Since we know that the most successful leaders are readers, we talked to a few managers and asked them which leadership books have stood out the most for them.
It is famously quoted around the world and it’s an indisputable fact that leaders are readers. You can’t lead if you don’t read. If you’re a leader or intend to get into a leadership role at work, you need to acquaint yourself with leadership books. They will give you nuggets of wisdom, knowledge, and insight.
We talked to different managers about the leadership books they’ve read and the lessons they got. Here are the responses we got.
1. Dennis Waweru Wachira is a Project Manager at Burn Manufacturing USA LLC
Which is one of your favourite leadership books?
The leader as a steward by John Ng’ang’a.
What did you like about the book?
I like how John brings out the concept of stewardship in leadership. He emphasizes that every leader is a steward and we have been entrusted to lead with integrity, trust, devotion and skill. He calls us out of what the world has become, increasingly materialistic. We are to shun the lack of integrity and the prevalence of corruption that has invaded the world.
What did you learn from the leadership book?
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As a leader, I am called to serve others first rather than giving orders and waiting to be served.
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Integrity is a value that every leader needs to cultivate.
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Being a leader means that we are stewards and we shall be held accountable.
2. Kennedy Osano is the Head of Treasury and Consultant, Afritex
Which is one of your favourite leadership books?
Turn the Ship Around by David Marquet
What did you like most about the book?
That you can turn followers into leaders.
What did you learn from the leadership book?
We must push leadership at every level by giving control to juniors and creating leaders within themselves.
3. Alice Wambui Wanjohi is the Program Manager, CDI-Africa Coaching Group
Which is one of your favourite leadership books?
What did you like most about the book?
It taught me to dig into the iceberg to see what has formed our beliefs and what are the real blockers to achievement.
What did you learn from the leadership book?
That we should be intentional and everyone comes as a whole being
4. Joseph Mutati is the Country Manager, Flitaa Kenya
Which is one of your favourite leadership books?
The seasons of life by Jim Rohn.
What did you like most about the book?
The leadership book talks about the importance of utilizing seasons in life. It also brings out an interesting concept of being thankful when faced with difficulties because it's a form of blessing. Human life is synonymous with seasons and the only way to survive through seasons is by learning to adapt.
What lessons did you learn from the leadership book?
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A leader should master their emotions.
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A leader should be adaptive and ready to embrace a change. Because different seasons need to be addressed in a different manner.
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Self-discipline as a leader also is a theme Jim tried to push in his book. Sometimes as leaders, we demand so much from our colleagues forgetting the basic fact that discipline begins with us.
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The only limitation placed on our abilities is our inability to easily recognize our unlimited nature.
5. Pius Osasuyi is the Head of Talent, Fuzu Nigeria
Which is one of your favourite leadership books?
What did you like most about the book?
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I consider this book as a very practical and useful tool for every professional (not just leaders), as every chapter comes with an “Action Exercise” which I term as a “Call to Action”
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The Book was carefully divided into 3 key sections touching on the totality of man’s pursuit of success and happiness.
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Fun fact - The book was dedicated to ‘’Eric Berman’’ a friend and partner of the author, who he (the author) described as one of the most disciplined and determined people he has ever met. I found this very funny and interesting, as I have a best friend of over 20 years named ‘’Eric Omonmhenle’’ who inspires me so much, and I can describe my “Eric” using the exact words the author used in describing his “Eric”.
What did you learn from the leadership book?
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The common denominator between successful and unsuccessful leaders is self-discipline.
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Excuses are self-set limitations and barriers between where we are and where we want to be. As a leader, you must take responsibility for yourself, your team members, and the overall team outcomes at all times.
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Completing your disaster report - This entails acknowledging your fears to effectively manage and conquer them.
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How improving personal relationships with family, friends, and colleagues can lead to a happier life, thereby positively impacting our relationship with peers, superiors, and subordinates as leaders.
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Lastly, while we can’t control the past experiences that have shaped us, we are 100% responsible for what we do with our lives today.
6. Fabian Owii is the Head Chef at Hadassah Hotel
Which is one of your favourite leadership books?
How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie
What did you like most about the book?
The author gives credible, authentic evidence to support his line of thought. I have tried most of his theories and they work.
What did you learn from the leadership book?
It’s one of the many leadership books that I have read that stood the test of time. This changed my perspective about leadership, especially on how to handle conflict and inspire people to achieve a common goal.
7. Ruth Njenga, Finance and Admin Manager, Lexicon Plus Ion Ltd
Which is one of your favourite leadership books?
How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie
What did you like most about the book?
There are very many good lessons to glean from the book.
What did you learn from the book?
