I worked intimately with influential leaders running organizations of hundreds, some thousands of people, I saw great leadership but I definitely didn’t lead like them. In fact, I was terrible at leadership. People didn’t like me, they were unengaged and turnover was high. At one point I had a 1 to 1 with someone and I was so rough she cried. Learning many lessons since then, that team tripled in size as an excited group working towards a unified cause.

Self-improvement takes time and energy, but learning works like compound interest. At first, it seems insignificant, but minor changes over time compounds into massive results.

Leaders are learners and reading was one way I sharpened my skill sets. Brian Tracy stated, “Personal development is a major time-saver. The better you become, the less time to achieve your goals.” If we don’t pay the price today by learning, we’ll pay the price tomorrow through the lack of team performance.

Out of 130 books on leadership, emotional intelligence, communication, self-development, here’s a few of my favorites:

Self Improvement:

· Compound Effect – Darren Hardy

· Atomic Habits – James Clear

· 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – Stephen R. Covey

· Mindset- Carol Dweck

· Battlefield of the Mind – Joyce Meyer

· What to Say When you Talk to Yourself – Shad Helmstetter

· Outwitting the Devil – Napoleon Hill

· 12 Week Year – Brian Moran (Especially if you’re a Sales leader)

· Purpose Driven Life – Rick Warren

Communication:

· How to Win Friends and Influence People – Dale Carnegie

· Bringing out the Best in People – Alan Joy McGinniss

· Everyone Communicates Few Connect – John C. Maxwell

· Crucial Conversations – Patterson, Grenny, McMillan, Switzler

· Crucial Accountability – Patterson, Grenny, McMillan, Switzler

· Personality Plus – Florence Littauer

· The 5 Love Languages – Gary Chapman

· Speak with Impact – Allison Shapira

Leadership:

· How to Lead When You’re Not In Charge – Clay Scroggins

· 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership – John C Maxwell

· Extreme Ownership – Jocko Willink and Leif Babin

· The 5 Levels of Leadership – John C Maxwell

· You Win in the Locker Room First – Jon Gordon and Mike Smith

· Leading with a Limp – Dan Allender

· Boundaries for Leaders – Dr Henry Cloud

· Developing the Leaders Around You – John C Maxwell

How to Read Effectively:

1. Read Prescriptively: You wouldn’t consume a drug without identifying why you’re taking it. Don’t read a book without understanding why you’re reading it. Figure out the areas you’re not good at. Look at your last management feedback survey. Ask trusted people you lead or someone who manages you. Yes, it takes vulnerability, if you struggle with this read “Leading with a Limp”

2. Consume Bite-Size Chunks: Frequency trumps quantity. You’ll retain more from reading 20 minutes per day for the next 7 days than you will by reading two hours one day a week. It also gives more time to mull over and think of how to apply each idea you learn. Have trouble getting into the habit? Read “Atomic Habits” and “Compound Effect”.

3. Take Action: Apply each concept as soon as possible as it solidifies what you learn. Knowledge is knowing the content, wisdom comes from experiencing it.

4. Read this writeup: James Clear wrote an exceptional article on practical tips on best ways to absorb most information: https://jamesclear.com/reading-comprehension-strategies

The important and more gratifying piece of accomplishment is not what we get from it, but who we become through it. Embark on a journey of personal development, level up, and you’ll love the person you become.