Reading is often a great way to find inspiration & allow thinking space to reflect on One’s own leadership style and skills.
We do love the classics when it comes to learning about the different facets of leadership. However, to give you something a little out of the ordinary to support your thinking, we have collated a range of books that are not the usual suspects when it comes to leadership reading material.
We hope that the following recommendations might help you on this journey as you think about what leadership means for you.
Turn the Ship Around! – L. David Marquet
David Marquet shares his amazing story of how he transformed one of the worst performing submarines, the USS Sante Fe, into the best. He talks through his struggles with conventional leadership, which was ingrained in the Navy environment he was in, and how he implemented a different style of leadership: the leader-leader approach. He shares the key components needed to ensure success and turn the ship around.
Pig Wrestling – Pete Lindsay & Mark Bawden
‘I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it.” – George Bernard Shaw
A quick and easy read, this great book brings a different perspective to solving any problem. Written in a storytelling and conversational manner, it breaks down the steps and mindset you can take to approaching problem-solving, using the pig as a metaphor.
The Future Leader – Jacob Morgan
This awesome book focused on leadership capabilities. Jacob Morgan brings to life the mindsets needed as a leader, not only in the present, but also to be future-fit. He goes on to identify the critical skills needed to succeed as a leader. Based on the research conducted by interviewing over 140 CEOs and 14,000 employees, Morgan discussed how to become a future-ready leader. A must-read!
What got you here, won’t get you there. – Marshall Goldsmith
‘People who believe they can succeed see opportunities where others see threats’ – Marshall Goldsmith
Marshall Goldsmith beautifully illustrates a core concept throughout this book – that the same beliefs that contributed to our past successes can also hinder our future successes. He discusses four beliefs in particular that could hold you back. Goldsmith gives insight into the ineffective behaviours most common in leaders, and offers solutions enabling you to move forward. Self-awareness and the want to change are the starting points. Goldsmith gives a simple but effective approach to permanent change. A great book!
Stuck! Now what? – Jeff Weigh
A fantastic book for those who are feeling stuck on the hamster wheel and need some guidance in breaking out of the cycle. Jeff Weigh’s approach to challenging your thinking, and the exercises he gives you to do, really showcase how to change your mindset and make small adjustments that can make significant improvements. With a supplementary workbook available through the website, you can actively participate as though Jeff were coaching you in the room. Be ready to be honest with yourself if you want to get the best from this amazing book!
