Below are my top ten books that I recommend in the field of leadership and management.They are a mix of practical tools as well as insights behind great leadership. All of them have greatly helped me personally.
Let me know if you have any questions on them. What are your favourite books on the topic? I’d love to hear from you.
Marcus Buckingham – Now, discover your strengths
Buckingham’s book comes with the possibility to do the strengths finder test. Very powerful and one of the most influential books for the “strenghts” movement. As Paul Rulkes mentioned in his TEDx talk: “If you only focus on your weaknesses you will end up having very strong weaknesses”. This book will show you how to find & develop your strengths.
Marshall Goldsmith – Mojo
Marshall Goldsmith is a key authority in the field of Business Coaching. In this book, he describes how you can get and keep your “Mojo”, i.e. energy and drive at work and life. Very practical, with plenty of examples and cases as well as self assessments, this books takes you on a journey.
Richard Templar – The Rules of Work
A very practical book with selected tools. Easy to read in bite sized one-page tips. From the “Rules of …” series.
Jack Canfield – The Success Principles
Jack Canfield is the best-selling co-author of the mega bestseller Chicken Soup for the Soul series. In this highly practical book Jack shows 60+ practical strategies for success, starting with “personal vision” and ending with practical ideas for finance and more.
Peter Drucker – Managing Oneself
Peter Drucker is one of the most influential management writers of the 20st Century. In this book he has layed out strategies for self management of knowledge workers. A must read.
Stephen Covey – The seven habits of highly effective people
The leadership classic and one of the books with the most misleading titles ever written. If you don’t know this book you might assume this is a productivity book. Far from it. Steven Covey has distilled 7 habits that we all can integrate into our lifes, in order to lead others and ourselves. This book has changed the lives of many people, including my own.
John Maxwell – How Successful People Think
John Maxwel is a prolific writer and speaker in the field of management, leadership and success. in 2012 Toastmasters International bestowed on him the “Golden Gavel Award”, the Oscar of Public Speaking. In this book, Maxwell shows in his usual practical manner key principles on the thinking behind success.
David Allen – Getting Things Done
Allen’s GTD framework is probably one of the most used productivity and e-mail management systems out there. The first 30 pages including the visuals are worth the price alone. The concept and process behind the “Inbox Zero” movement.
Jim Loehr & Tony Schwartz – The Power of Full Engagement
Jim and Tony have coached top athletes like tennis star Monica Seles. They have brought their thinking to the corporate world and have created a framework that has become known as the “Corporate Athlete Way”. They basically look at four levels: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual and recommend that we have a constant osciallation of stress & relaxation across all four areas. It basically shows that energy and not time should be managed.
Ken Robinson – The Element. How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything
Sir Ken Robinson’s TED talk is one of the most watched talks on TED and the Internet in general. In this book, he goes in depth into what he believes is the core for personal success and happiness. The “Element” is the zone where natural aptitude and personal interest in an activity meet. This is the root for passion and has been the driving force for the success of many individuals. In this book, Robinson explores the concept via countless stories and research.
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