Top 5 Best Leadership Books: Highly Suggested Reads by Professionals. You’re not the only one who wants to improve their executive and social skills. Many want to learn how to collaborate more effectively and become leaders. However, it can be intimidating to begin with more than 60,000 leadership books now available on Amazon. In an effort to assist you, StudyFinds searched for the greatest leadership books based on evaluations from purported authorities in the field.
Leadership is a commendable trait but requires diligence, empathy, and humility. A new study indicates that the secret to being a successful leader may lie in humility. The research team claims that because it feels psychologically safer to take chances around modest leaders, people are more at ease expressing themselves. “A small amount of modesty from leaders can greatly enhance a group’s productivity and collaboration,” says Roger Goddard, an educational studies professor at Ohio State and co-author of the study. “Everyone contributes more and these groups become more effective when people feel their leader is willing to learn from others and admit mistakes.”
Although the books below cover a wide range of topics related to leadership, emotional intelligence is the one element that runs through all of them. An Italian study found that having emotional intelligence and the ability to collaborate well with others actually results in more engaged workers. What does the term “engaged employee” actually mean? According to researchers, motivated employees exhibit vitality, dedication, and absorption in their work as well as good attitudes towards their jobs. According to earlier research, engaged employees typically exhibit higher levels of wellbeing and improved job performance. When it comes to “engaging leadership,” this management approach is all about giving people the liberty they require and making sure they feel capable, valued, and cared for. Among the best leadership books we could find, one recurring theme was the idea of purposeful, or deliberate, personal growth. It should come as no surprise that deliberate leadership increases worker productivity, according to the findings of another study. After surveying over a thousand workers and their managers at five different companies, the researchers discovered that both the workers and the business as a whole benefited greatly when managers demonstrated “purposeful” behaviours, such as having a strong sense of moral character, a clear vision, and a commitment to all stakeholders. Not only did their subordinates perform better overall, but they also showed less cynicism and were less likely to quit their supervisor if they believed their boss possessed these attributes.
Thus, you don’t need to go any more if you’re hoping to read a fantastic book that will aid in your personal and professional development. To determine the top five leadership books that reviewers most regularly recommend, we went to ten of the most reputable expert websites. We would be happy to hear your own recommendations in the space provided for comments below the article!
The List: Best Leadership Books
Highly Suggested Reads by Professionals
1. “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey
2. “Dare to Lead” by Brené Brown
3. “Leaders Eat Last” by Simon Sinek
4. “Primal Leadership” by Daniel Goleman
5. “Good to Great” by Jim Collins
Covey’s book, which focusses on goal achievement and personal effectiveness, is the most highly recommended leadership novel and a perennial best-seller for individuals interested in leadership. According to BetterUp, Covey’s book will assist those who want to “become more productive, build stronger relationships, and focus on priorities.”
The book’s first three habits centre on developing self-awareness in the reader, particularly on the transition from reliance to independence, which enables people to achieve exceptional levels of self-mastery. It is imperative that leaders possess this ability. According to Lifehack, “Covey guides you through the self-mastery Paradigm Shift by getting you to adopt an alternative viewpoint and shift your mentality.”
Because it “asks readers to examine themselves by challenging their beliefs, perception, and world view,” “7 Habits,” which has sold over 40 million copies, is frequently regarded as one of the top leadership books to read, according to Leaders.
The author of this #1 New York Times bestseller is Brené Brown, a research professor. For “walking readers through what happens when they dare to lead, especially in a culture that thrives off of uncertainty,” the renowned novelist is praised, according to Book Riot.
The novel’s attempt to refute the notion that weakness equates with vulnerability is what makes it so compelling. According to TeamBuilding.com, Brown “makes the case that leadership is about recognising potential in persons and ideas, rather than about position or control.”
“Dare to Lead is perfect for anyone interested in creating a constructive, supportive workplace,” says Leaders, praising the book highly.
The experience Sinek experienced when touring the Marine Corps—where “officers eat last”—inspired the title of this book. This concept gave rise to the book’s title, which presents a challenge from Sinek to executives to improve their workplace cultures so that staff members feel valued. For his Ted Talk, “How Great Leaders Inspire Action,” Simonek is well-known.
According to Nulab, the book describes in detail how “great leaders should sacrifice their comforts for the sake of those who follow them.” BookRiot notes that “Sinek argues that successful leaders are those who have their employees’ best interests at heart and promote a supportive environment.” This idea of sacrifice for others is prevalent throughout the book.
Superior book than Goleman’s on the idea. According to BetterUp, “the core idea of primal leadership is the significance of emotionally intelligent leadership.”
According to Intelligent, this book made “emotional intelligence a part of the business vocabulary and practice” and is a must-read for aspiring executives. This book specifically highlights the value of empathy and self-awareness in leaders.
Prominent for the previously mentioned emotional intelligence principles, the book is a “must-read for anyone that leads or aspires to lead,” according to Summary.
According to Intelligent, “Primal Leadership” is a commonly utilised required reading for professional training programs, business and medical schools, and universities.
Primal Leadership” by Daniel Goleman is a groundbreaking book that explores the concept of emotional intelligence in the workplace. The book highlights the importance of self-awareness, self-regulation, and motivation in leadership, emphasizing that leaders need to be aware of their own emotions and behaviors to effectively lead others. Goleman argues that “primal” leaders are those who tap into their own emotions and intuition to make better decisions, thereby fostering a positive and productive work environment. The book offers practical strategies for leaders to develop their emotional intelligence and achieve greater success.
Good to Great,” which was first published in 2001, examines the particular characteristics that enabled some businesses to advance from “good to great.” With over four million copies sold, the best-selling book examines eleven “great” corporations and their competitors who did not achieve the same level of success.
Good to Great” by Jim Collins is a renowned business book that explores the characteristics of companies that made the leap from mediocrity to sustained success. Collins and his team analyzed 28 companies that demonstrated significant performance improvements, comparing them to 11 companies that did not. The book identifies key factors that contributed to the rise of the top-performing companies, such as having the right people in the right seats, creating a culture of discipline, and setting realistic goals. By applying these principles, organizations can increase their chances of achieving success and achieving lasting results.
According to the Harvard corporate Review, “Jim Collins introduced new rigor to the evaluation of business leadership in his instant classic Good to Great.” This is highly recommended reading.
Collins conducted a five-year study for this book, and the results are comprehensive enough to help leaders become exceptional. Collins “examined tens of thousands of publicans and interview transcripts” to write this book, according to Lifehack.
