8 Leadership Books To Check Out This Summer

Whether you’ve recently stepped into a leadership position or are looking to master the art of running a successful business, these eight books share the skills necessary to become a more effective leader.

1. Thinking in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don't Have All the Facts

by Annie Duke

Annie Duke, professional poker champion turned business consultant, teaches readers how to get comfortable with uncertainty and make better decisions based on assessing what you know. This book provides guidance on mitigating biases related to business decision making while taking behavioral psychology and cognitive science into account.

2. Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don't

by Jim Collins

How can you take your company from good to great? Jim Collins, renowned author of Built to Last, thoroughly examines 11 good-to-great companies and 11 comparison companies in this book. The commonalities that attribute to great companies: Disciplined people, thought, and action.

3. Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don't

by Simon Sinek

Some teams go above and beyond for each other while some companies fail to do so. That is the phenomenon that Simon Sinek dives into by sharing true stories that range from the military to big business to government to investment banking. For leaders looking to build a team-first work culture, this is a must read.

4. Principles: Life and Work

by Ray Dalio

What’s the formula for personal and business success? Ray Dalio, one of the most influential people in the world, describes it as “an idea meritocracy that strives to achieve meaningful work and meaningful relationships through radical transparency.” Learn practical and applicable advice from an exceptional leader in this valuable read.

5. The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do In Life and Business

by Charles Duhigg

Good or bad, everyone has habits that shape how they live and work. In this fascinating read, Charles Duhigg, a reporter for The New York Times, dives into the cognitive world and examines why we create the habits we do, and more importantly, how we can evolve for the better. This book is not just for leaders, the practical advice shared is helpful to anyone looking to create or change habits in both their personal and professional lives.

6. Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity

by Kim Scott

To truly be a great leader, you have to really listen to your employees. Kim Scott, former executive at Google and Apple, provides leaders with a proven framework for effective management: Radical Candor. Scott shares actionable advice on the importance of creating a workplace that is open for feedback, how to build a collaborative team, and achieve business results – while still keeping employees happy.

7. Turn the Ship Around! A True Story of Turning Followers into Leaders

by L. David Marquet

Inspired by a true story, Marquet chronicles his time as the captain of the USS Santa Fe and how he abandoned the traditional leader-follower model in favor of a leader-leader approach. By empowering his crew to take initiative and make decisions, he transformed the Santa Fe into one of the best-performing submarines in the fleet. The book offers practical advice on fostering a culture of accountability, competence, and engagement, making it a valuable resource for leaders in any field.

8. Atomic Habits

by James Clear

Whether you're looking to drive personal growth or organizational growth, this book delves into the science of habits, and how small, consistent changes can lead to remarkable results over time. Get valuable insights on how to create a culture of continuous improvement, boost productivity, and achieve long-term goals. By understanding and leveraging the power of habits, leaders can inspire and motivate their teams to perform at their best.

One of the best things you can do to become a better leader is to learn from other leaders and business professionals who have experience and knowledge to share. If you’re looking for some perspective, inspiration, motivation, or advice on how to be a better leader for your company, your employees, and yourself, picking up one of the books mentioned above would be a great place to start!