It’s no secret that 2021 had its ups and downs for everyone. Yet one of the better things to come from last year was that some pretty great books on leadership were published. 

Looking to add some helpful executive leadership books to your shelf? Below are the top 10 leadership books of 2021 we recommend adding to your reading list. 

  1. The Lost Art of Connecting
    • Synopsis: Networking is essential in every profession. One connection can give you a step-up in your job and new opportunities in a new position with different responsibilities. In The Lost Art of Connecting, Susan McPherson breaks down the art of networking in three simple steps to help you make meaningful connections. 
    • Why You Should Read: If you struggle with networking and nurturing your connections, this is the perfect book for you. 
  1. Be Exceptional: Master the Five Traits That Set Extraordinary People Apart
    • Synopsis: Leadership success is not a one-size-fits-all approach. That’s why renowned and retired FBI agent Joe Navarro’s book, Be Exceptional takes a cumulative look on human behavior with the five principles that outstanding leaders should live by. 
    • Why You Should Read: How you communicate matters, especially in the workplace. When you have a better understanding of how people operate, you can see who is better equipped to lead your team and be successful in the long-run. This book is designed to help you do that.
  1. Post Corona: From Crisis to Opportunity
    • Synopsis: From bestselling author and NYU Professor Scott Galloway, Post Corona is a novel that sheds light on the problems that were already staring us in the face and have been brought to light due to the pandemic. He outlines the crises and opportunities that lie ahead for a variety of industries and how to navigate it all. 
    • Why You Should Read: This book provides an interesting perspective on how you can turn a time of crisis into an opportunity. 
  1. The Little Book of Self-Awareness: Emotions-Thought-Intuition-Senses
    • Synopsis: Happiness is oftentimes considered the holy grail of life, and the journey to self-awareness can help you find it. This book dives into why self-awareness is important and the ever-evolving journey to discovering your senses, emotions, thought and intuition. 
    • Why You Should Read: The best leaders always have a good sense of self-awareness. This book is a great starter to help you on your journey toward self-awareness. 
  1. The Social Capital Quotient: How To Retain Leaders and Cultivate Your Leadership Legacy
    • Synopsis: Building social capital is key for any executive, and this book does a great job of breaking down what they call the social capital quotient, which emphasizes the use of social capital in building relationships that promote a positive leadership legacy and foster organizational longevity.  
    • Why You Should Read: If you’re ready to build a long-lasting legacy and ensure the longevity of your business, this is the book for you. 
  1. Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters
    • Synopsis: This book explores why rationality matters and how it can lead to making better choices in our lives.
    • Why You Should Read: Whether you feel like you are extremely rational or could use some more rationality in your life, this book will change the way you approach rational thinking and is a great read for self-reflection. 
  1. Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals
    • Synopsis: Life moves fast and it seems that you blink and the day is over. Figuring out how to make the most of the seemingly finite time we have seems to be a modern dilemma. In Four Thousand Weeks, author Oliver Burkeman provides tools on how to construct a meaningful life by making the most out of our day. 
    • Why You Should Read: How we manage our time can make or break how we operate in both our professional and personal lives. This book teaches you to prioritize and make time for what is really important.
  1. The 5 Roles of Leadership: Tools & Best Practices for Personable and Effective Leaders
    • Synopsis: Ever wonder what tools are needed to become a great leader? This book outlines the best 21st-century leadership tools to help you become the best leader you can be.  
    • Why You Should Read: If you’re struggling to know what tools will help you in making the right decisions for your team, this book can be a great start. 
  1. My Life in Full: Work, Family, and Our Future
    • Synopsis: As one of the world’s most admired CEOs and the first woman of color and immigrant to run a Fortune 50 company, Indra Nooyi’s story is admirable. She redefined what it means to be a strategic leader, and in her memoir, she details her legendary career and how she transformed PepsiCo into what it is today. 
    • Why You Should Read: This memoir reflects on Nooyi’s experiences as an executive and provides some great insight for others who are new to the executive world. 
  1. The 50 Year-Old Millenial: The Leadership Gap Exposed by the Millenials and How to Close It
    • Synopsis: Millenials make up almost 35% of the workforce in the US and are the largest working generation. Marc Petitpas’ book delivers a leadership masterclass driven by a radical proposition: how a new culture of servant leadership is the perfect framework to recruit, mentor, educate and promote the talent that will drive business.
    • Why You Should Read: This book is an excellent read for those who want to understand how to close the leadership gap that millennials have uncovered. 

We hope you find these books helpful, entertaining and valuable for you and your organization. For more executive leadership tips, sign up for our newsletter and receive insightful information directly to your inbox!

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