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Don't criticize, condemn or complain.
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Give honest and sincere appreciation. Bring the best out of a person appreciate and encourage. Give the incentive to work.
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Become genuinely interested in other people’s stories.
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Smile
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Remember the person's name.
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Be a good listener and encourage others to talk about themselves.
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Talk in terms of the other person's interest.
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Make the other person feel important. Be sincere about it.
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Don't argue. Welcome disagreement and don't slip into defensiveness. Watch out for your first reaction and control your temper. Listen first, look for areas of agreement, be honest, promise to think over the other person’s point of view, and postpone action.
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Dramatize your ideas. It conveys the facts more vividly, interestingly, and impressively than pages of figures and mere talk could have done. Merely stating the truth isn’t enough. The truth has to be made vivid, interesting, and dramatic.
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Throw down a challenge. “The way to get things done,” says Schwab, “is to stimulate competition. I do not mean in a sordid, money-getting way, but in the desire to excel.” Push them to overcome their fears. The major factor that motivated people was the work itself. If the work was exciting and interesting, the worker looked forward to doing it and was motivated to do a good job. Every successful person loves the game. The chance for self-expression. People want the chance to prove their worth.
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Begin with praise and honest appreciation before criticizing someone. It’s always easier to listen to constructive criticism after praise and good things. When you show confidence it will be easy to take criticism.
8. Kimani Nimrod, Technical Recruiter, Azenia
Which is one of your favourite leadership books?
Great by Choice by Jim Collins
What did you like most about the book?
I would definitely recommend any book by Jim Collins. He puts effort into giving guiding principles supported by great stories and examples, infused with actionable steps you can map to your self-improvement journey as an individual, manager, and entrepreneur.
What did you learn from the book?
The book is a practical summary of years of research on the world’s best companies; what makes these organizations thrive in the most uncertain and chaotic times. He writes about different organizations that made it and did not make it through the chaos and uncertainty and the reasons why. Jim distills his years of research and great stories into 3 actionable principles:
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Great companies have incredible discipline. He highlights the story of the famous expeditions to the south pole that sparked the “20-mile march” notion. To paraphrase it is a methodical approach that organizations use to conserve energy, manage resources better and consistently make progress.
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You should innovate only when evidence supports it. You don’t innovate just for the sake of innovating. Jim uses Apple as an example. Evidence-based innovation is/ should be paramount.
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Never rely on luck and chance to take care of things, maximise them by working hard instead. Every investor tries to maximize the ROI (return on investment) because the higher it gets the greater the returns. Jim says leaders do something similar, but they maximize their ROL - Return on Luck. Don’t wait for luck to swoop in and save the day. The only way you can make this happen is by working hard and consistently because then you create so many opportunities that luck can eventually show its support.
9. Julia Majale, Managing Editor, Tuko News
Which is one of your favourite leadership books?
It worked for me: In Life and Leadership by Colin Powell
What did you like most about the book?
Collin Powell was a former Secretary of State of the US and in the book, he shares life lessons on leadership from someone who spent most of his working years in public service, how to navigate different scenes in life as a leader and decision making.
It’s also an easy read and has several stories within a story which makes reading it very easy and enjoyable.
What did you learn from the book?
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No matter your job, as a leader you are there to serve.
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Leaders must be problem solvers, if you are not solving problems you are no longer leading. Problems have to be solved, not managed. Make real and effective changes instead of burying them or minimizing them.
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As a leader, you are allowed to get mad but don't lose control. Get over it quickly
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When in a storm, remain calm to make sober decisions. If the leader loses his head, confidence will be lost and the glue holding the team together will give way.
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You can’t make someone else’s choices. You shouldn’t let someone else make yours
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Don’t take the advice from your fears or naysayers, listen to everyone then go with your fearless instinct
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Do not be a busy bastard doing a lot of nothing; Don’t run if you can walk, don’t stand up if you can sit down, don’t sit down if you can lie down, and don’t stay awake if you can go to sleep.
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Be kind, always.
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Trust your team and encourage mutual respect.
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Share credit; people need recognition and a sense of worth. To reach people, touch them. Everyone needs appreciation and reinforcement
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Leaders need to be ready to replace someone who is no longer up to the task, don’t reorganize around this person. Retrain, move or fire them.
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Never walk past a mistake, and correct it on the spot. Tolerating little mistakes will create an environment that will tolerate bigger and more catastrophic mistakes.
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Always do your best, someone is watching.
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Don’t have your ego so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego goes with it.
These are just a few leadership books that will impact your life and how you lead. Update your current read and become the leader who makes a difference. Share with us the most outstanding leadership book you've ever read in the comment section below.
