Leadership Books: Suggestions for New Leaders

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There’s a reason why most successful leaders set aside time to read books. Reading stretches your experience beyond the people and situations you encounter on your own. Reading articles and blog posts will help keep you current. Reading books takes you deeper into important thoughts, situations, and experiences.

This is the first in a series of posts that will help you discover good books on a variety of topics. These suggestions are for you if you’ve recently become responsible for the performance of a group or if you have a friend or protégé who has recently made that move.

Making the Most of the Transition

Becoming a Manager: How New Managers Master the Challenges of Leadership by Linda Hill

The First-Time Manager by Loren B. Belker, Jim McCormick, Gary S. Topchik

It’s Okay to Be the Boss: The Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming the Manager Your Employees Need by Bruce Tulgan

Act Like a Leader, Think Like a Leader by Herminia Ibarra

My ebookNow You’re the Boss: Making the most of the most important transition in business. I devoted one chapter to “Getting the Most from Your Reading.”

Tools and Techniques

The Leadership Challenge: How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations by James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner

The New One Minute Manager by Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson

Helpful Insights

Good Boss, Bad Boss: How to Be the Best… and Learn from the Worst by Bob Sutton

The Progress Principle: Using Small Wins to Ignite Joy, Engagement, and Creativity at Work by Teresa Amabile and Steven Kramer

My ebookBecome a Better Boss One Tip at a Time

If you’re stuck working for a jerk, grab a copy of Bob Sutton’s book, The Asshole Survival Guide.

Bottom Line

I know these books are good. I also know that they’re not a complete list of good books for a new leader. I read a lot, but there’s no way I can read all the good leadership books that come on the market.

What books would you add to this list?

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