At Altius, we believe in investing in people both on and off the field. Here's a rundown of some of our favorite leadership books:
Matt
Atomic Habits by James Clear, an author and public speaker. This book walks readers through bettering themselves 1% every day, and it is a practical guide to developing good habits. You can find bonus guides (How to Apply Atomic Habits to Business/Parenting/etc.) here.
Tony Dungy, former NFL player and coach, wrote The Mentor Leader, which highlights seven important keys to a mentoring leadership. Dungy believes in gaining followers through respect rather than intimidation, and he shares how to succeed while leading others and maintaining your values.
Built from the idea that a company is only as strong as its leaders, Dave Ramsey advises readers how to grow their businesses in EntreLeadership. This is a great read for any business owners and/or anyone in a leadership position within their company.
Jocko Willink and Leif Babin, two former Navy SEALS, learned how crucial leadership is at every level in order for a team to succeed. After being sent to one of the most violent battlefields in Iraq, the men returned home and implemented a new SEAL leadership training. The men wrote Extreme Ownership, and they now own a company, Echelon Front, that helps various companies and businesses invest in their leaders.
Can't Hurt Me by David Goggins is a book about mental toughness. The former Navy SEAL and ultramarathon/distance athlete claims that most people only tap into 40% of their capabilities. Goggins tells his own life story while encouraging people to push themselves in all areas of life.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey provides a step-by-step approach for solving problems, both personally and professionally. He also highlights the importance of living with integrity, fairness, and other characteristics that make a strong leader.
Ben Bergeron is known for training some of the world's best CrossFit athletes. He wrote Chasing Excellence, a book that details what he believes to be strong leadership qualities. Bergeron argues that a person's character and mindset are what defines their success rather than their talent. This is a great read for athletes of all ages.
Kathryn
Building skilled leaders consists of psychology, willpower, strength, and many other factors. However, Brett Bartholomew, author of Conscious Coaching, argues that communication is a key factor that is too often overlooked. This book emphasizes the importance of trust and relationships while leading and cultivating leadership.
Why are some teams willing to die for each other while others can't seem to figure out how to get out of a cycle of fighting and failure? This is a question Simon Sinek asked, and he found his answer while speaking to a military officer. Leaders Eat Last explains the importance of trusting your leaders, and being a leader your followers can trust.
Lily
Generating Buy-In by Mark S. Walton is a short, yet impactful, read about the language leaders should use in order to create buy-in and passion. I read this book for a class, and it was an interesting perspective on how strategy and rhetoric can make or break a leader and their team's trust.
Although this isn't technically a book about leadership, Get Out of Your Head by Jennie Allen is a powerful book for leaders. Toxic and anxious thoughts creep into everyone's minds, but especially leaders. Allen walks you through stopping those anxious thoughts and how to apply that skillset into your daily routines.
My last suggestion is Dare to Lead by Brené Brown. If I'm being totally honest, I haven't actually read this book (yet), but I have listened to the podcast. Her podcast features a number of incredibly intelligent people, including several authors from this list.
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