Inspiring your inner boss to become (or remain) a strong leader means recognizing the importance of external stimulation. A great way to do just that is by adding a few leadership books to your reading list. We’ve pulled together recommendations from three highly respected sources (The Balance Careers, Inc., & LinkedIn) to check out. They’ve intrigued us and might spark your interest too. (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)
Crazy Bosses
Stanley Bing
What Intrigues Us
Sometimes you need to see what not to do before you know what to do, and there’s no harm in having a little laugh along the way. In Crazy Bosses, Bing presents several types of crazy bosses and provides strategies on how to deal with them.
The basic message: don’t let your inner boss become one of these leaders.
Social Chemistry
Marissa King
What Intrigues Us
Our discovery of Marissa King’s book is timely with our Communications Across Cultures presentation as both look at ways to connect. We’ve all heard how important networking is. King, a professor of organizational behavior, presents research that shows it’s the quality of your network, rather than the size, that can make a more positive impact in your work and life.
Leaders don’t get to the top on their own; finding the right strategies and skills will help you build a powerful professional and personal network.
You’re Not Listening
Kate Murphy
What Intrigues Us
If you know us, you know our view on the importance of communication! Listening is a major piece of the communication puzzle, so You’re Not Listening seems well aligned to the leadership principles that empower our clients. Journalist Kate Murphy noticed people would reveal deeply personal things as she interviewed them, “as if they’d been long waiting for the opportunity (Amazon),” and she thought this was worth exploring.
Your inner boss and outward leadership style should know how to be a good listener. This can create deeper relationships with your employees, connect you more to your company, and form deeper bonds with customers; all benefits that you’d surely like to explore.
Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People
Mahzarin Banaji & Anthony Greenwald
What Intrigues Us
Hidden biases can cause discriminatory behavior. Have you ever reviewed a resume and made a decision on the candidate because of the school they attended? Did a prestigious name lead you to think they’d be a great hire without further review? This is known as a hidden bias called the halo effect, which “refers to the tendency to allow one specific trait or our overall impression of a person, company, or product to positively influence our judgment of their other related traits.” Banaji and Greenwald will raise your awareness of how unconscious perceptions gained from your own life experiences help form your opinions and judgments of others.
Addressing hidden biases creates a more inclusive leadership style, allowing you to build a more diverse team which has been shown to have a number of benefits that leaders should strive to achieve.
What Books Inspire Your Inner Boss?
What has sparked your inner boss to flourish? Have you read any of the books on our list, or do you have a book you’d recommend? We’d love to hear your thoughts. Drop us a line!
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