Five leadership books every leader should read
From front-line to director level.
Everyone has opinions about leadership books. These are the five I return to again and again with my clients.
1. Scaling Up
Verne Harnish
Most leaders think their job is to work harder. In reality, their job is to create clarity and alignment so teams can scale without chaos. This book gives practical tools to level up your influence and lead with intention — including defining your BHAG, your Big Hairy Audacious Goal. They are strategies that you hear people talk about but don’t always understand. Now you will!
2. The Heart of Laser-Focused Coaching
Marion Franklin
The moment a leader stops solving every problem and starts asking better questions, their team begins to think, grow, and lead. This book will transform your 1:1s so your people leave feeling empowered, stretched, and supported — and you no longer walk away with more action items than they do.
3. Stop People Pleasing
Hailey Magee
Many leaders rise because they're willing to go the extra mile for everyone. Over time, that often leads to burnout and resentment. This book helps leaders build boundaries, create clarity, and develop the courage to hold people accountable when the work demands it.
4. Dare to Lead
Brené Brown
The most trusted leaders are willing to have hard conversations, take responsibility, and lead with vulnerability. This book shows how courage and accountability go hand in hand — and how a leader's willingness to be vulnerable sets the tone for the entire team. Bring more of it into your team meetings, and watch how much the dynamic changes.
5. Your Body Is Your Brain
Amanda Blake
Leadership isn't just cognitive — the body drives how we show up under pressure, make decisions, and influence others. This book helps leaders become more body-aware, so they can recognize triggers, regulate their responses, and lead with intention rather than emotion.
These are the books I come back to time and again, working with leaders who are learning to lead people, not just deliver the work.
Curious — what leadership book has changed the way you lead?
