership truths, which can guide anyone who currently leads or aspires to lead.

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