7 Great Business Leadership Books You Might Not Have Read

These are not your typical leadership books. They are the ones that have stood out for me during my extensive study of leadership.

I'm always on the lookout for fresh insights. I've made a list of lesser-known yet impactful books. They have the potential to change how you lead.

Each of these books offers a unique perspective that you might not have encountered before. I'm confident that among them, you'll find at least one new book on leadership that you haven't read yet.

I present my list of 7 Great Business Leadership Books You Might Not Have Read.

Among the plethora of business books on leadership, one of my favorites for business growth and leadership is Jim Collins's Good to Great. While this is probably my favorite book and a staple for many business owners and leaders, the list below offers a wealth of equally valuable content that often goes unnoticed.

It can be hard to pick a great leadership book that impacts real-world problems with effective solutions. Each of these books offers practical advice that many leadership books don't provide.

Each book in this list is a treasure trove of unique perspectives. They challenge common leadership ideas and introduce new success strategies. They promise to expand your leadership repertoire.

They offer unusual wisdom for making decisions. There are lots of leadership books in the marketplace from which you can glean great wisdom. I appreciate your time and effort in exploring these books, and I hope you will add them to your list of must-reads this summer.

So, are you ready to embark on this journey of discovery and unlock your full leadership potential?

Leadership is a journey of growth and discovery. The most impactful lessons come from unexpected sources. Some gems remain hidden in the vast sea of leadership literature. They await those willing to go beyond the well-trodden paths.

These books will challenge common ideas and spark a new passion for great leadership. The books embrace integrity as a core principle. They also teach the art of intentional thinking.

They offer a refreshing view of what it means to lead with purpose and impact. No matter your role in leadership, try some of the best business books on leadership. I have read them over the last 30 years.

This book has remained atop my list of favorite leadership books for several decades. You don't normally see it on the list of best leadership books. But, Dr. Henry Cloud lays out some true fundamentals for leadership in his book Integrity.

This great book is thought-provoking and insightful for anyone navigating a path in the business world today. The first time I read it, it changed how I thought about leadership. To achieve sustainable high performance, you have to have the right people in your organization doing the right things.

Everyone knows that character matters, but we often lack knowledge of how it works in our everyday lives. Character affects results and profits. Shifts in our character might make our relationships more fruitful. This book explains how doing so may solve

problems or bring previously unobtainable results into reach.

Cloud delves into the importance of integrity in leadership and emphasizes how it forms the foundation for trust and respect.

A person's identity determines whether their brains, talents, and efforts will succeed. So will their competencies, energy, deal-making abilities, and opportunities.”

Cloud shows how great companies behave and the key behaviors they exhibit consistently. The book discusses six key principles of character that will bring you results you haven’t been able to obtain before.

We traditionally think of character as involving morals and ethics. It safeguards against bad things. However, that’s not all there is to character.

True character integration requires that a leader:

1. You build trust through connection. You capture the hearts and minds of the people you lead.

2. You must see and face reality. A leader must be in touch with reality. They must see all the facts, even the blind spots. These include facts about themselves, others, markets, the business environment, and customers. They must also see other facts needed to reach their goals.

3. It brings results. You produce results that fit the resources and abilities of the organization.

4. You embrace negative realities and solve them. You deal with losses well. You handle negative people and situations well. You use emotional intelligence to resolve them.

5. Causes growth and increase: You lead the team to grow your people, profits, and industry impact.

6. Achieves transcendence and meaning in life. You become a larger mission with clear strategic goals that include all team members in this vision.

Cloud's book stands out among leadership books for emphasizing character and authenticity. It offers a refreshing take on leadership. It goes beyond strategies and techniques. Instead, it focuses on the core principles that make great leaders.

Steven B. Sample's 'The Contrarian's Guide to Leadership' reveals unusual views. They challenge the usual ideas about leading a business. This book showed me new aspects of leadership thinking. You won't learn them in the best business schools. My favorite key concept was the importance of learning how to 'think gray.'

