Five Leadership and Management Books worth Reading

By: Morag Barrett, CEO and Founder, Skye Associates LLC and CWCC Member

I have had the opportunity to read numerous books on all aspects of leadership and management development and we are often asked to recommend great books to others.  Whether you are leading a team or running and growing your own business, furthering your personal and business education through reading, can provide you with a different perspective and the tools to anticipate and solve potential problems.

Here are our top five books on leadership:

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable – Patrick Lencioni

This book is a quick read and written as a fable.  If you don’t like the fable approach, skip to the last chapter for the ‘Cliff Notes’.  You’ll learn the five biggest mistakes failing teams make, and more importantly, how to avoid them.

Working With Emotional Intelligence – Daniel Goleman

Daniel Goleman’s first book on the topic of Emotional Intelligence was published in 1995, and since then, emotional intelligence has become one of the hottest topics in Corporate America.  Emotional Intelligence (EI or EQ) is the capacity for effectively recognizing and managing our own emotions and those of others. Emotional Intelligence helps us to lead and manage effectively, in the good times and especially in times of tension and complexity, when we need to be at our best, and can be at our worst.

The First 90 Days: Critical success strategies for new leaders at all levels – Michael Watkins

Don’t let the title of this book distract you, whether you are 90 days or 190 days into a new role, new company or new project this practical guide will help ensure you avoid the common pitfalls and accelerate your road to success.

E-Myth Revisited: Why most small businesses don’t work and what to do about it – Michael E. Gerber

This is a book that I read when I first launched Skye Associates and one that I need to read again! E-Myth deals with the reality of business, the multiple hats business owners end up wearing and the difference between working in your business and working on your business.

The Why of Work: How great leaders build abundant organizations that win – Dave Ulrich and Wendy Ulrich

This book demonstrates how a culture of abundance and common purpose is essential to organizational success and employee engagement.  Whether you are looking to learn about your personal ‘why of work’, how to engage your team, or build your company, this book provides the checklists, questionnaires, and insights to deliver an immediate impact.

With over 25 years of experience in business and leadership and executive development, Morag Barrett is the CEO and Founder of Skye Associates LLC, Denver. Skye Associates is a woman-owned, international leadership development consultancy that is focused on you, your business, and your success. Celebrating their 5^th birthday, Skye Associates has provided high impact leadership and management development programs, high performing team and executive coaching to leaders and managers in over 22 countries and on 4 continents. For more information visit http://www.SkyeAssociates.net