If you’re looking to elevate your leadership skills, there’s no better place to start than by diving into some of the most insightful and powerful books on leadership. With countless options out there, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. That’s why we’ve narrowed down a list of must-read leadership books that offer practical advice, strategic insights, and transformative lessons to help you lead with confidence and impact.
Why Every Leader Needs These Books
A good leader knows that learning never stops. Each of these must-read leadership books brings something unique to the table, whether it’s enhancing emotional intelligence, learning how to foster innovation, or mastering the art of influence. Adding these books to your personal library is like building a toolkit that will support you through various leadership challenges.
1. Atomic Habits by James Clear
This book is a total game-changer for anyone looking to build better habits and ditch the bad ones.
Most of us know what we should be doing, but the challenge is often execution to make it happen. James promotes starting with a habit that can be done in under 2 minutes.
I personally love the emphasis on small habits and incremental improvements that can add up to significant progress over time. James Clear also highlights how to lean into your desired identity to create habits that stick. For example, I want to my identity to be that I play a high performance game, so how do I build habits that every time I complete them it's a vote for my desired identity.
Add this to your list people!
2. Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne
If you're tired of fighting tooth and nail in crowded markets, then you need to read this book.
It teaches you how to identify and create "blue oceans" of uncontested market space, where you can capture new demand and create value without having to compete on price.
You'll also learn how to break free from the "red ocean" of cut-throat competition and create a new market space that is uniquely tailored to your strengths and values.
Trust me, this is a book you NEED to read!
3. Effortless by Greg McKeown
If you're feeling overwhelmed and stressed out, even when doing things you love, then this book is an eye-opener!
It highlights how to simplify your life and work by identifying your highest leverage activities, delegating or eliminating everything else, and harnessing the power of "flow" to achieve effortless productivity.
Questions from this book I loved were:
Is there an easier way?
What is my done for the day list
What is the first obvious action (to put an idea into motion)
He also talks to creating an upper limit to avoid burnout (ie I will not work past 9pm), and encourages do not do more today than we can completely recover from.
Overcoming burnout?! YES PLEASE!
4. The Ultimate Sales Machine by Chet Holmes
Ok people, run don’t walk for this one! It’s the ultimate blueprint for mastering the art of sales and achieving sustainable success in any industry.
You'll learn how to create a sales process that works, how to identify and target your ideal customers and build a high-performing sales team. You'll also unpack how to leverage the power of technology and automation to streamline your sales process and achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness.
My favourite concept from this book is the Dream100, as a structured and focused way to win net new clients with continuous touch points. The Dream100 are the 20% of clients who have 80% of the spend in the market.
5. The Power of Moments by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
Do you want to create unforgettable experiences for yourself, your team, or your customers? Say hello to... “The Power of Moments!”
This book offers a fresh perspective on creating moments that matter and provides practical tools and strategies for doing so.
You'll learn how to create memorable experiences by leveraging four key elements: elevation, insight, pride, and connection.
You'll also discover how to design peak moments that leave a lasting impression, and how to turn everyday moments into extraordinary ones.
This one is good on both a personal and professional front.
Ready to Expand Your Leadership Skills?
These must-read leadership books provide the tools you need to grow as a leader and navigate the complexities of today’s business landscape. To gain even more insights on leadership, tune in to our podcast where we discuss actionable strategies and key takeaways from today’s top thought leaders. Listen to our latest episode here!