Does your 2019 resolution involve reading more? If one of your career aspirations is to be a better leader and manager, it should be! It’s the opportunity to align your goals to set an intention for the rest of the year.
Not only can reading improve insight and communication skills, but reading can also make you a more effective leader.
It doesn’t matter if you’re leading a two-person team or a hundred, great leadership starts with self-improvement. Here’s a list of titles to put on your reading list for 2019.
Dare to Lead – Brenè Brown
Brown defines a leader as one who “takes responsibility for finding the potential in people and processes and has the courage to develop that potential.”
If you’re not familiar with Brown’s work, her TED talk on vulnerability is a great introduction — it’s one of the top 3 most viewed TED talks!
Dare to Lead is her latest New York Times bestseller, rooted in her research on self-awareness and embracing once’s vulnerability to better communicate with people around you.
Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win – Jocko Willink and Leif Babin
This book really harps the saying, “you’re only as good as the people you surround yourself with.”
Willink was a U.S Navy SEAL leader who expands on the lessons he’s learned in combat for survival are just as relevant to leaders in any role with a huge emphasis on teamwork.
This book is about getting over excuses and owning up to setbacks and failures to effectively lead a team.
You Are a Badass®: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living – Jen Sincero
This is about living your best life, no matter what you do. It’s a call-to-action for self-actualisation, to be fearless in your calling.
Of course, being a Badass is easier said than done. Sincero teaches you how to bring confidence into what you do so that you can pursue your passions fearlessly.
Radical Candor – Kim Scott
For Scott, a successful leader has these qualities: they’re upfront and empathetic. She emphasises that you shouldn’t be afraid to hurt someone’s feelings if it’s the truth and more importantly, it’s in the interest of helping that person’s growth.
The Culture Code – Daniel Coyle
The Culture Code brings a fresh perspective to a topic that’s often overcomplicated— how humans function in groups.
You don’t need tons of exercises, motivators, or annual team-building events. Coyle explains why our most basic psychological needs are all we need to address, and he does so with colourful examples from all walks of life.
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