Early in my journey as a leader, my mentor taught me an invaluable lesson: leaders are readers. Over the years, I’ve discovered that most successful people share one common habit—they are avid readers. This is hardly surprising, given the countless benefits that come with reading.
As leaders, reading must become a part of our daily habits. Leadership is not just a position; it’s a skill that requires constant development. Just as an athlete or musician works on their craft every day, a leader must do the same. One key way to hone this craft is by committing to lifelong learning; reading is an essential part of that journey.
To be an effective leader, one must embrace reading as a daily practice—because leadership and learning go hand in hand.
Below is a list of books that have helped me on my leadership journey. They are not in any order.
- The Servant
- Developing the leader in you
- Extreme Ownership
- One minute manager
- 48 Laws of Power
- How to make Friends and Influence People
- Influence
- The world’s most powerful leadership principle
- The Art of War