The One Leadership Book CEOs Recommend for Building Essential Skills
Shutterstock
Leadership skills are important for many reasons, impacting aspects of life both at work and in our communities—and who better to ask about leadership than CEOs who, according to a Harvard study, read several books a month? “Do you know how many books the average person reads per year?” brain fitness expert and speed-reading coach Jim Kwik tells Inc. “Literally two or three, for the entire year. And yet, the average CEO is reading four or five books per month. That’s a drastic difference.” With all that bookworm activity going on, the following CEOs have some excellent suggestions for books about leadership skills. Here are books recommended by CEOs, according to global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company .
RELATED: This Is the Single Easiest Way to Be Happier at work .
Portfolio
This New York Times bestseller is about the former CEO of PepsiCo. “I love learning from great leaders, and this book adds so much about family and culture, too,” says Marc Rosen , CEO, JCPenney.
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
“It doesn’t matter what circumstance you’re born into; this book speaks to the importance of role models in your life–and particularly male role models for a young black man. It also cements why I believe the ‘skills first’ movement creates opportunities in a world where so many have the aptitude but not the access to succeed,” says Ginni Rometty , former chair and CEO, IBM; co-chair, OneTen.
Harvard Business Review Press
This memoir is packed full of leadership lessons. “This is a beautiful personal story coupled with tangible business lessons from the former chair and CEO of IBM, Ginni Rometty–one of the most authentic and badass leaders I know,” says Jenny Abramson , founder and managing partner, Rethink Impact.
Kogan Page
This book is the winner of the 2023 Goody Business Book Awards. “Having worked with Solitaire, I know this book offers tangible examples of courageous moves that can literally change the world,” says Mads Nipper , President and CEO, Ørsted.
RELATED: 14 Ways to Conquer Your Next Meeting .
Mariner Books
This book is a Wall Street Journal bestseller. “This telling of the decline of General Electric under CEO Jeff Immelt details how he and his predecessor, Jack Welch, shaped GE over the course of decades, illuminating each leader’s style and dissecting how their decisions altered the trajectory of the company. Lots of lessons for leaders in this one,” says Kat Downs Mulder , Senior vice president and general manager, Yahoo News.
St. Martin’s Press
“This book is about FDR’s top deputies. It’s got a surprising, counterintuitive take on Roosevelt, and I hope to pick up some secrets on building successful teams while I’m at it,” says Nicholas Thompson , CEO, Atlantic.
Penguin Classics
Written in 375 BC, this classic is still relevant. “With timeless relevance, Plato powerfully reminds us that politics is grounded in justice, the common good, and selfless leadership. Leaders must possess the intellectual and moral qualities necessary to make rational decisions for the benefit of all society rather than the few,” says Antonio Zappulla , CEO, Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Profile Books
“Strategy is essential to success in any key leadership role, and this book digs deep into what makes good strategy—and what does not. Full of case studies and anecdotes, and quick to read, it is a great orientation, or refresher, to successful strategic thinking and planning,” says Kat Downs Mulder , Senior vice president and general manager, Yahoo News.
RELATED: 15 Signs You’ve Found the Perfect business Partner .
14 Ways to Conquer Your Next Business Meeting
Every worker knows that a meeting can be a miserable, ineffective time-suck. But that doesn’t mean you can’t use them to your advantage. With the right preparation, mindset, tactics, and execution, you can turn any yawn-inducing corporate pow-pow into the “You Show,” all but guaranteeing that you’re first in line for that promotion over your more lackluster colleagues.
With that in mind, we caught up with William Arruda , the founder of Reach Personal Branding and the author of Ditch. Dare. Do!: 3D Personal Branding for Executives , to glean 14 easy, actionable tips that will help you conquer your boardroom while not coming off like an insufferable prick. And if you’re hot on the job hunt, don’t miss these 15 Answers That Will Tank Any Job Interview.
Perform the simplest due diligence for even the most routine meetings, and then come with at least three talking points you wish to discuss. Now, don’t try to hijack the meeting—that’s lame—but be prepared to jump in if your boss asks a question to the room or if there is an awkward silence. “The best way to stand out in a meeting is to demonstrate that there’s nothing more important going on in the world than that meeting,” says Arruda. And if you’re the boss, don’t miss these ways to boost your managerial skills.
