I have been intrigued by the subject of leadership for a long time. Like most of us I’ve worked with leaders good, bad and mediocre, inspired by some and bored by others.
Early in my communication career I found myself drawn to exploring the nature of business and that led me to discover more about the leaders who so profoundly affect organizational life. I was an absolute sponge for the stuff. Looking back, I realize my early interest probably had more to do with wanting to change the leaders I worked for. How successful do you think I was at that? It took a while but I came to understand the inevitable: When it comes to leadership, I could only change myself. Hmmm. Back to square one.
So now that we’re at square one where to begin? There are numerous great books on leadership to be read and inspired by. Here are just a few of my favorites:
Michael Fullan, Leading in a Culture of Change
Daniel Goleman, Richard Boyatzis and Annie McKee, Primal Leadership: Realizing the Power of Emotional Intelligence
John P. Kotter on What Leaders Really Do
James Kouzes and Barry Posner, The Leadership Challenge
I have also learned from the writings of William Bridges, Margaret Wheatley, Peter Senge, Dave Ulrich and others whose perspectives have further enriched my understanding. One thing is certain. There are more books on leadership than there is time to read them. That’s why recommendations from others go a long way to making the best of our reading time.
What about you? What books on leadership are at the top of your list? What would you recommend to this community?
by Elise Roaf
