The 8 Best Leadership Textbooks
We spent 25 hours on research, videography, and editing, to review the top selections for this wiki. Leadership is often thought of as something you're born with. But in reality, the road to success is lined with tried-and-true principles and theories that lay the groundwork for profitable organizations. Our picks for the best leadership textbooks deconstruct the philosophies behind high-level achievement and communicate them in an easily accessible manner.
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8. The Pause Principle
Kevin Cashman's The Pause Principle teaches management in a way that most wouldn't expect in the fast-based business world. He wants you to pause and breathe, to step back and see your company and your problems more objectively so that you can move forward with purpose.
- award-winning advice
- strong alternative approach
- somewhat repetitive
| Publisher | The Pause Principle |
|---|---|
| Model | n/a |
| Weight | 11.2 ounces |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5.0 |
7. Research Findings, Practice, and Skills
Andrew J. DuBrin's Research Findings, Practice, and Skills comes with everything from self-testing exercises to thoughtful chapter-opening anecdotes. If you want a college-level guide that has a strong focus on fundamentals, this is for you.
- comprehensive information
- can rent it instead of purchasing
- dense and long edition
| Publisher | Cengage Learning |
|---|---|
| Model | n/a |
| Weight | 1.8 pounds |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5.0 |
6. The Servant as Leader
The Servant as Leader is a pamphlet written by Robert K. Greenleaf in the late '70s that contains a single essay. Greenleaf's philosophy places others' needs first and teaches the importance of delegating responsibility to employees whom you can trust.
- simple but poignant
- focuses on empathy and the self
- only 64 pages long
| Publisher | The Greenleaf Ce |
|---|---|
| Model | n/a |
| Weight | 12.6 ounces |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5.0 |
5. Inside Out: Becoming a Leader for Life
Kevin Cashman, who coaches CEOs professionally, wrote Inside Out: Becoming a Leader for Life to focus on authenticity as a director. This edition, which has sold over 100,000 copies, includes new case studies and independent research.
- endorsed by practicing ceos
- audio book version available
- many personal exercises
| Publisher | Berrett-Koehler |
|---|---|
| Model | n/a |
| Weight | 15.2 ounces |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5.0 |
4. Reframing Organizations
Lee Bolman and Terrence Deal's Reframing Organizations is a thorough take on the business world and focuses on creating a productive company culture. It's based around a four-frame model: structure, human resources, politics, and symbolism.
- addresses globalization
- kindle-supported title
- instructor-support package available
| Publisher | imusti |
|---|---|
| Model | n/a |
| Weight | 1.7 pounds |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5.0 |
3. How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen
This copy of James Kouzes' and Barry Posner's How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen is the 25th anniversary edition, which should tell you how canonized this advice is. The updated version redefines the authors' classic work for a modern world.
- over 2 million copies sold
- focuses on organizational challenges
- comes with app for phone
| Publisher | Jossey-Bass |
|---|---|
| Model | n/a |
| Weight | 1.3 pounds |
| Rating | 5.0 / 5.0 |
2. 10 Must Reads
The Harvard Business Review's 10 Must Reads is a collection of essays that includes Peter F. Drucker's influential piece “What Makes an Effective Executive.” If you enjoy the book, analogous titles include "On Managing People" and "On Managing Yourself."
- many different authors
- reputable publisher
- first-hand accounts
| Publisher | imusti |
|---|---|
| Model | n/a |
| Weight | 9.6 ounces |
| Rating | 4.6 / 5.0 |
1. Theory and Practice
Peter G. Northouse wrote Theory and Practice in a way that gives the average reader genuine insight into the major ideas behind organizational philosophy, without becoming too complicated. Each chapter even has consistent formatting to help you compare principles.
- used at over 1000 institutions
- mcguffey-longevity-award winner
- lesson-specific case studies
| Publisher | Theory and Practice |
|---|---|
| Model | n/a |
| Weight | 1.5 pounds |
| Rating | 4.8 / 5.0 |
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