This probably seems like a strange book to be in a leadership library. I’m an English major, and I attribute much of my background in understanding the human element to reading about how others have handled complex situations. This book, substantial as it is, is a masterclass in understanding the inner thoughts of leaders as they experience their version of the Napoleonic Era.

This book is a deep insight into the value humans get from gathering together. It talks about the ritual of gathering and when those rituals and routines might be failing us. If you ever hold a meeting, conference, seminar, or social event, there is value in this book for you.

Authenticity in leadership is critical to being an exceptional leader. This book explores the role of authenticity and offers practical ideas for being authentic in a way that furthers your leadership. In short, the story is “be yourself, in context, with skill.” This aligns beautifully with the Emotional Architecture framework that I teach and is an expansion path for leadership growth.

A scientific assessment of leader personality and its impacts on organizations. Reads more like a text than self-help, with deep dives into various personality profiles, leadership psychology, and. organizational studies. If you have taken the Hogan assessment, this is excellent at helping you nerd out on your skills and obstacles to grow your leadership skills.

This is one of the classic books on shifting from leading from authority to leading from influence. I just downloaded this to my Kindle and I’m looking forward to the added content from the 25th anniversary version. Not all of this information will resonate with you, so take from it the ideas that work in your leadership and leave the rest. Plan to pick it up again as you ascend the leadership spiral.

It’s easy to find ourselves complaining about the challenges of requirements space. We struggle to optimize within limited resources. This book takes a different perspective and shifts your thinking to see the boundaries and constraints as essential to the creative process. It is within constraints that creativity thrives. When you find yourself struggling against a challenge, remember that you are at your most creative and trust the process!

I just added this book to my list, so I can’t offer any great insights. I was really drawn to the idea of thinking in paradoxes. I believe the ability to hold two (or more) things true at once is essential to successful leadership, and this book offers insights into paradoxical thinking.