Ten of the best leadership books for 2023
Many of the greatest thought leaders like Warren Buffet, Mark Cuban and Bill Gates invest time in reading, whether they glean their information from weekly newsletters, audiobooks or physical books published by industry experts.
Like financial wealth, turning reading into a regular habit has a cumulative effect in building your knowledge and expanding your horizons. We are fortunate to have access to a wealth of information at the click of a button.
If you’re wanting to improve in a particular area of leadership or business, researching suitable titles can take time, which is the purpose of this guide – to provide leaders with the best titles on the market today.
Either they have been authored by industry leaders or they have the Nonfiction Authors Association’s (NFAA) stamp of approval. Gold medal recipients of the Nonfiction Book Award signify a high-quality investment on the reader’s part that deserves a top spot on your list of priorities for the week ahead.
Rest assured that this list featuring the latest book titles promises to guide you on the next step in negotiating, leading a team or making the switch to a new role.
Best leadership books for 2023
Opening Your Presence: Presenting the YOU You Want Others to See
By Greta Muller
Awards: Gold Medal winner of the Nonfiction Authors Association Book Award from the NFAA.
Summary: Written for the non-professional speaker, this book is designed to teach you how to have a presence that is genuine and powerful within formal and informal professional contexts. Muller has channeled her two dozen years of experience working as a coach and consultant with Fortune 500 companies and other organizations to help readers craft their message, have more confidence and reduce their fears in order to make a great impression.
Leading Inclusion: Drive Change Your Employees Can See and Feel
By Gena Cox
Awards: Gold Medal winner of the Nonfiction Authors Association Book Award from the NFAA.
Summary: Cox is an organizational psychologist and executive coach who has turned to science, interviews with leaders and diversity, equity and inclusion experts to unpack the meaning of true inclusion. Its purpose is to guide C-suite executives and board members on how to model inclusion using a top-down approach that employees will thank you for.
Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts.
By Brené Brown
Summary: This book reframes leadership in terms of those who identify potential in ideas and people, and who are guided by the mindset that power is infinite and should be shared. The book answers the questions of how leaders can be more daring and how courage can be embedded within a workplace culture, along with actionable advice to put the ideas into practice.
Good Power: Leading Positive Change in Our Lives, Work and World
By Ginni Rometty
Summary: In her memoir, Rometty reflects on her journey from a challenging childhood to becoming the influential former CEO of IBM. She introduces the concept of ‘good power’, which can be harnessed to bring about positive change in organizations and to propel people’s careers to new heights. She also highlights lessons learned on the path to becoming an authentic and influential leader. Stories are grounded within five core principles to further inspire meaningful change.
Leading Lightly: Lower Your Stress, Think With Clarity and Lead With Ease
By Jody Michael
Awards: Silver Medal winner of the Nonfiction Authors Association Book Award from the NFAA.
Summary: This book is for those who find themselves feeling exhausted, anxious or stressed by their circumstances. It offers a fresh perspective from which to view your life in order to make better choices, improve your performance at work and have more control in your life overall. It touches on the areas of mental fitness, health and leadership as a well-rounded guide to helping you reach your fullest potential.
The Power of Potential: How a Nontraditional Workforce Can Lead You to Run Your Business Better
By Tom D’Eri
Summary: When D’Eri and his father launched a car wash in 2013 that set out to hire people struggling to find employment, they probably didn’t think that their business model would lead to multiple successful outcomes, including an impressive employee retention rate compared to its competitors. Learn how the neurodivergent workforce at Rising Tide Car Wash in Florida has created a culture of excellence as well as the hidden benefits of leveraging the expertise of the one in 54 Americans who have autism.
Breaking Why: Hacking and Rebuilding Strategic Emotions for Authentic Success
By Frankie Russo
Awards: Gold Medal winner of the Nonfiction Authors Association Book Award from the NFAA.
Summary: In this book, Russo examines how our emotions can hinder or empower us in both our personal and professional lives. He asks the reader to question what authentic success means and how to harness your emotions to achieve it. The book details the steps needed to create a more substantial definition of purpose that disrupts the rules we carve out for ourselves for a more authentic life. It builds on Russo’s previous book, The Art of Why.
Negotiation Simplified: A Framework and Process for Understanding and Improving Negotiating Results
By Jim Reiman
Awards: Gold Medal winner of the Nonfiction Authors Association Book Award from the NFAA.
Summary: Have you ever wondered what distinguishes a skilled negotiator from one who isn’t? This book provides the framework needed to improve in this area of business regardless of your current level of expertise. Find out from leading experts how the four elements in the book – goal-setting, preparation, listening and self-awareness – have helped them in their careers, and recognize the different options available to you to navigate different negotiation scenarios. From deciding who will clean the dishes to the many high-stakes decisions in business, negotiating is a non-negotiable part of life that is simplified in this book for better outcomes.
Work From the Inside Out: Break Through Nine Common Obstacles and Design a Career That Fulfills You
By Tammy Gooler Loeb
Awards: Gold Medal winner of the Nonfiction Authors Association Book Award from the NFAA.
Summary: People use age, their family or past experiences as an excuse not to grow in their careers. With two decades of experience helping people navigate career transitions, Gooler Loeb shares the steps needed to step up onto a more fulfilling path. With the help of other people’s inspiring stories and reflective activities, you’ll be able to overcome the limiting behaviors and thought patterns that are hindering your growth. As a certified professional co-active coach and podcast host, Gooler Loeb’s book is a resource that empowers readers to take the right action and be guided down a path of self-discovery.