6 Key Takeaways you will get from this book:

1. How to think gray. Quick decisions aren’t always good. The best approach is to put off decisions until considering many viewpoints.

2. How to select expert advisers. You will understand that not every expert is helpful. But you will know when they need help, when they don’t, and how to choose.

3. They are willing to read what’s important. They return to classic works often for inspiration and to understand people.

4. How to make good decisions. After thinking carefully and reflecting on great works, contrarian leaders listen to advice. Then, they make decisions or delegate them.

5. Knowing which hill you’re willing to die on. You will know how to make tough moral decisions.

6. Picking the right people. Contrarian leaders pick, manage, and rely on quality lieutenants.

Sample's insights redefine leadership. They urge readers to break free from old thinking and embrace new approaches. His book is a beacon for those seeking to improve their leadership.

It confidently guides them through uncharted territories. Sample's work stands out among the plethora of leadership books saturating the market. His unique perspective, honed through years of experience, offers a refreshing take on being a successful leader.

One reader from New Jersey said that the book provides a roadmap. It helps navigate the complexities of leadership in today's fast world.

In 'The Contrarian's Guide to Leadership,' Sample not only encourages readers to challenge the status quo but also to step out of their comfort zones. By embracing change and being contrarian, individuals can unlock their potential and transform into effective leaders. Sample's teachings are not just words on a page, they resonate deeply and inspire personal growth and change in leadership.

This book has been on many lists of the best books of the last couple of years, but many people are just now discovering this gem of leadership material.

Some business leaders might ignore it because it is focused on the restaurant and hospitality sectors. Ignoring this book if you work in other industries would be a mistake.

Exploring Will Guidara's 'Unreasonable Hospitality' reveals the power of great customer service. It shows how it can transform leaders.

Guidara's insights delve into the core of the hospitality industry and emphasize the deep impact that goes beyond just serving guests. This book is a gem in leadership development. It offers a unique view and shows how practicing hospitality can shape great leaders.

Though he has restaurant experience, his teaching principles are useful in all business disciplines. The best leaders will aim to capture Guidara's passion. He excels at exceeding customer expectations in memorable ways. They will also aim to create lasting bonds.

Guidara's 'Unreasonable Hospitality' is not just another leadership book. It's a unique perspective that challenges leaders to exceed expectations, not just meet them. It's about creating an experience that fosters loyalty and trust. In the fast-paced world of leadership books, this one stands out, offering practical guidance and real-world examples that resonate with those striving for excellence.

From Guidara's wisdom, I've learned that hospitality success isn't just about delivering a service. It's about creating connections and making people feel valued. This book has redefined my approach to leadership, showing me that genuine care and attention to detail can set you apart in any field.

In Thinking For a Change, John C. Maxwell emphasizes the power of intentional thinking. He sees it as a key tool for effective leadership development.

Maxwell's insights offer a new view. They show how leaders can improve their decisions by focusing on intentional thinking.

I am passionate about leadership books. Thinking For a Change quickly became one of my favorites. It takes a practical approach to improving leadership through thoughtful reflection.

Maxwell discusses the importance of intentional thinking and its impact on leadership. He emphasizes the need to think with purpose and gives readers valuable strategies for shaping a mindset for success.

This book stands out among the best leadership books. It excels at inspiring leaders to lift their thinking and face challenges with a clear purpose.

Key Takeaways:

It is for anyone looking to improve their leadership. It is to make a lasting impact. 'Thinking For a Change' by John C. Maxwell is a must-read.

Stephen M. R. Covey's 'The Speed of Trust: The One Thing that Changes Everything' will further enhance your leadership skills. Covey's emphasis on trust as the foundational element in leadership resonated deeply with me.

In today's fast-paced world, the speed at which trust is established within a team or organization can make or break its success. Covey's book delves into how trust impacts relationships. It also affects the efficiency and effectiveness of a group.

