Leaders really are readers. If it is a
book, a Kindle book or an audiobook, the rewards of reading great books are
vast. These are a few of the books we
love and recommend. In most cases, we
have read these books many times (a few of them more than five times). Are there others? Yes, we will update the list periodically to let you know what we're reading and what is worth your time.
Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder
Ok,
this book may be one of our all-time favorites.
Reading it seems to raise your IQ by several points. It will challenge the way you see life from
every perspective imaginable. Do not
read it if you have a DO NOT DISTURB sign over your belief systems.
Conscious Capitalism, With a New Preface by the Authors: Liberating the Heroic Spirit of Business
This
book identified the new way of doing business.
It talks about how to thrive while meeting the needs of all
stakeholders. This book has spawned a
worldwide movement that is growing every day.
Firms of Endearment: How World-Class Companies Profit from Passion and Purpose (2nd Edition)
This
is a companion book to Conscious Capitalism.
It runs the numbers in a Good to Great way to show how conscious
businesses outperform their competitors by a factor of up to 10x.
Tribal Leadership: Leveraging Natural Groups to Build a Thriving Organization
Based
on a ten year study, you will learn about the five stages of culture and how to
nudge your team up to the next higher level (where performance
skyrockets).
The Start-up of You: Adapt to the Future, Invest in Yourself, and Transform Your Career
Co-written
by the founder of LinkedIn Reid Hoffman, you will learn how technology is
enabling us to connect in ways that were simply impossible a few years
ago.
The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are
Brene'
Brown's TED Talks are spectacular with millions of views. If
you resonate with them, and want to go deeper, her books are the place to
go.
The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Achieving More with Less
Most
people in business have heard of the 80/20 Principle. Most do not know how to apply it. This book is the source for how to do
that.
Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action
Simon
Sinek's TED Talk has millions of views.
This book goes into the details.
Many of the insights can be applied with your team and your clients to
discover your WHY.
Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose
This
is the story of Zappos who has one of the most famous corporate cultures on the
planet. The idea is not to be like
Zappos, but to get a glimpse of just how powerful culture can be in creating
greatness.
The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results
Great
book about reaching goals and focusing on what is most important. Checkout the 66-Day Challenge! That is how long it takes to install a new
habit.
Just Listen: Discover the Secret to Getting Through to Absolutely Anyone
Mark
Goulsten is a psychiatrist who brings some very interesting perspectives for
leaders and businesses. Find out where
the psychopaths reside (you may be shocked) and what to do about it.
How: Why How We Do Anything Means Everything
Dov
Seidman makes the case for the new way of doing business where values drive the
train instead of command and control models that do not work.
Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness
Epictetus
makes the list! Any book that has been
around this long is worth reading.
Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors
Michael
Porter makes the case for why it is important to be different instead of the
"best."
The Primal Blueprint: Reprogram your genes for effortless weight loss, vibrant health, and boundless energy (Primal Blueprint Series)
Mark
Sisson, in his 60's, is the living example of how the primal lifestyle can pay
off big time. He is a "fat burning
beast" who details the way we can all live a healthier and more satisfying
life.
The Tom Peters Seminar: Crazy Times Call For Crazy Organizations
This
is a classic book for businesses. It is
still fresh after all these years.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change
This
book never goes out of style. It is
essential reading for those who wish to stabilize all aspects of their personal
and business life.
How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci: Seven Steps to Genius Every Day
Michael
Gelb brings in the tools and exercises to expand the creative capacity for all
those willing to devote the time to practice them.
Do the Work: Overcome Resistance and Get Out of Your Own Way
Can't
seem to get started? It is the
resistance at work! Steven Pressfield
shows you how to overcome the inner blocks that keep you from doing your best
work.
Conscious Business: How to Build Value through Values
Another
book related to Conscious Capitalism.
Fred Koffman goes deep into the factors that contribute to creating
a thriving culture.
Leading Change, With a New Preface by the Author
Another
book by John P. Kotter. You will see why
change management is an oxymoron because by definition change requires
leadership not management.
A Sense of Urgency
Many
organizations become complacent and unwilling to change. Without a sense of urgency, nothing new will
happen. That is, until it is too late.
The Pursuit of Wow! Every Person's Guide to Topsy-Turvy Times
We
read this book when it first came out in the 90's and the message is even more
relevant now. Unless your customers are
saying Wow, there may be a problem.
Six Thinking Hats
Great
way to open up thinking in groups or individually. Each hat represents a different way of
talking about a problem. Note: we added
a seventh hat to the process, the purple hat, which considers things from a
spiritual perspective.
The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself
This
book is about spirituality. It asks some
deep questions like, "What are you doing with your life? Trying to manipulate the world because you
can’t handle your heart?" This
might well be the one book we would take if stranded on a deserted island or "on a ball in outer space spinning around in the middle of nowhere."
The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book)
A short easy read with a profound message. Always do your best!
Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder
Conscious Capitalism, With a New Preface by the Authors: Liberating the Heroic Spirit of Business
Firms of Endearment: How World-Class Companies Profit from Passion and Purpose (2nd Edition)
Tribal Leadership: Leveraging Natural Groups to Build a Thriving Organization
The Start-up of You: Adapt to the Future, Invest in Yourself, and Transform Your Career
The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are
The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Achieving More with Less
Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action
Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose
The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results
Just Listen: Discover the Secret to Getting Through to Absolutely Anyone
How: Why How We Do Anything Means Everything
Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness
Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors
The Primal Blueprint: Reprogram your genes for effortless weight loss, vibrant health, and boundless energy (Primal Blueprint Series)
The Tom Peters Seminar: Crazy Times Call For Crazy Organizations
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change
How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci: Seven Steps to Genius Every Day
Do the Work: Overcome Resistance and Get Out of Your Own Way
Conscious Business: How to Build Value through Values
Leading Change, With a New Preface by the Author
A Sense of Urgency
The Pursuit of Wow! Every Person's Guide to Topsy-Turvy Times
Six Thinking Hats
The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself
The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book)