A leader is always learning. One of those ways to continue to learn is to continue to read. Every book you read, you begin to consume what someone has taken years to learn.
You bypass the painful learning process by allowing others to learn for you. Then you learn through them.
That’s the power of books. It’s the reason I push people to read (or listen) to books so much.
Every month, I share 5 books leaders should read. Here are the books you should read in June 2022.
5 Leadership Books To Read In June 2022
1. Is Your Organization Aligned? by Paul B. Thornton:
Author Paul B. Thornton knows the power and value of having an aligned organization. In his book, Is Your Organization Aligned?, he shares the whys and the hows behind organizational alignment.
Pick up this book if you’re struggling to get everyone aligned or you just want a crash course on alignment.
2. The Suspect by Kent Alexander and Kevin Salwen:
The Suspect is a fantastic journey into the missteps of the FBI and news media regarding the 1996 Olympic bombing in Atlanta, Georgia. The Suspect covers how Richard Jewell, a former cop who became an ultra observant security guard, became the prime suspect.
This book isn’t a leadership book per se but it gives leaders a lot to think about.
You’ll learn why it is imperative you don’t jump to conclusions, what wrong accusations can do to employees, and why you need to vet your sources. I was glued to The Suspect as I listened to the book on my runs and drives to the office.
3. The Innovator’s Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms To Fail by Clayton M. Christensen:
The Innovator’s Dilemma looks at the many businesses that have come and gone. The shocking surprise in The Innovator’s Dilemma isn’t the fact that new technology comes. What surprises the reader is how companies miss out on new waves of innovation. Once a company misses the latest innovation, they get pushed to the side. There, they struggle to recover.
Pick this book up if you work in an industry where new innovations come along. Don’t be left holding the closed sign because you or your organization could not see what was coming down the pipeline.
4. Mission Driven: Moving From Profit To Purpose by Laura Gassner Otting:
So many people are transitioning their work. During the Great Resignation, people are rethinking their career paths.
Many of those reconsidering may be considering going into the non-profit sector. Yet, it can be a challenge to move in this direction.
That’s what I loved about Mission Driven. Mission Driven helps those considering a change from for-profit to non-profit understand how their gifts and abilities will help them in this new sector.
5. Harcore History: The Extremely Unauthorized Story of ECW by Scott E. Williams:
Growing up, I was a huge professional wrestling fan. One of the organizations I was a fan of was ECW. They were THE extreme organization.
Sadly, ECW folded.
Hardcore History takes a look at the why behind their folding. It was a fascinating look behind the curtain and under the ring.
There are plenty of business principles that one can take away from the failure of ECW. Pick this book up and apply those lessons to your business.
Be warned that there is extreme language in this book. It is not for everyone.
