4 Leadership Books to Read in 2022

The best leaders never stop learning. Whether it’s completing a course to improve their skills or reading a book by someone who walked the road before first, continuous improvement is the name of the game. And, it’s necessary. Leadership requires adaptability and a person who can think quickly on their feet. It demands someone who has the ability to motivate and inspire others, while also building a strong work culture and communicating goals effectively.

Reading books about leadership and management can help.

In this article, we’re covering the top four leadership books that belong on your bookshelf this year, and the ways they can help you grow and improve in 2022.

Reading is Important for Developing Leadership Skills

Research shows that regular reading is critical to developing strong leadership skills and effective communication. In fact, leaders who read regularly tend to enjoy a wide range of personal benefits, including:

• Increased emotional intelligence
• Improved creativity
• Increased relaxation and improved mental health
• Higher pay
• Better empathy

4 Leadership Books You Don’t Want to Miss

Knowing the importance of reading and actually finding good material to read are two totally different games. It can actually be quite overwhelming to sort through the countless books in the world to find one that’s right for you. For this reason, we’ve compiled a list of the top four books for you to start with so that you can get that ball rolling. Here are the four leadership books to help you grow in 2022.

How to Win Friends and Influence People - Dale Carnegie

There’s a reason that Dale Carnegie’s 1998 book How to Win Friends and Influence People is still one of the top leadership books recommended today. It’s packed with knowledge, applicable advice, and timeless information. It was written by Carnegie after he spent a lifetime dedicated to studying people and understanding the human personality. And, it can be used by everyone to help improve their thinking, leading, and communication skills.

Some of the top leadership tips featured in this book are to:

• Bring attention to someone’s mistakes indirectly
• Talk about your own mistakes first
• Remember people’s names
• Consider someone’s ego when correcting them
• Be liberal with praise

Extreme Ownership - Jocko Willink and Leif Babin

Officers from one of the highest-performing military teams in the world, The Navy SEALS, authored this next book, which is Extreme Ownership: How US Navy SEALS Lead and Win. It was published in 2015 and has been gaining traction ever since, and for good reason. For many people, this book acts as an effective how-to when it comes to leadership, communication, and putting your own ego to the side. More than anything, this leadership book teaches you to take ownership of everything in your domain, allowing you to maintain a level of responsibility and leadership.

One of the best quotes from this leadership book reads:

          “A leader must be calm but not robotic. It is normal – and necessary – to show emotion. The team must understand that their leader cares about them and their well-being. But a leader must control his or her emotions. If not, how can they expect to control anything else?”

Start with Why - Simon Sinek

Though the book is more than 10 years old, Simon Sinek’s book Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action continues to be recommended today. And, there’s a reason for that. In this book, Sinek uses inspiration and real-life examples to show you what great leadership really looks like. The message is quite simple: start with your why and everything else will fall into place.

This benchmark leadership book explores a topic that isn’t talked about nearly enough. It teaches you the importance of deciphering your reasoning for certain actions or decisions, while also helping you connect to people in a way you never have before. The main ideas in this book are to:

• Communicate your “why” if you want to inspire others
• Get your employees excited (it’s paramount to success)
• Keep your “why” clear and communicable; don’t allow it to become fuzzy
  
  

Dare to Lead - Brené Brown

The newest book on our list, Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead was published in 2018. That doesn’t mean it carries any less weight or importance when it comes to leadership books, though. It’s actually one of the most popular leadership books of the year. That’s because this book keeps it real, helping leaders take responsibility, stay vulnerable, and prioritize transparency. It’s trust, says Brené, that makes us good leaders. When others trust us, success is inevitable.

And, through this book, she teaches us that we can all consciously craft more trust in our relationships. The best way to do it is by remembering the acronym BRAVING.

• Boundaries: Set clear boundaries and stick to them. At the same time, it’s important to respect the boundaries placed by others.
• Reliability: Do what you say you’re going to do. Stay reliable and consistent.
• Accountability: Admit your mistakes and own up to them. Apologize. Make amends. Move on.
• Vault: Keep confidential information private, and don’t share information that isn’t yours.
  Integrity: Identify your core values and stick to them always. Choose to be courageous over being comfortable.
• Nonjudgment: Allow others to know they can talk to you without worrying about being judged. Try replacing judgment with simple curiosity.
• Generosity: Keep interpretations and expectations open and light. Don’t be afraid to give others the benefit of the doubt.

The Best Leadership Books: Final Thoughts

Staying relevant and effective as a leader can be difficult, but it’s not impossible. Reading regularly can help you feel more connected and less isolated. Remember, you’re not the only one who’s walked this road and it’s okay to turn to others for help every now and then.