How These Five Books Can Make You a Better Leader

Leadership is an ongoing journey of personal growth, self-awareness, and learning how to connect with others. While experience plays a key role, certain books provide deep insights that can sharpen leadership skills and elevate your effectiveness. Below are five must-read books that offer timeless lessons for becoming a better leader.

1. Call Sign Chaos: Learning to Lead

By Jim Mattis and Bing West

Written by retired General Jim Mattis, Call Sign Chaos outlines his life of service and leadership, offering lessons for leaders at all levels. Mattis emphasizes the importance of learning from those around you, building trust with your team, and embracing a sense of responsibility for others. He stresses that leadership is about serving your people, not commanding them. The book offers practical wisdom on how to lead with humility and purpose, making it a must-read for anyone looking to enhance their leadership approach.

Key Leadership Lesson: True leadership is built on trust, competence, and a commitment to those you lead.

2. Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting Out of the Box

By The Arbinger Institute

This unique book addresses the core of self-deception, which is the way we justify our own behaviors while being blind to their effects on others. The concept of being "in the box" refers to seeing others as objects rather than people, which can harm relationships and derail leadership. By recognizing when you are in the box, you can shift to seeing others as individuals with their own needs and perspectives. The book helps leaders build stronger, more empathetic relationships.

Key Leadership Lesson: Leading with empathy and self-awareness strengthens trust and engagement in your team.

3. How to Win Friends and Influence People

By Dale Carnegie

This timeless classic is essential for leaders who want to build better relationships and influence others. Carnegie’s book offers practical advice on how to handle people, win their trust, and motivate them. It teaches that being genuinely interested in others, offering sincere appreciation, and listening more than speaking are the keys to winning people over. These skills are critical for leaders in building strong, effective teams and networks.

Key Leadership Lesson: People respond better to leaders who show genuine interest and appreciation for their efforts.

4. How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk

By Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish

While this book is often recommended for parents, its principles are incredibly useful for leaders as well. The strategies for effective communication apply to any relationship, whether you’re managing a team or mentoring someone. It focuses on empathetic listening, validating emotions, and helping others find their own solutions, which are essential leadership skills. It’s a great guide for improving communication in high-stakes situations, whether with children or team members.

Key Leadership Lesson: Listening empathetically and validating the feelings of others fosters trust and better communication.

5. Who Moved My Cheese?

By Spencer Johnson

This short but powerful parable teaches how to deal with change—a critical skill for leaders in today’s fast-paced world. The book tells the story of two mice and two little people who live in a maze and deal with the sudden disappearance of their cheese (a metaphor for what we want in life or work). The story highlights the importance of being adaptable, embracing change, and continuously scanning the environment for opportunities. For leaders, it reinforces the need to remain agile and help their teams navigate through change with optimism.

Key Leadership Lesson: Change is inevitable—leaders must embrace it and help their teams adapt quickly and effectively.

Conclusion: Embracing the Journey of Leadership

Each of these books contributes a unique perspective on leadership, from trust-building and self-awareness to effective communication and handling change. By incorporating the lessons from these books into your daily life, you can grow as a leader who not only achieves results but also inspires and uplifts those around you. 

Leaders are not born; they are made through continuous learning and reflection. These five books will help you become the kind of leader who makes a lasting impact on others. Start with one, or dive into all five, and watch how your leadership evolves.