Developing leadership skills is not an endeavour that happens overnight. It comes about through consistency, practice—even failure at times—and a steadfast determination to learn, grow and develop in one’s leadership career (also known as the growth mindset).
In addition to hands-on training courses and leadership skills workshops, coaching, mentoring, and practical application, one of the most effective mediums of gaining leadership skills is reading. Nothing quite beats the allure of excitedly thumbing through the pages of a well-worn book, a copy that just hit the shelves, or perhaps perusing on Kindle or listening on Audible.
Here are a few of the top picks to spruce up your digital (or physical) library:
1. The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies For Getting Up To Speed Faster And Smarter
You most likely would be familiar with the concept that the first 90 days of one’s career transition into a new role are the most pivotal, and what occurs during that time lays the foundation for career success or defeat. This is especially the case when transitioning up the ladder into your first (or new) leadership or management post. The pressure is on, and there is so much to learn in a short space of time.
Because of this, The First 90 Days by Michael Watkins makes for a very helpful read, as it offers guidance on how to successfully navigate your transition into a leadership role.
2. She Thinks Like A Boss: Leadership: 9 Essential Skills For New Female Leaders in Business and the Workplace
Being a leader demands courage in itself; but being in a leadership role—and being a woman—adds a whole new level of courage to face the compounded pressures of the role. Women are often seen as not deserving of being paid equally as their male counterparts in business, are overlooked for promotions due to bias and assumptions, and often must deal with having their work being credited to a man, or are forced to work under toxic male bosses who promote a misogynistic culture.
In light of this month being Women’s History Month, this book by Jemma Roedel makes for an excellent read for aspiring women leaders to succeed and be confident in a male-dominate corporate world.
3. Self-Leadership And The One Minute Manager
To lead others effectively, it’s important to look at the person in the mirror and be able to lead yourself. Ken Blanchard’s book on self-leadership teaches three core techniques that one needs to master and empower their own growth and self-development. Undoubtedly, embodying this attitude will create a positive stimulus of development and self-leadership in your employees as well.
4. The Strategist—Be The Leader Your Business Needs
The Harvard Business School academic and professor Cynthia Montgomery used this book to extrapolate the core principles of her executive course for seasoned leaders held at the university. You will be able to understand how to develop skills for strategy—fusing leadership and strategy together.
5. Mastering Leadership Skills For Managers: 7 Effective Strategies To Lead With Confidence, Communicate Clearly, And Create A Lasting Impact
If you’re a first-time manager, or relatively new in your leadership career, this is a great read for you. It equips you with an understanding of various fundamentals such as emotional intelligence, wellbeing, creating the right office culture, self-assessments, and even includes advice on tech platforms which you can leverage in your role.
Pick one of these books for your book of the month—or all of them, it’s entirely up to you. Continually commit to your own leadership, and as you do, your management and leadership skills will improve, making you a more capable and confident leader.