Developing Leaders, Leadership & Management
Our community of experts and business leaders share the books you need to grow your leadership skills.
Need help finding the perfect gift for anyone looking to grow their career or improve their workplace?
Our community of workplace experts and culture leaders have created a reading list of books that make the perfect gift for a family member or work colleague.
You won’t want to miss selections like “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance” by Angela Duckworth, University of Pennsylvania professor and returning speaker for the For All Summit™ April 8-10 in Las Vegas. Or, “The Right Kind of Wrong” from bestselling author Amy Edmondson, who spoke about her book with us on our Better podcast.
Other speakers and guests have told us about well-loved tomes that offer lessons, inspiration, and wisdom for anyone trying to create a better workplace for all.
Check out the list:
1. “The Art of Community: Seven Principles for Belonging” by Charles Vogl
Alveda Williams, chief inclusion officer at Dow, says Vogl’s book offers “really simple principles around creating communities of belonging.”
With hands-on tools for implementing each principle, this book is the perfect gift for anyone looking to build a healthier workplace.
2. “Hidden Potential” by Adam Grant
Monique Herena, chief colleague experience officer at American Express, says she gave the new book by Wharton industrial and organizational psychologist Adam Grant to her team.
“One of the insights I loved about Adam’s book is that it’s discomfort and getting out of your comfort zone that unlocks hidden potential, and there’s no sort of person who has a unique ability to learn in a better, more efficient, more sophisticated way than another person,” she says.
Learn strategies from other great workplaces at the For All Summit™ April 8-10 in Las Vegas!
3. “The Road to Character” by David Brooks
Amy Edmondson, bestselling author and researcher who coined the phrase “team psychological safety,” says this book from New York Times columnist David Brooks includes an exploration of purpose and virtue was “deeply moving.”
“I think too many people, young and old, … they want to be successful, famous, look good in the eyes of others, rather than actually feel that deeper sense of fulfillment from making a contribution that you uniquely are there to make,” she says.
4. “The Wake Up” by Michelle MiJung Kim
Synchrony’s Michael Matthews shared how hearing from Kim as a speaker at a company event impacted him. Her book explores how to close the gap between our good intentions and our real-world impact.
“It talks about diversity and leaning into individuals and understanding the role that we as individuals play,” he says. As a discussion about privilege and how our lived experience influences the workplace, this is a must-read for leaders.
5. “The Daily Stoic” by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman
This collection of daily meditations from stoic philosophers of Ancient Rome like Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, and Epictetus was recommended by Cisco’s Kelly Jones as a companion she uses every day.
“It’s a practice and it’s a mindset of understanding that there are things you can control and things you can’t,” she says.
6. “Nine Lies About Work” by Marcus Buckingham and Ashley Goodall
This book, which offers a provoking and fresh perspective on workplace culture, led to important changes for Camden Property Trust’s Cindy Scharringhausen.
“As a result of this book, we have eliminated the annual performance evaluation and replaced it with a model that is set to foster the relationship between the employee and their direct manager — creating more dialogue and connection than a formal once a year process,” she says.
7. “Unwavering: Rejecting Bias and Igniting Change, Celebrating Inclusion” by Nellie Borrero
Accenture’s Yolanda Friend recommends a new book by her colleague and mentor Nellie Borrero with life and career lessons from Borrero’s work as a first-generation Latina at the global consulting firm.
In Borrero’s book, you can learn more about how Accenture built a high-trust workplace and get practical examples to drive change at your organization.
8. “The Heart of Business” by Hubert Joly
Need to connect culture to business outcomes? This book comes highly recommended from Mr. Cooper Group’s Kelly Ann Doherty.
“This book helps you understand workplace culture from a CEO perspective and how connecting culture to positive business outcomes is a real game changer,” she says.
9. “4 Essential Keys to Effective Communication” by Bento C. Leal III
Are you struggling with tough conversations in the workplace? So much of workplace culture is communication, and that’s why this practical guide with hands-on exercises is the recommendation of DVL Group’s Christy Magee.
10. “Leaders Eat Last” by Simon Sinek
Penn Mutual’s Liz Heitner loves the focus on trust in Sinek’s book. “It delves into how leaders can build trust, foster collaboration, and create environments where employees feel valued and safe,” she says.
We’ve got a book, too. Learn more about the concepts and methodology behind our data with a copy of “A Great Place To Work For All” written by our CEO Michael C. Bush and the Great Place To Work research team.
Join us in Las Vegas!
Register for the next For All Summit™, April 8-10, to connect with leaders and experts from great workplaces around the world.
