16 leadership books and resources we believe are invaluable
Unlock the secrets to exceptional leadership with insights from top experts. This article covers a range of critical topics, from building team trust to mastering tactical empathy. Discover invaluable resources that can transform leadership skills and drive sustainable growth.
- Embrace Radical Candor
- Master Tactical Empathy
- Implement The EOS System
- Balance Dedication With Life
- Build Team Trust
- Lead With Vulnerability
- Ask Better Questions
- Prioritize Team Well-Being
- Focus On Sustainable Growth
- Build Strong Relationships
- Understand Money Psychology
- Develop and Increase Grit
- Adapt to Personalities
- Address Team Challenges
- Embrace Emotional Intelligence
- Take Extreme Ownership
Embrace Radical Candor
As a leader, I've found that fostering a culture of open communication and transparency is crucial for driving success. One valuable resource that has shaped my approach to leadership is the concept of "Radical Candor." By embracing this mindset, I've been able to create an environment where my team feels empowered to share their thoughts and ideas without fear of judgment.
In practice, this means actively seeking feedback and being receptive to constructive criticism. I recall a particularly memorable instance where a team member pointed out a flaw in our project plan, which ultimately led to a significant improvement in our overall strategy. By encouraging candor and creating a safe space for discussion, I've been able to tap into the collective wisdom of my team and drive better outcomes. My advice to fellow leaders is to prioritize building trust and fostering open communication - it's a game-changer for driving innovation and growth.
Master Tactical Empathy
I swear by 'Never Split the Difference' by Chris Voss, which completely changed how I negotiate real estate deals. Just last month, I used his mirroring technique during a tough investment property negotiation, simply repeating the seller's last few words, which led them to open up about their real concerns. The tactical empathy approach from this book has helped me close more deals while making sellers feel genuinely understood and respected.
Implement The EOS System
I've found 'Traction' by Gino Wickman to be absolutely game-changing for scaling my land buying business across all 50 states. The EOS system helped me break down our complex operations into manageable chunks, and I actually used it to create our first standardized land evaluation process that my team still uses today. What really made this book stand out was how it helped me set up clear accountability structures - something that became crucial when managing remote teams buying land in different states.
Balance Dedication With Life
Phil Knight's 'Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike Knight' has inspired me since the foundation of my digital marketing agency. I resonated with Phil's struggle to build a successful business like Nike while working part-time. His journey taught me to balance professional obligations and personal life efficiently without letting my ambitions fade.
I started my organization while working as a business development manager at a real estate company. What I appreciated most about Phil's philosophy was his belief that a successful business requires complete dedication and, at times, additional resources to achieve success.
From hiring dedicated people to making tough business decisions, Phil's memoir served as a strategic guide throughout my journey. He taught me to learn from failures and move forward with valuable lessons. In the end, the true measure of hard work is the success of your business.
Build Team Trust
With my experience managing GSA Focus, I found 'The Five Dysfunctions of a Team' completely changed how I approach team dynamics and communication. When I implemented the book's trust-building exercises with my contract management team, we saw a 40% improvement in project completion rates and much better collaboration during our weekly huddles.
Lead With Vulnerability
In my consulting work, I've seen countless leadership books, but 'Dare to Lead' by Brené Brown has been transformative in helping my clients build authentic connections and vulnerability in their leadership roles. Just last month, I used her BRAVING framework with a struggling executive team, and it completely shifted their approach to trust-building and difficult conversations.
Ask Better Questions
The mom test, although more of a sales book, has been incredibly valuable. Why? Because it teaches you how to ask better questions, and communicate better. For example, in the mom test it teaches you how to ask questions that get better answers like, "What else have you tried?" or "Talk me through the last time that happened?" and "What are the implications of that?" If you're asking better questions, you're going to get better answers, which means more information that helps you solve problems and take the right approach. While this can be applied to sales, it's an absolute game changer for managing teams, or communicating with other shareholders, and even current customers. Leadership is in part exemplary, but it also requires knowledge and understanding of those who you lead. In order to lead people well, you need to know what their struggles are, what their strengths are, and what areas to guide them. Would definitely recommend 'The Mom Test' to anyone who's looking to improve their leadership and communication skills.
Prioritize Team Well-Being
One standout for me is "Leaders Eat Last" by Simon Sinek. This book digs into the importance of creating a workplace where trust and collaboration thrive. Sinek explores how leaders who prioritize the well-being of their teams foster loyalty, innovation, and resilience, even in tough times.
It resonated because, at Write Right, I've seen firsthand how putting the team first—whether through open communication, support, or shared values—strengthens our culture and drives better results. It's a powerful reminder that true leadership is about empowering others.
