“Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.” – Harry Truman, the 33rd president of the United States.
Most business leaders can recount a list of books that have shaped their lives and careers. There is a wealth of knowledge to mine through the pages of countless business and leadership books. The most successful leaders are continuous learners, standing on the wisdom gained from a great book.
In the spirit of the National Book Month (October), we have asked the executive partners here at PEAKE for their top business and leadership book suggestions. Use this list as inspiration for your next reading project or see how it matches up to your top picks:
Chris Knotts (CEO)
7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven R. Covey
I was introduced to 7 Habits as “required reading” when I attended an organization and effectiveness seminar early in my career. It helped me to bring order to my scattered thoughts around how I should conduct myself as a professional (and a human being). I re-read it every few years and always come away with new nuggets of wisdom.
The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy
This was another “mind blower” for me. It taught me that small actions, insignificant on their own, consistently applied have the power to positively (or negatively) change me and my reality. The biggest impact was on my interpersonal relationships and my health.
Business Made Simple by Donald Miller
This was a more recent find. This short, 200 page easy read (or listen/watch since there are 60 daily videos that accompany the book), uses an aircraft metaphor (which i love!) to explain how a business works in balance….all components need to work together for the plane to fly (and stay in the air!).
Mary Knotts (COO)
Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves
Emotional Intelligence 2.0 expanded my perspective and improved my relationships. Business is all about relationships with co-workers, employees, and clients. This book provides key messages on self awareness, self-management, and social awareness.
Dare to Lead by Brené Brown
Very impacting book that offered a different way to think about leadership than most of the environments I had been previously exposed to. In her book, Brene exposes common leadership pitfalls and offers an insightful approach to leadership based on vulnerability, values, trust, and resilience. She explains why courage and vulnerability always go together.
Atomic Habits by James Clear
A game-changer about how and why I had established habits in place in my life. It gave me actionable information about how to form the habits that would bring me closer to my goals. I would recommend this book to anyone that is looking to establish definitive change in their life.
The Goal by Eliyahu M, Goldratt
This was one of the first “business books” I read (it was assigned reading in college). This novel about a factory manager sparked an interest in process improvement and how to address bottlenecks in a system. The only way to get things done at scale, with reliable quality, is with a system of processes. The story is told in a way that easily keeps your attention
Patrick Shoemaker (CTO)
Starting Something by Wayne McVicker
This was one of my first introductions to the joys and perils of fast-changing entrepreneurial ventures. The agility that helps startups grow quickly is tested in this story of a dot-com bubble business’s struggle to survive during the collapse of the early 2000s. It’s a good mix of a captivating story and valuable business advice.
Purple Cow series by Seth Godin: Free Prize Inside, Purple Cow, etc
These are a great intro to some marketing fundamentals and consumer behavior. It’s a good way to become familiar with what’s involved in capturing people’s attention and moving them across the finish line to action and an engagement with your business.
Art of the Start by Guy Kawasaki
This one is a bit mechanical, but for anyone considering a new business venture, it’s a good A to Z guide that will get the wheels turning in the right direction.
Consider grabbing a book from this list for your next good read. We would be interested to know which books you would add to this list. Join the conversation on Facebook here.
Enjoy the journey as you continue to grow and learn from taking time to read. PEAKE Technology Partners helps leaders of private medical groups manage technology in a way that will grow their business. Find a partner you can trust that has been aiding in practice growth over the past 7 years. Schedule a call with a PEAKE Practice Advisor to start the conversation at peaketechnology.com/meet.
