As a known reader, I am often asked “what leadership books would you recommend for those wanting to enter leadership?” I have my favourites, however, when recommending books for aspiring Assistant Principals, I try to ensure that the books build an awareness of the role of leadership and the expectations placed on the Senior Leadership Team. As such, my choices reflect my personal experience and would not be favoured by everyone.
Regardless, here are the top 10 reads as selected by, yours truly:
- The Leadership Challenge by James M. Kousez and Barry Z. Posner (This book is favored by The Academy of International School Heads, and is cited on their website).
- Multipliers: How The Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter by Liz Wiseman ( A great read about growing talent and growing leaders- a must for anyone who has experienced the challenge of leaving Middle Leadership).
- Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting Out of The Box by The Arbinger Institute (A classic leadership fable- makes you think though!).
- Ego Is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday (Because every leader should remember, it isn’t about them).
- The Advantage: Why Organizational Health Trumps Everything Else in Business by Patrick Lencioni.
- Meditations by Marcus Aurelius (Keeps you on the straight an narrow).
- Radical Candor by Kim Scott.
- The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership by Jim Dethner et al (This may be my personal favorite).
- Creativity Inc. by Ed Catmull (The Pixar Story- a great read and very enlightening).
- The Culture Solution by Matthew Kelly (You can never read enough about building culture).
A short, but sweet post, with some interesting reads. I only recommend books I have read myself, and I learned a lot from each of these. I hope that you do too.
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