7 Books To Read If You’ve Made It Into The C-Suite

Drive tells you to forget everything you think you know about motivating others – because it’s wrong. Pink argues the “carrot and stick” approach adopted by many businesses – that is, offering pay rises and punishments to encourage good behaviour – isn’t actually that effective, and encourages employees to take shortcuts. Drawing on four decades of scientific research, Pink argues that the secret to improving performance and motivation is focusing on three elements: autonomy, mastery and purpose.

This book should be required reading for everyone, but it’s perfect for leaders who want to reduce stress, achieve greater success and enjoy life. Joe Burton, a global COO turned successful tech entrepreneur, lays down how to achieve greater resilience, happiness, and health in a world that is increasingly demanding more. Creating Mindful Leaders explores the sources of stress in modern life and provides practical tools to improve wellbeing.

At a time when nearly 60 per cent of companies in the US are facing a leadership talent shortage, Teri Citterman asked 20 top CEOs from companies including JP Morgan Chase and NBC what they are doing to develop future leaders. Sharing their own experiences about what it means to be a leader, as well as their top leadership traits, From The CEO’s Perspective will inspire you to become a more thoughtful, deliberate and effective leader.

In Originals, psychologist Adam Grant champions the idea of improving the world by challenging the status quo. Blending science and the stories of creative individuals as diverse as the TV executive who saved Seinfield to the woman who challenged Steve Jobs from three levels below, Grant will teach you how to recognise a good idea, speak up, manage fear and doubt, nurture originality, as well as how to create workplace cultures that encourage dissent.

This book completely destroys the longstanding assumption that women need to lead like men in order to be successful. Drawing on the latest research, their own experiences, as well as those of many female leaders throughout history, Christine Nixon and Amanda Sinclair argue women’s unique approach to leadership can actually inspire innovation, inclusivity, and productivity. Women Leading will make you rethink what it means to be a leader and encourage you to step up and lead your own way.

Drawing on scientific research, as well as her own experiences as the co-founder and editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post Media Group, Arianna Huffington’s candid memoir Thrive redefines what it means to be a great leader. After suffering a bad fall due to sleep deprivation, Huffington was forced to reconsider her attitude to success. Instead of measuring success solely in terms of money and power, she argues that it’s also important to include our well-being, wisdom and wonder.

Forgotten Women: The Leaders profiles 48 women whose achievements have been largely overlooked by the history books. From Sylvia Rivera, who spearheaded the modern transgender movement, to Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman elected to the United States Congress, Forgotten Women: The Leaders is a great educational read for all ages and genders, but is perfect for any woman in a leadership role who is in need of some inspiration.