“Not all readers are leaders. But all leaders are readers.” - Harry Truman

Whether you’re a new leader or have been in a leadership role for a while, successful leaders always look for ways to better themselves - to grow, learn, and sharpen.

There’s no better way to take your leadership to the next level than by opening a book. 

You can improve your emotional intelligence, learn how to influence people, enhance your leadership style, and just might come across a new idea that will help you overcome a leadership challenge you’re facing right now.  

Becoming a better leader also helps generate better results within your team. Effective teams need senior leaders who are at the top of their game. 

But with so many books out there and so little time, you may be wondering which ones will give you the biggest bang for your buck.

While there are some universal favorites such as The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey, and pretty much anything by Simon Sinek or Seth Godin, I’ve chosen some relatively lesser known books.

For me, here is the list of the best leadership books to read in 2023:

10. When by Daniel H. Pink

There are millions of management books on the market that teach people how to do things. This one shows you when to do them.

Throughout the book, Pink explains concepts like:

• Daily cognitive fluctuations

• Chronotypes, and

• Effective resting

There’s also a thought-provoking chapter that discusses the way the tenses we use in our language impact our perception of time and asks the reader whether it’s really best to “live in the present moment.”

Check out When on Amazon here.

9. The First 90 Days by Michael D. Watkins

The opening line of this book is, “The president of the United States gets 100 days to prove himself; you get 90. The actions you take during your first few months in a new role will largely determine whether you succeed or fail.”

It then goes on to outline the main things you need to do to set yourself up for success in a new role, including:

• Mentally preparing for the job

• Building a relationship with your new boss

• Learning new leadership skills, and

• Communicating with your new team members

If you’re thinking of making a major career move soon, make sure you read this book first.

Check out The First 90 Days on Amazon here.

8. Clarity by Jamie Smart

As humans, we tend to have an “outside-in” view of the world. We believe we need to achieve a goal or attain an object in order to be happy. Unfortunately, this approach seldom works.

In Clarity, Smart promotes an “inside-out” paradigm. He says our experience of the world does not come from external achievements. It’s generated from inside us.

This book helped me see problems from a new perspective and gave me the ability to redefine what success means to me. I recommend it to anyone who wants to improve their well-being.

Check out Clarity on Amazon here.

Check out my blog summary of Clarity here.

7. Effortless by Greg McKeown

Greg McKeown’s previous book, Essentialism, was at the top of my list last year. Effortless is an excellent follow-up. 

This book asks and answers the question, “How can I make it easier for me to do the things that matter most?” It teaches you how to set goals, how to rest effectively, and how to create effortless teams.

If you want to turn your most essential activities into the easiest ones, this is the book for you.

Check out Effortless on Amazon here.

6. The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy

The Compound Effect is the final carryover from last year’s list. It teaches the reader about the power of compounding - the idea that small, smart choices made consistently over time can make a radical difference in an individual’s life.

The book also promotes becoming more aware of your choices. It shows you how to analyze your decisions and determine whether they're taking you closer or further away from your goals.

This book also shows you how to build momentum - something you’re sure to find helpful if you know you need to make changes in your life but haven’t been able to get started yet.

Check out The Compound Effect on Amazon here.

5. The Next Level by Scott Eblin

The Next Level is another carryover from my 2022 list. It’s making a reappearance because it is still one of my go-to books for people who are transitioning into new roles - especially first-time people managers.

This book offers tons of useful insights into the art of effective leadership. I particularly enjoy the chapter that explains as you move up in your career, you should be spending more time honing your leadership skills and less time on your technical skills.

Check out The Next Level on Amazon here.

4. Hannibal and Me by Andreas Kluth

Hannibal and Me is a carryover from my 2022 list. I’m including it again because it discusses two main paths leaders can take in life. 

In the book, Kluth discusses two types of leaders: 

• Dreamers: People who know what they want right from the beginning 

• Wanderers: People who spend years searching for a calling, but achieve big things along the way

He outlines the attributes of each leadership type and makes it clear that neither is better than the other. Early in my career, this was a huge help to me as I was quite anxious about not knowing exactly what I wanted to do “when I grew up."

Check out Hannibal and Me on Amazon here.

Check out my blog summary of Hannibal and Me here.

3. The 5AM Club by Robin Sharma

The 5 AM Club is a book about the benefits of getting up early - but it’s also so much more than that. It’s about investing in yourself and cultivating the actions that will help you reach your next level. 

The book offers a detailed guide on how to set up your “victory hour” (5:00 AM - 6:00 AM) to start your day off right. It also promotes a holistic approach to life capstoned by the quotes 

• “Life is too short to play small with your talents.” 

• “World class begins where comfort ends”

Check out The 5AM Club on Amazon here.

Check out my blog summary of the 5AM Club here.

2. Radical Candor by Kim Scott

Kim Scott spent her career working at renowned tech firms, including Google. In this book, she discusses everything she knows about the art of effective communication, primarily focusing on delivering and receiving feedback.

Scott defines “radical candor” as personally caring about another person and engaging in direct communication with them to help them develop. Throughout the book, she offers tons of tips on how to implement radical candor in our daily lives.

Check out Radical Candor on Amazon here.

1. Team of Teams by General Stanley A. McChrystal

This book, by Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the man who led the 2004 military intervention in Iraq, is a must-read for anybody who wants to be a good leader. It discusses the growing importance of adaptability and explores how the US military changed its approach to more effectively combat the Al-Qaeda forces. 

The book talks about how we traditionally gravitate toward ever-confident "heroic leaders" and suggests we should shift our focus to people who lead "like a gardener" - cultivating and tending to the culture of the organization. I was somewhat surprised and incredibly impressed to see this notion come from a military general.

Check out Team of Teams on Amazon here.

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About The Author

Emily Sander is an ICF-certified leadership coach with more than 15 years of experience in the business world and the author of Hacking Executive Leadership. She’s been featured in several print publications, online articles, and podcasts, including CEO Today Magazine, Leading to Fulfillment, and Leadership Powered by Common Sense. 

Emily has a passion for helping business leaders reach their full potential. Go here to read her story from seasoned executive to knowledgeable coach. If you want to send Emily a quick message, then visit her contact page here.