6 Must-read leadership books of 2022

6 Must-Read Leadership Books of 2022

Looking to expand your leadership skills in 2022?

Have you made the New Years resolution to invest more in your own development?

Here at PT books are our weakness. The expansion of ideas, the latest research and the challenge of possibility that great books offer is something we can’t get enough of.

We’ve scoured the latest leadership books that have hit the shelves* recently and found what we believe to be the 6 must-read leadership books for 2022 (plus a bonus one).

The great leaders of 2022 prioritise their own development, seek growth through change, and are hungry for what’s next. If this sounds like you then read on.

* okay, online outlets because seriously who’s finding books on shelves anymore?

BOOK #1:

Think Again: The power of knowing what you don’t know

By Adam Grant

We’ve been a fan of Adam Grant’s work as an organisational psychologist for a while, and his thinking in this book delivers yet again The way we think shouldn’t be taken for granted – and as we step into 2022, the skill of leaders to be more conscious of how they think and how to think again is a key skill. Grant unpacks how to be ‘thinking like a scientist’ (how could we not be aligned with that) and how to find the ‘joy in being wrong’. Intrigued?

For your leadership, it’s time to think again.

BOOK #2:

Atlas of the Heart: Mapping meaningful connection and the language of human experience

By Brene Brown

Anything Brene does we’re fans of. Language matters. At it’s core, leadership is about navigating emotional exposure and experiences of both yourself and others. Throw into the mix the role of leaders to make meaningful connections with their teams in a hybrid world of work – and it gets tricky.

This book is not strictly a leadership book; but it’s our belief that leaders who embrace the language of emotions will be better able to navigate meaningful connections in a rapidly changing world.

This book is not your typical text-based book – it’s beautifully designed. But don’t let the structure distract you from the difficult work this book calls all of us to do.

BOOK #3:

The Gap and The Gain: The High Achievers Guide to Happiness, Confidence and Success

By Dan Sullivan and Dr Benjamin Hardy

It’s clear to say this book had us at ‘the high achievers guide’. It’s been a doozy of a couple of years for aspirational, difference-makers who are being left feeling deflated, defeated and down-right ???.

The concept behind this book is simple – but not to be assumed that it’s application is easy. The concept being when we concentrate on what’s still left to do we sit in the Gap – feeling de-motivated and lost. When we look at where we are based on where we started we sit in the Gain – feeling encouraged and excited about what’s next.

As mentioned it won’t take you long to understand the concept, the application of this in the way we lead, communicate with others is the hard part. Dan and Dr Benjamin provide a playbook to help.

BOOK #4

Stolen Focus: Why you can’t pay attention and how to think deeply again

By Johann Hari

On average, people in your workplace are only focusing on a task for 3 minutes. This is the challenge that Johann Hari has sought to tackle in this book.

His research suggests that a lack of focus is not a personal downfall, but instead it’s a product of external forces – focus has been stolen.

How to get attention and focus back will surprise you.

But only if you focus long enough to read the book.

BOOK #5

How to Begin: Start doing something that matters

By Michael Bungay-Steiner

This is one of the only books we’ve come across where the book actually starts on the front cover. Filled with practical activities and tools this book is a guide to launching that idea, that project you’ve been contemplating (but have never gotten off the ground).

Leaders who immerse themselves in Michael’s process will not only have the tools to get things done, they’ll be able to apply this approach to momentum creation with their teams (which when you think about it isn’t that what every leader craves?!).

In fact you might just want to buy a copy of this book for each of your team members.

BOOK #6

Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals

By Oliver Burkeman

There’s not a single leader or executive who’s not currently wallowing in the pit of ‘busyness’ quagmire wondering how they can utilise their time better.

Not one.

This book is written with ‘the belief that time management as we know it has failed miserably’. Burkeman challenges the time management tools that try to make things more efficient without challenging the fact they may just be the wrong things to be doing all together.

Four thousand weeks is approximately how many weeks each of us have if we are to live to around 80 years old. This book left us feeling insignificant and truly significant at the same time. Beautifully written, and a call to action for any leader to quit believing there’ll be time later and to craft a life that maximising every week for what matters.

BONUS BOOK

The Power of Regret: How looking backwards moves us forward

By Dan Pink

When we saw Dan Pink had a new book launching this year we knew it would be filled with research, insights and practical tools. Known for his book ‘Drive’, which examines what motivates people, Dan Pink has embarked on an exploration of one of the biggest human emotions that drives both personal and professional lives; regret.

Leading with a mantra of ‘no regrets’ is nonsense, and each of us should be using this important emotion to make better decisions, improve performance and find greater meaning.

Dan aims to do to regret what Brene Brown has done to vulnerability; allow us to use it for our greatest strength.

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We’d love to hear any leadership book recommendations you have for 2022.