Focus On Sustainable Growth
I found 'Start Small, Stay Small' by Robin Roberts incredibly valuable when I was scaling my house-flipping business from just a few deals to over 100 properties. The book taught me to focus on sustainable growth through technology and systems, which helped me build Harmony Home Buyers without getting overwhelmed by trying to do everything at once.
Build Strong Relationships
One resource I've found invaluable is How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. This classic book highlights fundamental principles of building strong relationships and fostering trust-key components of effective leadership. Carnegie's emphasis on listening, showing genuine appreciation, and understanding others' perspectives has transformed the way I communicate with my team. Applying these principles has helped me create a more collaborative and open environment, where people feel heard and valued. It's a timeless guide for leaders seeking to connect meaningfully with others and inspire true engagement.
Understand Money Psychology
I've found 'The Psychology of Money' by Morgan Housel incredibly valuable in shaping both my leadership style and our content strategy at TheStockDork.com. The book taught me that success isn't just about numbers, but about understanding how people think about money - this insight helped me grow our readership from 10,000 to 100,000 monthly visitors by creating more relatable content.
Develop and Increase Grit
Grit, by Angela Duckworth.
Dr. Duckworth shares that grit is made up of passion and perseverance. People who succeed aren't necessarily special or have more talent. They have more grit. And those people are who I want on my team.
Grit is Passion (knowing what you want and why) + Perseverance (knowing obstacles you will face and pushing through).
Talent won't get you all the way to your goal; you can be talented sitting on your sofa. Effort is twice as important as skill or talent. When interviewing and hiring I've met a lot of talented lawyers and legal professionals. Top of their class, law review, multiple competition winners. If they aren't willing to put in the work they won't thrive. My favorite person to hire is not the highest score on the bar exam, it's the person that wants to succeed, has a work ethic, and is a lifelong learner. I can teach almost anyone the area they need to excel in, but they have to make the effort to learn, practice, repeat.
And based on Dr. Duckworth's findings, you can develop and increase GRIT.
First, find what you're passionate about. Go one layer deeper, what do you enjoy doing and don't feel it's a chore?
Second, what can you see yourself practicing for a LONG time? The Gladwell 10,000 hour rule comes to mind.
Next, what gives you purpose? You can like something, and you can do it a lot, but does it fulfill you?
Finally, what gives you hope? I've seen something similar to this written in gyms and fitness centers -- "remember why you started."
Adapt to Personalities
As an e-commerce business owner, the one leadership book I keep returning to is The One Minute Manager. This classic has been invaluable in shaping how I manage and interact with my team.
What sets this book apart is its practical approach to handling different personalities effectively. The strategies outlined in The One Minute Manager focus on clear, concise communication—a skill essential for understanding and addressing the unique motivations and working styles of each team member. By incorporating the book's principles, such as one-minute goal setting, one-minute praising, and one-minute reprimands, I've been able to adapt my leadership approach to fit various personalities within the team, fostering both productivity and morale.
This adaptable and people-focused management style has significantly improved team cohesion and performance, making The One Minute Manager a resource I rely on time and again to navigate the complexities of team leadership.
Address Team Challenges
One of the best books I've read is "The Five Dysfunctions of a Team" by Patrick Lencioni. It breaks down common team challenges, like lack of trust and accountability, and offers strategies to overcome them. I've used Lencioni's framework to address communication gaps and improve collaboration in my team. This resource is essential for any leader aiming to create a united and productive team setting.
Embrace Emotional Intelligence
One leadership resource I've found invaluable is "Primal Leadership" by Daniel Goleman, Richard Boyatzis, and Annie McKee. This book emphasizes the power of emotional intelligence in leadership, which I've applied in my education company to foster an inclusive culture for international students adjusting to studying abroad. By understanding and managing emotions within my team, we've created a supportive environment that improves both employee satisfaction and student outcomes.
In my experience running Versed Entrepreneur, the book's focus on resonant leadership has been transformative. By aligning my leadership style with team values and needs, we've seen increased productivity and innovation. This approach helped us successfully launch a Leadership Development Program where senior leaders actively participated, demonstrating commitment and inspiring engagement.
For those looking to mimic this success, start by paying attention to your team's emotional cues and actively listening to their concerns. This can help in adapting your leadership style to better suit their needs, ultimately leading to a more cohesive and motivated team environment.
Take Extreme Ownership
One book that's really resonated with me is Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin. It dives into the idea that taking complete responsibility—not just for your own actions but for everything that happens under your leadership—makes a significant difference in both outcomes and team morale. The book's approach to accountability has had a big impact on how I manage cases and interact with my team. Embracing ownership at every level has strengthened our results and helped us build trust with clients.
