The best selling leadership books of 2017 so far
These are Amazon's top 20 leadership books of the year thus far. Image: REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes
As you continue to climb the corporate ladder, you'll likely take on new responsibilities, spearhead big projects, and even manage a few employees.
Not everyone's a natural-born leader, but it's crucial to become one. According to Inc, employees who don't like their bosses are more likely to put in their two weeks notice, so if you want to catapult your career forward and maintain a talented team, you need to put some thought into your management style.
Unless you've received formal training, finding the balance between being a challenging and encouraging leader isn't easy. Fortunately, there are tons of books full of insightful leadership and management advice.
Have a look at Amazon US’s top 20 leadership books of 2017 so far and get inspired. Whether you're beginning to mentor your department's intern or looking to fne-tune your management skills, the books should be required reading.
Multitasking may seem like the most efficient way to cross several tasks off your to-do list, but authors Gary Keller and Jay Papasan argue that focusing on one objective at a time will boost your productivity and work wonders on every facet of your life. Their book has made more than 350 appearances on national best-sellers lists, so it's well worth the read.
In addition to managing an entire team, most leaders have their own tasks to accomplish, too. With input from 20 leaders, you're bound to learn a thing or two about making the most of your workday.
After talking to over 200 celebrities, athletes, and business people on his eponymous podcast, author Timothy Ferriss compiled the best takeaway points from his interviews into this book.
Long before he became the US's 45th President, Donald Trump was known for his savvy negotiating skills and being a formidable leader. While he's written several business books, "The Art of the Deal" is a consistent bestseller — even 30 years after its initial release.
As a follow-up to the wildly successful "StrengthsFinder," author Tom Rath’s second installment offers an improved assessment to discover your strengths and a thorough action plan to apply them to your life. If you're looking to inspire some members on your team, slip them this book when you're done.
Whether you're reviewing your current salary or assigning your colleague a tight deadline, every leader should also be an effective negotiator. In this book, you'll learn that a "win-win" scenario isn't the best way to make a deal and why you should open up a negotiation with "no."
It's important for leaders to know how to problem solve and make quick decisions. In his book, Michael Lewis tells the story of two Israeli psychologists, Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky, who created interesting studies about the decision-making process and showed how important working as a team can be.
Though this book tells the story of two Navy SEAL officers, many readers found it's packed with worthwhile leadership tips they can apply to their nine-to-five grind.
"Thinking, Fast and Slow" examines two systems that control the way we think, and provides sage advice for making the best decisions at work and beyond. This book received rave reviews from The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and The Economist, to name a few.
Success is as much an attitude as it is a lifestyle, which is why Covey's anecdotes range from family stories to business conflicts. With themes that range from self-mastery to being proactive, this book will try to change your attitude and outlook toward finding success.
If you want to become a successful leader, it's important you learn how to check your ego at the door. Here, you'll discover how remaining humble and a team player can help you catapult your career forward.
One of the most rewarding parts of being a leader is challenging your team to see their full potential. Author Simon Sinek studied some of the most influential leaders in the world and documented all their similarities here.
In most industries, doing the bare minimum won’t get you anywhere. Here, Grant Cardone breaks down the principle of "massive action," so you can create new standards for yourself, as well as your team, and improve your work ethic.
If you're feeling overwhelmed by managing a team, getting your own work done, and finding with enough time in the day to still go to the gym, you should pick up Timothy Ferriss' book. The author uses his personal experiences to show you how you can work less, live more, and even make more money.
As a leader, you're responsible for creating a great company culture and team morale. In addition to explaining why happiness is necessary for implementing positive change, author Shawn Achor shares how to spread a positive attitude to your team and employees.
Even the best bosses make mistakes every now and then. After reading this book, you'll have a basic understanding of emotional intelligence, which will allow you to own up to your mistakes and create lasting relationships with your employees.
Instead of delving into psychology, this book examines the algorithms computers use to make decisions and shows how they can be applied to your daily life.
If you're vying for that sought-after promotion or want to take on new responsibilities at the office, like managing a team, have a look at this book. While Napoleon Hill's book places a heavy emphasis on finances, it's also full of ways to completely transform your personal and professional life.
Every leader knows it's important to stay even-keeled and rational during stressful times. "Sway" offers rational explanations for irrational behavior as well as tips for staying calm, cool, and collected.
There's no one management style that works for every leader and company. If you want to be known as a direct leader who gets results, Robert Greene's book might be for you.
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David Elliott
December 19, 2024
