As business owners, it’s crucial to understand the trends that affect your industry and your company. Each day, you consume an incredible amount of data, statistics, and research. However, it’s also important to prune your professional growth by reading books on leadership. Because how can you manage the success of a company, if you don’t take the time to be a successful business owner?
Here are 6 of our favorite books that will help you become the well-rounded, well-respected leader you were always meant to be!
Lead with a Story: A Guide to Crafting Business Narratives That Captivate, Convince, and Inspire by Paul Smith
Storytelling is one of the most powerful business tools out there. From establishing company culture to fostering collaboration, the art of storytelling will allow you to think outside of the box and go in directions you never thought possible.
Lead with a Story provides the framework you need to use storytelling as a leadership tool. It doesn’t matter if you are giving a speech in front of thousands of peers or speaking one-on-one to a potential client, your ability to tell stories is the key to setting your business apart from competitors. Complete with examples from Nike, Procter & Gamble, and more, you’ll learn how to master the art of storytelling and use it as a smart marketing technique.
Steal the Show by Michael Port
Master your own moments in the spotlight. In Steal the Show, you’ll learn how to produce clearly focused presentations, engage your listeners, shake off the nerves, and take ownership of the stage. Written by New York Times best-selling author, top-rated corporate speaker, and former professional actor Michael Port, this is the best resource to help you brush up on your public speaking skills and deliver an impactful message every single time you walk up to the podium.
Our Iceberg is Melting by John Kotter and Holger Rathgeber
During stressful situations and uncertainty, how do you react under the pressure? Our Iceberg is Melting is about embracing the difficult circumstances and learning how to thrive during tough times.
Based on John Kotter’s compelling research into the eight steps that can produce change in any sort of group, Our Iceberg is Melting will help you positively influence your team and make the right decisions no matter the seasons of change your company is experiencing.
Shoe Dog by Phil Knight
A memoir by Nike Co-Founder Phil Knight, Shoe Dog has enlightened countless business owners on what perseverance and imagination can have on the success of a company.
With the Nike slogan “Just Do It” as a true ode to Knight’s life, in this book, you’ll discover the story behind the company's inception, as well as the triumphs and setbacks he faced to build a shoe-empire and one of the most successful companies out there.
Girl, Stop Apologizing
In Girl, Stop Apologizing, you’ll learn how to embrace who you are and go after what you want, without apologizing for it. It’s challenging for women to talk about their dreams and not feel like they are bragging when doing so. Written by New York Times best-selling author and the girl boss of a multi-million dollar media company Rachel Hollis, this impactful guide will teach you the behaviors to adopt, excuses to kick out the door, and the skills necessary to pursue your passion wholeheartedly, without saying “I’m sorry” for going after it.
Humble Leadership by Edgar H. Schein and Peter Schein
Did you know the most successful leaders are those who practice vulnerability and empathy? Humble Leadership is the perfect example of why leaders must become more open and personal to ensure trust and communication among their team. Without these qualities, an organization’s productivity can become stalled and the quality can suffer.
Authors Edgar Schein and Peter Schein write about a new innovative approach to leadership that coincides with building relationships, establishing open communication, and collaboration. In Humble Leadership, you’ll learn about what it takes to create an environment that is fueled on creativity and adaptiveness, ultimately allowing your company to thrive.
And there you have it – six books on leadership that will help you become your best professional self. Because as the saying goes, “only those who read, are able to lead.”