Leader is Influencer and a Reader: My Top 15 Book on Leadership Lists

“Leadership is influence” (John C. Maxwell)
“Leaders must be readers” (Kelsey Meyer)

A leader has two important characteristics: first, he is going somewhere; second, he is able to persuade other people to go with him. John C. Maxwell, one of my favourite authors, famously quote: “He that thinketh he leadeth, and hath no one following, is only taking a walk.” That is true! A leader is a person who is going somewhere – but not going alone. He takes others with him. His ability in setting up situations in which others are willing to follow him and happy to work with him is a precious skill called leadership.

“[Leadership] skill is make up of many qualities,” writes Walter MacPeek, “thoughtfulness and consideration for others, enthusiasm, the ability to share responsibility with others, and a multitude of other trails. But fundamentally a leader is one who leads, one who has a plan, one who keeps headed toward a goal and a purpose. He has the enthusiasm to keep moving forward in such a way that others gladly go with him.” Are you a kind of leader where people are following you or chasing you?

How to lead and getting others to want to do something you are convinced should be done? How to lead effectively? How to be a good influencer for others? How to be a leader that people want to follow? First and foremost, I think, to be a good leader one need to be a good follower. Then maybe one need to learn more about one leadership style, be a role model, be passionate, listen more than talking, having a teachable and positive attitude, encourage and able to motivate others, fear God and love people – and leader must be reader! This last point lead me to recommend you some of good books on leadership that I want to encourage you to read. Let us learn together.

My Top 15 Book on Leadership Lists (buy or borrow from me or steal it!):

1)    The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey

2)    Ultimate Leadership 3-in-1 (The Winning Attitude, Developing the Leaders around You, Becoming a Person of Influence) by John C. Maxwell

3)    Ultimate Leadership: Maximize Your Potential and Empower Your Team (The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, Developing the Leaders Within You, The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork) by John C. Maxwell

4)    The Heart of a Leader: Insight on the Art of Influence by Ken Blanchard

5)    Leadership Style of Jesus by Michael Youssef

6)    Life is Tremendous by Charlie T. Jones

7)    Spiritual Discipleship: Principles of Following Christ for Every Believer by J. Oswald Sanders

8)    Spiritual Leadership: A Commitment to Excellence for Every Believer by J. Oswald Sanders

9)    Be Determine: Nehemiah by Warren Wiersbe

10) Jesus on Leadership by  C. Gene Wilkes

11) Launching a Leadership Revolution: Mastering the Five Levels of Influence by Chris Brady and Orrin Woodward

12) Lead Like Jesus: Lessons from the Greatest Leadership Role Model of All Time by Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges

13) The Leader Who Had No Title by Robin Sharma

14) The Book on Leadership by John MacArthur

15) The Bible – God on Leadership!

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.