Leaders Guide: The Best Books on Leadership
In the midst of the era of entrepreneurship, more and more people are defining themselves as leaders. But what is a leader really? What makes him different from the rest? According to the Royal Spanish Academy, in its first definition, a leader is a person who directs or leads a group. However, today we know that leadership goes far beyond simple leadership.
This happens because it is not the same to be a leader to be a good leader. The last It is usually understood as a person capable of leading a group and directing it effectively.. This means guiding them through every step, knowing all the elements of your team and knowing how to motivate them to achieve effective work. To understand this concept, we leave you with the best books on leadership.
The best books ever written on leadership
The essence of leadership: Keys to the genuine and authentic exercise of leadership (2016), by Hugo Landolfi
One of the greatest peculiarities of this material is that leaves aside one of the most traditional conceptions about leadership. This is the premise that places the leader in the position of a conductor who directs a blind community to a destination about which it knows little. In this sense, followers are left as a sort of human capital without critical thinking.
This scenario occurs very often with pseudo-political, religious and business leaders, supposedly enlightened thinkers who believe they know better than anyone else the most suitable destiny for the world. In his work, The author sets out to explain the differences between the arrogant boss and a genuine leader., the latter being a being that perfects itself in order to later help others.
Quotes by Hugo Landolfi
- «Being a leader involves helping other people find their own direction in life and navigate the path to get there. Leadership is not about blindly leading people according to the leader's vision, but about discovering the vision within each person and helping them navigate the path that leads to it.»
- "We must recognize that every difficulty that holds us back must have our support to do so. If we do not allow it, no difficulty will be able to stop us."
32 moves to become a champion in business (2009), by Earvin Johnson
This book was written by Earvin "Magic" Johnson, one of the best players the NBA has ever had, and also a success story. Through the pages of his work, The author addresses the 32 steps he took to foster in himself a vision of commitment that would lead him to effectively meet all his goals.. The entrepreneur also provides fundamental theoretical resources for those interested.
Among them: how to start a business and how to finance it, nurture it, market it and make it grow sustainably for years. This is a quick read, but no less inspiring text.Its charm lies in its autobiography and in the fact that, although not everyone has the same abilities and opportunities, with study, discipline and effort, many can achieve professional success.
Earvin Johnson Quotes
- "Success is not measured by victories, but by the number of times you have gotten up after a defeat."
- "Money and success are good, but true wealth is in health and relationships."
- “Talent gives you an advantage, but it’s hard work and dedication that brings you success.”
- “I really want people to know that I have worked hard, very hard, to get to where I am today… this didn’t happen overnight.”
100 ways to motivate others (2007), by Steve Chandler and Scott Richardson
This text is likely to become addictive for any entrepreneur, manager or executive who likes lists, especially considering that it is one with real contributions. The book proposes a series of tools and strategies to manage assertive communication., in addition to teaching the most efficient ways to make important decisions.
However, the work does not stop there. Since it is aimed at a predominantly business audience, 100 ways to motivate others addresses topics such as customer service management, a topic that is often confused with manipulation and dishonest treatment of the target audience when, in reality, this should be based on building genuine relationships when offering a service.
Steve Chandler Quotes
- "Some people use language to describe the life they lead, and other people use language to create the life they lead."
- “We all have negative thoughts. The difference between a person who is primarily optimistic and one who is primarily pessimistic is that the optimist learns to be a good debater. Once you realize the effectiveness of optimism in your life, you can learn to debate your pessimistic thoughts.”
Tribes: We need YOU to lead us (2024), by Seth Godin
Human beings have always sought to belong to a tribe, it seems to be part of our essence as rational animals.This is a phenomenon that has left its mark on history, and today, more than ever, it is present thanks to the Internet and social networks, tools that have blurred the boundaries of communication, allowing the transfer of information and ways of thinking.
The problem with this development is that it has become much more difficult to stand out among the big businessmen, and this is where the book contains its greatest contribution to readers. The author, aware of the problem, provides the information needed to know how to become a leader, influence the masses and guide a community toward a plane of efficient production.
Seth Godin Quotes
- "Lack of change is a greater threat than change itself. Comfort can lead to complacency, and complacency kills."
- "The key to failure is trying to please everyone. The key to success is realizing that you can't please everyone and having the courage to make changes that may initially upset some."
- “Our job is to connect with people, to interact with them in a way that leaves them better off than when we found them, better able to get where they want to go.”
Fish! The effectiveness of a team lies in its ability to motivate (2001), by Stephen C. Lundin and Harry Paul
This book is a little different from all the others on this list, because The authors, in order to explain leadership, took the time to create a fableIf you like stories, the text could be very enriching. The main character is Mary Jane, a woman who falls into the so-called "pit of monotonous work" because of an unmotivated and meaningless work environment.
Tired of the situation, manager Mary Jane decides to analyze herself and her team to see how they can improve. Soon, Discover a fish shop full of light and good energy, and go in there to understand its working methodologyThen he meets Lonnie, who reveals to him the “four secrets to creating highly productive and motivated environments.”
Quotes by Stephen C. Lundin
- “When we choose to love the work we do, we can reach our limit of happiness, meaning and satisfaction every day.”
- «Success depends on the choices we make: choosing our attitude, living life with joy, being present with others and making people happy to see us.»
Ethical Leadership: A Challenge of Our Time (2013), Emiliano Gomez Lopez
One of the most important aspects of leadership—and one that is rarely discussed—is ethics. In light of this, the author explains that one of the most fundamental factors about a leader is, precisely, the ethics with which he performs his function. In this context, he asks the following question: "How do you define an ethical leader?" Gómez López says that this is a person capable of putting aside his personal benefits in favor of the achievements of his team.
Furthermore, The book is approached from a fundamental premise: a leader must be an example in terms of values, attitudes and positive and proactive behaviors.On the other hand, being an ethical leader often has benefits in itself, because any collaborator, supplier or partner who works with a person who fits this definition will see him or her as someone trustworthy and reliable, triggering a favorable response.
Phrases
- "An ethical leader is a person who has an influence that is granted by others as a sign of recognition of our moral authority. A moral authority that arises from the credibility that we deserve and the trust that we inspire in those around us."
- «A leader thinks and says “We”, advises, directs and guides. He inspires enthusiasm, thinks about unity, shares his achievements, cares about people, is dynamic, appeals to moral authority, develops and manages, is proactive, works in a team and listens to others.»
