Top 5 Leadership Books Everyone Should Read
The must-read books for anyone leading teams or organizations. Listen to a preview of each book, powered by Dialogue.
#1
The 7 habits of highly effective people
by Stephen Covey
Key Insights
- Stop looking for shortcuts or 'hacks' to manage your relationships. If your private character is flawed, your public success will eventually crumble.
- We assume we see the world as it is, but we actually see the world as we are. To change your life, you must first change your perspective.
- You cannot have successful relationships (interdependence) if you are still blaming others for your problems (dependence). You must master yourself before you can master working with others.
#2
Emotional Intelligence
by Daniel Goleman
Key Insights
- Understand that you are not a purely logical being. Your emotional reactions are a separate, valid system of processing information that operates independently of your logic.
- Realize that your emotions are biological imperatives designed for survival, not necessarily for modern social etiquette.
- Explosive outbursts happen because your brain has a 'shortcut' that bypasses logic during perceived emergencies. This is why smart people can do incredibly stupid things when angry.
#3
The Art of Quiet Influence
by Jocelyn Davis
Key Insights
- The key lesson is that relying on formal authority or forceful tactics is a limited and often ineffective way to lead. Many people mistakenly believe that a title automatically grants them the power to get things done, but true and lasting influence is independent of hierarchy.
- The mistake is viewing influence as a zero-sum game where one person's success necessitates another's failure. The new understanding is that influence is a creative process of working together to find solutions that are better than what any one individual could have come up with alone.
- The common pitfall is to view relationships as a means to an end, something to be leveraged for personal gain. The more effective mindset is to see strong, trusting relationships as the end in themselves, from which influence naturally flows.
#4
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
by Patrick Lencioni
Key Insights
- Talent and resources are not enough to guarantee success; team dynamics are the true competitive advantage.
- A leader must prioritize organizational health over technical strategy, especially during a turnaround.
- Boring meetings are a red flag; they usually indicate that the most important, difficult issues are being avoided to keep the peace.
#5
Start with Why
by Simon Sinek
Key Insights
- Recognize that if you have to bribe or scare people to buy from you, you are manipulating them, not leading them.
- Understand that price and novelty are features, not a purpose. Relying on them creates a transaction, not a relationship.
- Realize that loyal customers are willing to pay a premium and suffer inconvenience; manipulated customers leave the moment they find a better deal.
