{"id":9759,"date":"2022-03-08T08:30:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-08T13:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/?p=9759"},"modified":"2022-03-08T09:04:41","modified_gmt":"2022-03-08T14:04:41","slug":"six-leadership-books-that-belong-on-your-shelf","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/six-leadership-books-that-belong-on-your-shelf\/","title":{"rendered":"Six Leadership Books That Belong on Your Shelf"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Throughout the course of human civilization, many of our greatest leaders have imparted their wisdom through written works. Whether it\u2019s a military strategist born 2,500 years ago like Sun Tzu, or the CEO of a Fortune 500 company like Bill Gates, powerful and influential people share their experiences to benefit the leaders of tomorrow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether you\u2019re an aspiring leader, just landed your first role with managerial responsibilities, or you\u2019re an industry veteran, there is so much to gain by reading these books. You can generate new plans, develop your business faster, master your interpersonal skills, discover problem-solving techniques, and learn how to think two steps ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pick up a How-To guide from some of the most important leaders ever to sit in the big chair. Here are six of the best books on leadership.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. The Art of War <\/em>by Sun Tzu <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Having lived during the Eastern Zhou period of ancient China, you might think Sun Tzu has nothing relevant to offer. While your daily experiences may be worlds apart, Sun Tzu\u2019s tactical mind transcends the ages and continues to influence modern readers.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can remove his war-based context and apply his lessons to business. For example, when he talks about commanding terrain, you think about market share. With some simple reimagining, The Art of War<\/em><\/a> <\/em>provides timeless wisdom on the value of preparedness, integrity, judging your competition, collaboration, confidence, delegating, and so much more.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Business @ The Speed of Thought<\/em> by Bill Gates <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In 1999, before the term \u201cdata science\u201d was familiar to the leaders of every single organization in every single sector of the economy, Bill Gates was singing the praises of data-backed decision making. Business @ The Speed of Thought<\/em><\/a> <\/em>encourages leaders to view the ongoing shift to technology-based work as a strategic asset.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gates writes, \u201cThe most meaningful way to differentiate your company from your competition, the best way to put distance between you and the crowd, is to do an outstanding job with information.\u201d The year of this book\u2019s release, Gates set the record for market capitalization when Microsoft was valued at nearly $619 billion<\/a>.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Lead from the Outside <\/em>by Stacey Abrams <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the most prominent black female politicians in the United States, Stacey Abrams has written a necessary guide for people traditionally seen as outsiders to embrace their identity and harness that strength. This book is for women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ community, millennials ready to make a difference, and others who exist beyond the structure of traditional white male power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lead from the Outside<\/em><\/a> is a handbook on how ambition, fear, money, and failure function in leadership. Stacey draws on her own personal story and hard-won insights to offer practical strategies for changing the world one step at a time. She argues that being in the minority actually provides unique and vital strength you can employ to launch a company, run a successful political campaign, or fight for what\u2019s right. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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4. Decide & Conquer <\/em>by David Siegel <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Meetup CEO David Siegel believes the right frame of mind can help you overcome the fear of failure. Using his own experience navigating a major company through tumultuous times, David demonstrates how core values like transparency and kindness can remove potential roadblocks before they become a problem. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This book is a guiding light for leaders faced with bad options, deep anxiety about the future, and the burden of responsibility. You can learn how to adapt David\u2019s decision framework when Decide & Conquer<\/em><\/a> is released on March 8, 2022. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Wooden on Leadership <\/em>by John Wooden and Steve Jamison  <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Business isn\u2019t the only realm where effective leadership is a necessity. John Wooden is the legendary coach of the UCLA men\u2019s basketball team who led his squad to ten national championships in a twelve-year period, including seven in a row! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any plugged-in sports fan will tell you coaching is just as important as the players\u2019 talent. Wooden on Leadership<\/em><\/a> <\/em>focuses on the essential people skills that make your team trust you, respect you, and work hard for you. If you\u2019re interested in the mental and emotional aspects of great leadership, this book belongs on your shelf. You\u2019ll be winning in no time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Thinking, Fast and Slow <\/em>by Daniel Kahneman  <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics, Daniel Kahneman is also a cognitive psychologist with a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley. Reason number one to read this book is that Kahneman\u2019s a pretty smart guy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reason number two is that Thinking, Fast and Slow<\/em><\/a> <\/em>takes you on a tour of your own mind, with the goal of helping you better understand your judgments: why you make them, and how to improve them. Kahneman explores two systems that affect the way people think. In a nutshell, System 1 is fast and emotional thinking, while System 2 is logical and deliberate. His insights can help you combine your System 1 and System 2 thought processes into a well-oiled judgment machine.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Start reading and leading today <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You don\u2019t have to wait for that next promotion to apply the lessons from these books. The interest in book clubs on Meetup is sky high, with over 2.2 million readers across more than 4,600 groups! If you\u2019re looking for inspiration, check out: <\/p>\n\n\n\n