When the leaves begin to change and the weather starts to chill, nothing beats bundling up inside with a blanket and a great book (although, the abundance of seasonal baked treats and hot drinks certainly drive a hard bargain). If you find yourself in need of a good read this fall, here are five books about leadership that will keep you entertained and provide valuable insights, no matter where you are in your career:
As a former U.S. Assistant Comptroller General and Chief Operating Officer of the U.S. Government Accountability Office, Ira Goldstein is no doubt a qualified authority on leadership in the federal service. With a focus on topics ranging from empowering and motivating employees to taking control of emerging technologies to navigating the intersection of the contractor sphere, this playbook will help you take your leadership game to the next level.
While it is true that everyone has to start somewhere, hopefully the beginning of your career in management is different from Julie Zhou’s. Now the Vice President of Product Design at Facebook, Zhou describes in her book experiences of when she was 25 and thrust into her first managerial position with no experience. She also offers advice on topics including firing, giving feedback and asking for help. Whether you’re an aspiring or seasoned leader, Zhou’s wisdom is valuable at any stage of a managerial career and can save you from having to learn some of these same lessons the hard way.
Do you feel like your true, authentic self at work? In “Own the Room,” Amy Jen Su and Muriel Maignan Wilkins take a deep dive into the importance of finding your signature voice in order to inspire others, advance your career and develop leadership skills that will last a lifetime. This book lays out clear, actionable steps that can be taken to improve, evolve and develop a voice and management style that will set you apart.
With the millennials having crossed the threshold into being the largest generation in the U.S. workforce, and with many boomers extending their careers and pushing back retirement, Lee Caraher’s book advises workplace leaders on how to keep the unstoppable force from hitting the immovable object, and instead create collaborative and adaptive teams in cross-generational workplaces. Caraher’s personal experiences with managing millennials, combined with his relaxed and witty style, makes this book both an informative and pleasant read for any leader looking to boost the cohesion among their older and younger employees.
Have you ever dreamed of working in a world where you and your team feel inspired, fulfilled and valued for your work each day? In “Leaders Eat Last,” Simon Sinek, the bestselling author of acclaimed titles such as “Start With Why,” “Find Your Why” and “Together Is Better,” examines strategies that you can implement to make this dream a reality. Sinek analyzes real examples of teams across the public, private, civilian and military sectors and how their leadership practices help to foster a “circle of safety” in their work, creating security for the team while they work to tackle the challenges on the outside.