The book opens with a statement that concisely frames its core idea.

"There is one thing that is common to every individual, relationship, team, family, organization, nation, economy, and civilization throughout the world — one thing which, if removed, will destroy the most powerful government, the most successful business, the most thriving economy, the most influential leadership, the greatest friendship, the strongest character, the deepest love. On the other hand, if developed and leveraged, that one thing has the potential to create unparalleled success and prosperity in every dimension of life. That one thing is trust."

I realized that I could positively influence change within my team by understanding the importance of trust and learning how to build it. Covey's principles are enlightening and practical. They offer a roadmap for leaders, helping them navigate the complex task of building trust and driving change.

Trust is the cornerstone of effective leadership, and Stephen M. R. Covey's 'The Speed of Trust' illuminates its transformative power.

"The Five Waves of Trust model serves as a metaphor for how trust operates in our lives. It starts with each of us. Then, it spreads to our relationships, organizations, markets, and global society. This reflects the inside-out approach: to build trust with others, we must first start with ourselves."

You will learn the Five Waves of Trust:

1. Self Trust

2. Relationship Trust

3. Organizational Trust

4. Market Trust

5. Societal Trust

By delving into the Five Waves of Trust, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of the economics of trust. You will discover how trust influences an organization's speed, learn 13 behaviors for fostering high-trust relationships, and understand the impact of trust on taxes and dividends. Most importantly, you will learn how to become a better leader by inspiring, rewarding, and expecting trust within your organization.

Reading has been the gateway to learning about leadership and growing as a leader. It was pivotal for my rise. I went from running a small plant in north Mississippi early in my career. Then, I lead organizations with hundreds of people and many operations.

'Read To Lead' by Jeff Brown and Jesse Wisenewski offers a new view of leadership. It examines it through the lens of reading habits. This book explores the idea that great leaders are often avid readers who constantly seek knowledge and inspiration from books.

It's a common habit shared by many successful people throughout history. It's responsible for unlocking limitless creativity and influence. It reduces stress, improves decision-making skills, and makes you a better leader. What is it? Reading. And it's the best thing you can do to improve yourself professionally.

What you will learn from 'Read To Lead':

Here are four key takeaways from Jeff Brown's 'Read To Lead':

This book challenges old leadership ideas and offers new views on good management. Business leaders seek to refine their personal playbooks, and the author's insights offer a refreshing approach to unleashing the potential leader within.

Unleashing your team's potential is simpler than you think.

The authors debunk leadership myths using data from their extensive research. They interviewed over 80,000 managers from 400+ companies. It is the largest study of its kind.

Their aim? To understand what makes a great manager.

The result? 12 questions that distinguish top-performing organizations from the rest.

Asking the right questions is key to unlocking your team's potential.

Here are the 12 questions to ask your team members:

1. Do they know what's expected of them at work?

2. Do they have the necessary materials and equipment?

3. Do they get to do what they do best every day?

4. Have they received recognition or praise in the last week?

5. Does someone at work care about them as a person?

6. Is there someone who encourages their development?

7. Do their opinions count at work?

8. Does the company's mission make them feel their job is important?

9. Are their co-workers committed to quality work?

10. Do they have a best friend at work?

11. Has someone talked to them about their progress in the last six months?

12. Have they had opportunities to grow in the last year?

Over the years, I've used these questions as a self-checklist to improve my organization. Discuss these questions with your team. See how you fare in these key areas that drive successful organizations.

These questions could be your ticket to the next level. Which question do you find hardest to ask your team? Which question gives you the most insight into your team's culture?

Leadership is ever-changing. Those who embrace odd wisdom will be at the forefront of this journey.

Each book on this list is a unique opportunity to expand your leadership skills. They encourage growth, authenticity, and a deep understanding of the details. These details define excellent leadership.

Embark on this literary adventure and unlock the secrets. They will raise your leadership skills to new heights. You will make an indelible mark on the lives of those you lead and the organizations you shape.