Leadership Books That Have Influenced Me Greatly [Part 1]

I've never had the privilege of sitting down, face-to-face, with people like Warren Bennis, John Maxwell, James Kouzes & Barry Posner, Donald T. Phillips, etc. But I have learned from them and others like them through the many books they have written.

Glancing around the shelves of my personal library, I have at least 100 books that focus on the subject of leadership in one way or another. Of course, some are better than others. The combined knowledge of all of them has given me some handles on what it means to be a leader and how to lead.

Students will often come into my office and look at the shelves of books I have. They ask me if I've read them all (to which I reply, "Mostly!"). Then they ask me what I would recommend to them, to help them develop and grow in their own leadership.

I love it when they ask me that.

I've compiled a list of the top ten leadership books that have had the greatest influence in my own learning and growth. These books have proven to be practical resources that I've returned to time and again. I will offer the first five (they're not in any order) in this post and then follow-up with another post to share the rest.

The Leadership Challenge
By James Kouzes and Barry Posner

This book is already in it's third edition. It is quickly becoming a leadership classic and one of the first books that I pull off my shelf when students ask me what they should be reading.

The authors offer Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership. They are:

• Model the Way
• Inspire a Shared Vision
• Challenge the Process
• Enable Others to Act
• Encourage the Heart

Based on extensive research and survey questionnaires, this book is loaded with stories, examples, and tangible/practical application on the topic of leadership. There are numerous companion pieces that have come from this book, even resources specifically aimed at student leaders. But start here first.

The Founding Fathers On Leadership
By Donald T. Phillips

Phillips is perhaps my favorite author when it comes to deriving leadership principles from real life, famous figures in history. I thoroughly enjoy reading through the historical accounts with a leadership lens. This book follows many of the important decisions and turmoil of those who were at the helm of launching a new nation.

The book has a way of keeping you on the edge of your seat as you relive these historical moments through the eyes of people like Washington, Paine, Jefferson, Madison, and Franklin. In his Introduction, Phillips writes,

Clearly, the American people needed leadership. But new leaders would have to rise from with their own ranks - which is exactly what happened. As a matter of fact, history regards the crisis of the American Revolution as having produced some of the greatest captains of true leadership that civilization has ever known.

This book is an inspirational kick in your leadership pants.

Developing The Leader Within You
By John C. Maxwell

There are too many Maxwell books to mention in this list, so I chose the one that has stuck with me the longest. This book is written in classic Maxwell style, with plenty of solid outlines and practical steps to enhance your leadership abilities.

The chapters deal with such leadership topics as Influence, Priorities, Integrity, Creating Positive Change, Problem-Solving, Attitude, People, Vision, Self-Discipline, and Staff Development.

Each chapter is full of motivating quotes and real life examples. Maxwell does a tremendous job of taking difficult leadership principles and putting them "on the lower shelf" so that everyone can understand them. Leadership can be learned. Maxwell understands that and is one of our best teachers in this area.

Leadership Is An Art
By Max DePree

This is the first leadership book that I ever read. It's pages are tattered and torn. I would never part with it. DePree captures the heart of what leadership is. He uses words like covenant, tribal storytelling, intimacy, and roving leadership. He writes from the perspective of his leadership role with Herman Miller, Inc (a furniture manufacturer)

The book is easy to read, with short pages and double-spaced text. It leaves a lot of space for the reader to think about and reflect on what they are learning from DePree. In the final paragraph in the book, DePree shares,

Leadership is much more an art, a belief, a condition of the heart, then a set of things to do. The visible signs of artful leadership are expressed, ultimately, in its practice.

As you read this book, you feel like you're sitting across from DePree in a coffee shop and listening to him reflect on his experiences in leading his dynamic company. It is an experience that I highly recommend to you.

Leadership On The Line
By Ronald A Heifetz & Marty Linsky

Leadership is most often needed during times of crisis. Both Heifetz and Linsky have written a tremendous book that should serve as the leadership crisis manual. These principles and strategies have come to mind numerous times when I've faced my own difficult circumstances and been called on to lead.

This book is very honest. When a leader steps up to initiate or guide people through the process of change, there is very real pain. And when people feel pain, they want to blame the leader. These authors help leaders by explaining how to:

• Keep your perspective and see the big picture while dealing with the day to day stuff.
• Knowing how to handle both opposition and allies in the midst of crisis.
• Handling stress in a way that you can draw strength rather than sap your strength.
• Helping others to acknowledge their own responsibilities in the midst of change.
• Developing perseverance, tenacity, and focus as you weather the storm.

This is a book that helped me define my terms as a leader. I gained a greater understanding of the difference between authority and leadership. It helped me to dive deeper into the psyche of those who would follow me and allowed me to have a greater empathy for their perspective and experiences.

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Is there a book that has inspired you in your leadership development and growth? Why not add it to the comments below. I have five more books that I will be sharing with you in an upcoming email (Part Two!).

If you've been looking for a good leadership book, then I encourage you to click on one of the links above and invest in your own leadership learning. I highly recommend it!

Comments

[Billy Smith]

I really enjoyed Max Depree's books, but one of two of my favorites are "Servant Leader" by Ken Blanchard and "Five Temptations" by Patrick Lenccioni

[tim]

Phil...

Those are great books. You and I have similar interests in our reading. I have read all of those except for Love Is The Killer App. I will take your recommendation and pick that book up (maybe as an Audio CD!).

Thanks for including your choices in the comments. I'll be posting my second five this next week.

[Phil Gerbyshak]

I love the Maxwell selection and the Max Depree book. I've read both, and both have changed my thinking as well. Believe it or not, Seth Godin's book Purple Cow book helped me change my thinking about how to be more remarkable as a team (don't settle for good, aim for great, my life's mantra).

Buckingham's Now Discover Your Strengths changed the way I look at the people on my team.

Rosa Say's Managing with Aloha has helped remind me of the power of caring and taking 5 good minutes for each person every day (though I'm not always successful at touching every associate).

And Love is the Killer App is my absolute FAVORITE management book, because it reminded me to share my love, my network, and my knowledge, with my team and others I come in contact with.