Book Recommendations

Blog > Book Recommendations

I’m passionate about learning new things for a couple of different reasons:

1. Books and articles give me fresh, new ideas for doing something differently than what I had in mind; and

2. They give me the words to articulate how I instinctively do things already.  This is helping me develop a professional brand, giving me the words I need to tell others how I do things well.

So here are just a few of my favorite leadership books; with the exception of the first book, they are in no particular order.

• The Holy Bible: Honestly, if you read the Bible and apply it to your life, you will have no need for the rest of the list.  But doing so is difficult to do as it requires a tremendous amount of humility and a commitment to understanding the text both in the context in which it was written, and in how to apply it to your life practically.  So if you’re like me and struggling, keep reading the rest of the list.

• Crucial Conversations by Patterson et al.: This book is incredibly easy to read and startlingly practical.  A great read if you don't know where to start when needing to tell your colleague something difficult.  Patterson et al. break down the value of challenging conversations and the manner by which anyone can have a tough chat. Truly a foundational read in a culture where talking around a problem is the norm.  What does talking around a problem mean?  It might look like stating problems in team meetings when the problem is only with one employee, or stating that mistakes are "ours" instead of calling out the individual who made it.  It’s also a must read if you’re struggling to communicate with that bonehead you’re forced to work with.  As a matter of fact, you might discover they’re not such a bone head after all!  I’ve worked hard to apply the directions of this book into my life and find it works about 95% of the time.

• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni: Lencioni writes books that can easily be read in an evening so the time investment on this one is minimal.  I found this book to be foundational in creating a functional team.  Lencioni walks you through the steps necessary to create an honest and high functioning team.  There is also a measurement tool in this book; you can go all out and have your team do the test and graph the results for your next team meeting (like I did – word to the wise, don’t bother doing this if your turnover is high), or you can just start with some basic recommendations and work your way up through the dysfunctions.

What are some books that have influenced your leadership style?

Blog > Book Recommendations