Our Favourite Leadership Reads

At Creative Coaching there is nothing we love more than absorbing ourselves in a good book. It's all part of the ongoing journey to support ourselves – and you – as great leaders.

From Good to Great – Jim Collins

An excellent read which outlines how long-term sustained performance can be engineered into the DNA of an organization from the very beginning. We are impressed by his definitions of a 'great' leader, particularly the emphasis on humility as a strength.

Primal Leadership: Unleashing the Power of Emotional Intelligence – Daniel Goleman, Richard Boyatzis, Annie McKee

This book first introduced us to the term 'emotional intelligence' and established it as a necessary attribute of successful leaders. Focusing on the four domains of emotional intelligence: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management - the authors explore what contributes to and detracts from what they call “resonant” leadership. An eye-opening read for new and established readers alike.

Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most – Bruce Patton, Douglas Stone, Sheila Heen

This is much more than a business book for leaders, it is a book for anyone who has ever had to have a difficult conversation – be that with your boss, team member, spouse or good friend. A practical read you can turn to time and time again, this book equips us with practical skills for handling those all important emotionally loaded conversations.

Why We Do What We Do – Edward Deci

A thought provoking read by psychologist Edward Deci who holds the view that supporting a person's autonomy is the best way to motivate them. Contrary to popular belief that a person feels motivated to perform under a promise of reward, Deci instead maintains that this particular belief actually works against performance. A must read if you've ever wondered why people do what they do.

Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action – Simon Sinek

In this book Sinek shares an incredibly simple yet powerful concept. He illustrates that the greatest leaders and most successful entrepreneurs all started with ‘why’ – they all got clear on their purpose and used this to drive their success. For an organisation, knowing your why makes decision making so much easier.

What are your favourite leadership reads? We'd love to hear from you. Share your thoughts in the comment box below!

Posted on Thu, June 05, 2014 in General Leadership
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