One of the world’s reputed researchagencies, Gallup, recently surveyed leadership globally. The results show thatemployees in 79% of organizations believe that leadership is lacking in their companies. Almost half of the respondents indicated that there would be a shortage of leadership skills in C-suite officers.
While the world struggles from dealingwith the pandemic and the imminent climate change, the lack of leadership islikely to worsen things for the planet and its inhabitants. It is now time to take the reins and develop leadership skills to turn this ship around and create a better tomorrow.
The first step would be to read abouthow to develop leadership skills. Fortunately, some good quality literature hasbeen published in 2021, and we can all learn a lot from these leadership gurus. Let's take a look at the best leadership books published this year:
1. The 12 Inch Rule of Leadership: Proven Strategies For Career Success – Dr. Kaliym Islam
Are leaders born, orcan leadership can be acquired? Dr. Kaliym Islam answers this question with his most recent book on leadership published in May 2021and available on amazom.com. Coming from a background of academics and training,Dr. Kaliym has shared his lifelong learning about leadership in a book that can bring the leader from within you.
The book presents a12-Inch rule framework intended to help emerging leaders deal with thechallenges of the modern world. It is a guide for those who feel that they are stuck in their careers. The book is a powerful push towards your goal; once you open the first page, you are off on your journey to your new leadership position.
2. Post Corona: From Crisis to Opportunity – Scott Galloway
Scott Gallowayis an NYU Business School professor who has taken up the pen to highlight thepandemic as a crisis and an opportunity. He has analyzed the impact of Corona on education, hi-tech companies, government and other industries in the book.
The book isworth a look as it unveils deep insights about how the pandemic could be usedto create a better future because the leadership skills required to face the new challenges have pushed humans to perform beyond their known capacity.
3. Humanocracy: Creating Organizations as Amazing as the People Inside Them - Gary Hamel and Michele Zanini
The authors have chosendata as their main argument to make a case. Their case is that with‘humanocracy’, a new blueprint of inspiring, innovative and humanistic companies can replace the existing setups that are not making the world better or making the employees happy.
The key for futurecompanies is developing the ability to thrive in uncertainty, embraceresilience and refine themselves to adapt to change. This book is great to read because it is not a theoretical book on leadership but a practical guide on how leadership must change to ensure the survival of humans and humanity in the world.
4. Think Again: The Powerof Knowing What You Don't Know – Adam Grant
Wharton’s top-ratedprofessor Adam Grant is famous for his incredible books and engaging TED talks.He always presents ideas in simple terms for everyone to understand but includes messages that could change the world.
This book is aboutrethinking and unlearning. Adam asks us to challenge everything we know andeverything we believe to be true. He demonstrates how knowing something can inhibit us from discovering knowledge beyond that point. We are often too complacent with the bit of information we have and resist new ideas. This book is a mind-opener as it beckons us to come out of our mind cages and discover the world anew.
5. The Promises of Giants- John Amaechi Obe
John Amaechi ison a quest to remind us that in the most unlikely circumstances and mosttroublesome situations is a possibility, a possibility to come back strong and save the world.
The world needsleaders more than ever before. John has enlisted fourteen promises for us tokeep. Every promise is one step towards bringing the leader from inside us out into the real world. The only way to discover your true potential and maximize that power is to test these promises on yourself.
6. Change Your World: HowAnyone, Anywhere Can Make a Difference - John C. Maxwell, Rob Hoskins
One principletaught in Entrepreneurship is the bird in hand principle: You start with whatyou have.
This messageapplies to everyone, everywhere. The authors of this book have taken adifferent route to leadership development. Instead of asking the reader to make drastic changes in their lives and wait for destiny to open doors to leadership positions in big companies or government organizations, they show us the mirror.
The mirror theyare holding shows us that the leader inside us is already here. It will onlytake a step to start our journey and make a contribution to saving the world. The book is not intended to make heroes; it reminds us of the superheroes we already are.
7. My Life in Full: Work,Family, and Our Future – Indra Nooyi
Indra Nooyi isthe famous PepsiCo CEO who has reached the position against all odds. She isthe first immigrant and woman of color to lead a Fortune 50 company.
Indra Nooyi hasbeen in the spotlight for her exceptional contribution to PepsiCo. Herleadership style has been the talk of the town for decades now. The lessons of leadership from her personal and professional life in the form of a book are long overdue. It is time to learn from the best and join the list of the world's top leaders.
8. How to Change: The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be – Katy Milkman
Change is never easy,but it is also inevitable. Katy Milkman has identified some habits that areeasy to adopt and can produce a lasting desirable change in oneself.
She has discussed theimportance of proper timing, advice, and overcoming inertia to find a placewhere one can do anything. There lies the path to leadership at any scale you can imagine.
9. The Lonely Century: How to Restore Human Connection in a World That's Pulling Apart – Noreena Hertz
Noreena has madean appreciable effort to identify and solve one of the biggest problems in theworld today – loneliness.
The book isabout how one can break the loneliness barrier and move out into a world ofaction. Noreena's solutions include compassionate AI and innovative urban life models to solve the problem.
10. Master Mentors: 30 Transformative Insights from Our Greatest Minds - Scott Jeffrey Miller
Scott Jeffreyhas compiled the revelations from Franklin Covey’s podcast and converted theminto a book. The book has lessons from 30 master mentors that are paragons of transformation.
The book invitesus to challenge and restore our mindset and take a bold journey towardstransformation.
