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This article showcases our top picks for the Leadership Books For Students. We reached out to industry leaders and experts who have contributed the suggestions within this article (they have been credited for their contributions below).
We are keen to hear your feedback on all of our content and our comment section is a moderated space to express your thoughts and feelings related (or not) to this article This list is in no particular order.
This product was recommended by Luka Juretic from BuzzLogic
I believe I enjoyed it so thoroughly because of the fact it was targeted at myself, or at least people like myself who have come from other fields and were due to one factor or another given leadership positions in their respective fields. The book also starts from scratch and has a nice tempo and message to it.
This product was recommended by Bridgett McGowen-Hawkins from BMcTALKS Press
Upward is a book every businesswoman who dreams of holding a leadership position should read because it will answer questions such as: Do you wonder how to overcome challenges in the workplace that hold you back from your leadership goals? Do you wish you could ask current women in leadership how they did it? The compilers of Upward have done the footwork for you and have gotten the answers. Both women, leaders in their respective fields in their own right, reached out to 23 women who currently hold leadership roles in various businesses and asked them to share their stories. Each chapter is written by a female business leader sharing her struggles and some of the challenges she faced as she made her way in the business world. In addition, each chapter advises the next generation of women on how to best work toward achieving their leadership goals. From this book, readers learn from women already in these positions what they need to do to achieve their leadership goals. For every woman who strives to be a leader and role model for other women, Upward is the handbook to use for success.
This product was recommended by Jacob Villa from School Authority
As an expert in this part, I recommend you read this book because this is the most influential book in the twentieth century that Stephen Covey wrote. It is about solving both emotional and professional problems holistically and with a principle-centered approach. Covey taught how people must live, especially students with integrity, honesty, and dignity. It has sufficient wisdom about how students can take advantage of every opportunity when challenges arise.
The information that has survived from what Aurelius composed for himself is a manual for improving one’s life. By eliminating extraneous things, Aurelius shows us how to focus on what’s important and remain true to our principles. Stress can be reduced by following the advice given to you in meditation on how to better control your thoughts, feelings, and actions.
This product was recommended by Peter Bieda from FHA Lend LLC
This book describes how people can become influential without a lofty title or position. Students and young professionals must understand that leadership must be earned through positive influence.
This product was recommended by Luke Lee from PalaLeather
I would recommend The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life by Rosamund Zander and Benjamin Zander. This book is about how to create possibilities in your life and work. It is full of useful insights and tools that can help students to become more effective leaders.
This product was recommended by Deepanshu Bedi from Exhalewell
This book is a must-read for any student who wants to be a leader in their future career. It is a book that will change your thoughts about managing and leading. It’s not a how-to guide but rather a way of thinking about managing and leading more effectively. It begins with great managers who distinguish themselves by recognizing the strengths in their people and playing them to their full potential. They set clear expectations and then make sure those expectations are met. They recognize excellence and praise it. And they show that they care for their people. Then it moves on to great leaders, who discover what is universal among their followers and use that common ground as a rallying point for them. Throughout the book, Buckingham shows us how every person has unique strengths and weaknesses—but also how we can capitalize on our similarities to make us more effective in our careers.
This product was recommended by Todd Kemp from Northwise Group
Leadership of others begins with self leadership and leaders worth following are people with high character. Psychologist, leadership coach, and organizational consultant Dr. Henry Cloud identifies six aspects of character, how they are lived out, and the path of growth towards them. As a leadership coach, I have assigned this reading to my young leader cohorts for years and it always generates significant ‘Aha’ moments and has shifted how organizations develop their talent. It’s the book I wish I’d read in my 20’s to accelerate my own growth as a leader.
This product was recommended by Franco Moiso from TheSundayGrill
If I had to recommend one leadership book for students, I’d go with Start with Why from Simon Sinek. It’s a great book about how leaders can inspire others. For students, Sinek has a fresh view of what being a leader means, so it usually connects well with Millenials and Gen Z’s.
This product was recommended by Brandon Chopp from iHeartRaves
If you want to learn how to get things done and focus on results, Execution is the book for you. This book provides a framework for understanding what it takes to execute a plan and achieve results.
This product was recommended by Brandon Chopp from iHeartRaves
If you’re looking for a book that will help you understand the dynamics of teambuilding, The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team is a great option. This book is a fable that highlights the importance of trust, conflict, commitment, accountability book walks readers through the five dysfunctions that can sabotage a team’s success and provides practical advice for overcoming them.
This product was recommended by Brandon Chopp from iHeartRaves
If you’re interested in learning more about emotional intelligence and why it’s so important, this book is a great option. Emotional Intelligence provides insights into how emotions can impact our thoughts and behaviors, and why managing them effectively is essential for success.
This product was recommended by Brandon Chopp from iHeartRaves
If you’re looking for a book that will help you understand your own leadership style and how to stay true to it, True North is a great option. This book provides readers with a framework for understanding and developing their authentic leadership style.
