Best Leadership Books, Grouped by the Job in Front of You
Leadership advice is easy to find and hard to use, because what a first time manager needs isn't what a senior executive needs. Below, Sumizeit's leadership book summaries are grouped by the situation you're in. Every title links to a full summary you can read, listen to, or watch in minutes.
Step into a new management role
The Making of a Manager and The First 90 Days are the two clearest starting points. Leadership 101 covers the basics. Good Boss, Bad Boss shows what separates the two. First, Break All the Rules is the research on what great managers actually do. The Effective Executive is Peter Drucker on getting the right things done.
Build a team people want to be on
Unreasonable Hospitality is about making people feel seen, and it works on employees as well as customers. The No Asshole Rule makes the case for a hard line on toxic behavior. Joy at Work and The Small and the Mighty are about the less glamorous side of leading well. Death by Meeting is a fable about fixing meetings. How to Work with Complicated People is for the colleague you can't get through to.
Lead in the modern workplace
The New Rules of Work and The Future of Work look at where work is heading. Remote and The Long Distance Leader cover leading people you don't sit next to. Leadership by Algorithm looks at how AI changes the job.
Lead quietly, or on the line
The Introverted Leader shows that you don't need to be the loudest person in the room. Own the Room and The Charisma Myth are about presence you can learn. Leadership on the Line is about the risk of leading real change. Killing Sacred Cows is about challenging what everyone assumes is untouchable.
Power, influence, and strategy
The 48 Laws of Power is the most read book on this list, and a polarizing one. The Art of War is the ancient classic of strategy. Trailblazer is about leading with purpose, and The Virgin Way is Richard Branson's take on leading a company by being yourself.
Want the ideas from any of these without reading the full book? Every title above has a complete Sumizeit summary in text, audio, video, and infographic format. For startups, strategy, and sales, see the Business hub.
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