You never want to be that guy who loves the sound of his own voice and won’t stop talking. Instead, figure out what you want people to know about you, and continually stand out in that way. “It’s not just standing out, but branded standing out,” says Arruda. “What is the one unique ingredient that you can offer your organization?” Are you strategic? Corner the market for strategy topics. Are you creative? Be the on-the-spot brainstormer. And if you’re looking for other ways to excel, be sure to check out 25 ways the smartest men get ahead in their careers .
“If people see that every element of who you are is well put-together, it sends a message that you’re serious about what you do and who you are,” says Arruda.
He tells the story of a former colleague of his. This guy worked in a casual environment, where t-shirts and shorts were the norm. But he didn’t like that, so he started dressing better. “People started treating him like he was more senior,” says Arruda. “Nothing about his job changed, but he gained a whole lot of respect.” And if you’re looking for tips on how to dress for the modern office, be sure to check out the 25 New Rules of Office Style .
PowerPoints get a bum rap. The truth is that a little visual assistance goes a long way, especially if you’re not a natural public speaker. Arruda always suggests a set of slides if the occasion would permit it. Something the whole room can see does two things: it makes your presentation more engaging and it makes everyone feel included. Just remember the cardinal rule of PowerPoint decks: as few words as possible on each slide.
If someone else is presenting a slideshow, you may feel tempted to keep quiet in the corner of the room. Don’t. Make it a point to interrupt by saying things like, “Hey, can we go back a slide?”
Not only do you make your presence known, but you will also show off a deep and vested interest in the matter at hand. “The people who don’t ask are the people who don’t care,” says Arruda.
As Arruda mentioned, it’s all about “branded standing out.” A big part of that is making your physical presence as big as possible. “If you’re the physically fit and active person who can’t sit still for five minutes and needs to move around, that’s great, ” says Arruda. Stand up. Pace. Look wistfully out a window. And if you want to become the guy who’s fit enough to get away with this behavior, check out the easiest ways to make the gym part of your life .
You know Sherry from marketing and Jim from finance, but who the hell is that in the corner? Instead of asking and making a fool of yourself, refer back to the first tip and be prepared. That means acquiring an attendee list before the meeting. Look up everyone you don’t know on Google or LinkedIn. (But if you do the latter, make sure it’s on an incognito tab. Leave no evidence of your ignorance.) And don’t miss the 25 ways that smart men get ahead at work.
Unless you work in the White House, chances are your boss wants his employees to get along. With that in mind, Arruda says you should publicly play nice with your colleagues. Remember: leaders forge connections. Say things like, “Thank you for sharing, because we really loved hearing that.” And mean it. Be gracious and appreciative. “It also demonstrates your leadership skills,” says Arruda. “It’s the leaders who call out the great performers.” At the end of the day, complimenting Steve for his “great idea” when you take the floor will only enhance your own profile.
“In meetings, a great technique is to become the facilitator,” says Arruda. “Even if you’re not the leader of the meeting.” Bust out a, “You know what? I don’t know the answer. What does everyone else think?” or a, “Jerry, we haven’t heard from you in a while. What are your thoughts on that?”
Sam is really quiet, and you know that. He hasn’t said a thing the whole meeting. But he still might want to be included. To that end, you could say something along the lines of, “Hey, Josh, you look like you had something to say. Or are you still thinking?”
“You’ve given them an easy option, an easy out,” says Arruda. And as an added bonus, you show off that rarest and most valuable of qualities: empathy.
We’re not talking menial questions with definitive answers, like “What’s our target demo?” No, you want to ask something that makes people to stop and think. Here’s one classic: “What is the absolute worst thing that could happen in this scenario?”
It’s easy to make fun of inspirational quotes. But there’s a reason guys at the top have those silly motivational posters in their offices. If your boss loves Steve Jobs, for instance, whip out the famous, “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.” Again: be prepared. Do your research. If you’re looking to get in extra prep time over the weekend, here’s the smart man’s guide to working seven days-a-week while keeping a thriving social life.
Facts and figures stick in people’s heads—that’s a fact. “Whether it’s a fraction or a percentage, people remember things like that,” says Arruda. Bring some relevant, quantifiable, interesting, and, most importantly, exciting trivia to the table and you’ll be a star.
Come on, guys. This one’s a no-brainer.