This product was recommended by Andrei Kurtuy from Novoresume
I believe this book shows you the entire struggle of an entrepreneur from the ideation phase to execution. The personal story of the founder of Nike is an inspiring lesson for thousands of people around the world. Moreover, it teaches you to never give up on your ideas and how to turn your idea into a successful business. Coming from the owner of one of the largest shoe brands, this book gives you a complete insight into becoming an entrepreneur and encourages you to take a leap of faith in life. I read this book during my high school days but the struggle of Phil Knight has stayed with me during my entire life. It encouraged me to believe in my idea and turn it into a successful business.
This product was recommended by Linda Shaffer from Checkr
The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell is a great leadership book for students because it provides practical and timeless advice on how to be a successful leader. This book is packed with useful tips on everything from setting goals and motivating others to dealing with difficult people and situations. Maxwell is a well-respected authority on leadership, and his book is full of valuable insights that any student leader would benefit from. If you’re looking to improve your leadership skills, then this is the book for you. It’s packed with useful information that will help you become a more effective leader.
This product was recommended by Deepanshu Bedi from Exhalewell
This New York Times Bestseller is for anyone striving to succeed. It discusses the power of perseverance and passion and breaks down the 5 main characteristics of grit- courage, conscientiousness, perseverance, resilience, and passion.
This product was recommended by Aviad Faruz from Faruzo
This book is a guide for young leaders and is full of constructive ideas and activities to help students become leaders. The book’s activities encourage concept exploration and leadership analysis. Students will receive tips on leadership in the classroom, school, and community. Also, Students can record their thoughts and activities in the book’s Leadership Action Journal. This book is a must-have for students who want to learn about leadership. It has activities like conducting a survey on what makes a good leader, setting up a debate on leadership, and interviewing community leaders.
The teenage years are the best period for inculcating leadership qualities in students. A true leader takes the lead in big and small things equally easily. It requires the leader to be ethically correct and make perfect decisions. Team building is another aspect of leadership that every leader should develop. Mariam G MacGregor explains these aspects beautifully in Building Everyday Leadership in All Teens. This excellent book is available in Kindle and paperback form. Every teenager should read this book and refer to it at all times.
Dare to lead by Brene Brown is another excellent leadership book every student should keep referring to. It helps them deal with challenging conversations and lead the pack by making crucial decisions at the right time. This book concentrates on taking responsibility, recognizing people’s potential, and having the courage to develop it. In addition, it emphasizes asking questions that can help remove the darkness around us. Reading this book thoroughly enables us to overcome our vulnerabilities and emerge as true leaders.
This product was recommended by Khamis Maiouf from Book of Barbering
This wonderful book teaches you how to lead and how to exert influence in situations in which you are not in charge. A good read for new managers, secretaries, staff, and students. It teaches you everything there is to know about having healthy relationships, trusting others, and having morals, and it is full of rich and colorful anecdotes. This is without a doubt one of the books that every young leader who has aspirations of moving up the corporate ladder ought to read.
This product was recommended by Stacy Lewis from Eternity Modern
This book teaches young readers how to rise above distractions and uphold their principles by eliminating unnecessary habits and practices. It also offers insightful pieces of advice on managing their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors to reduce stress in their life.
If you’re looking for a book on leadership that will provide you with actionable insights and advice, then I highly recommend Influence by Cialdini. In this book, Cialdini reveals the psychology behind why people say yes to requests, and how you can use these findings to be a more effective leader. He also addresses common objections to request-making, such as feeling sleazy or pushy, and how to overcome them. This book is hugely influential in the business world, and for good reason – it’s crammed full of useful information that any aspiring leader can put to use. If you want to learn how to be more persuasive and get people on your side, then Persuasion is a fantastic place to start.
This product was recommended by James Hyslop from The Coffee Folk
Ego is the Enemy is a superb leadership book by young executive Ryan Holiday. It is well written, very easy and enjoyable to read, but best of all is packed full of wisdom gained both from Holiday’s experience and his extensive reading and knowledge. This is a particularly helpful leadership book for Students because it doesn’t assume the reader is currently in a leadership position such as CEO or Project Manager. Instead it is about how to be and become the right type of leader. The book is divided into three sections, When you are Aspiring, When you are Succeeding, and When you are Failing. In each of these distinct phases Holiday persuasively shows that Ego is in fact the enemy and the hindrance. In fact Holiday is so persuaded of this that he even tattooed the phrase on his arm. Excellent book full of quotes, illustrations, and real life wisdom for leadership. Highly recommended.
This product was recommended by Jean Will from NiaWigs
A book that highlights a lot of areas in one’s perception that don’t recognize enough. It helps students have a fresh take on weighing and determining the best decisions out of the options they have.
This product was recommended by Eric Jones from Couture Candy
The Making Of A Leader is a must-read book for anyone who is involved in leadership development. Robert Clinton here identified the patterns that God uses to develop a leader. By studying the lives of many contemporary leaders, Clinton has mentioned the six stages of leadership development.
