7 Leadership Books to Inspire You over the Holidays

The holidays are a great time to rejuvenate by diving into a book. As you head into the holiday season, here is a list of our favourite management and leadership books that have inspired us to think differently and grow as leaders and managers.

You will find a range of styles and topics here. Some are newer, and some have been around for years. We’ve summarized why we like the leadership books we’ve chosen, and what style of writing to expect. Enjoy (and let us know if you have any others to recommend)!

Building genuine human connection is the secret to delivering exceptional customer service.

Wendy’s Top Leadership Books

Here are a few of Wendy’s favourites this year: 

Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect 

by Will Guidara

My family loves food–eating it, talking about it, and experimenting with it. Two years ago, we binged countless episodes (and seasons) of Top Chef. We are passionate about pouring over recipe books, and we love dining out and cooking together. So when a friend recommended Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara, an American restaurateur, I was intrigued. While the book is packed with captivating stories about the restaurant world, it is about so much more than that–it is full of leadership lessons! Guidara reiterates that building genuine human connection is the secret to delivering exceptional customer service, and it is a lesson that applies far beyond the restaurant industry. Whether you are a leader, entrepreneur, or just someone looking to make a difference, Unreasonable Hospitality offers up plenty of inspiration to do so. 

The Song of Significance: A New Manifesto For Teams

by Seth Godin

I appreciated this book for a few reasons. First, sometimes you need a quick read to spark an idea. As someone who enjoys starting the day with an inspirational read, this book fits that need perfectly. The format feels like a collection of blogs, with each chapter, if you can call them that, taking about a minute to read. Second, I love the cover! It features a bee, and the simple thoughtful design inspired me to buy a yellow bee journal for my reflections. Reading the book alongside my journal became my morning ritual. Finally, I appreciated how the book delivers significant ideas without being overwhelming. Its simplicity allowed me to focus on one idea at a time, making it easy to translate into action. Sometimes, good things come in small packages, and this book is no exception. It is both accessible and impactful–an excellent companion for anyone looking to lead with intention and significance.

Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout  

by Cal Newport

I have long been a fan of Cal Newport’s work. His earlier books, How to Become a Straight A Student and Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World, have shaped how I think about learning and productivity. In his latest book Slow Productivity, Newport begins by pointing out that most people struggle to define productivity, which leads them to fill their days with “busy” work that lacks meaningful results. Instead, he offers a simple yet profound framework: Do fewer things, work at a natural pace, and obsess over quality. What stands out for me is how actionable and practical the ideas in this book are. In a world of overwhelm, Slow Productivity serves as a refreshing reminder that slowing down is essential to doing meaningful work.

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Eric’s Favourite Leadership Books for This Year

Here are two of Eric’s reading recommendations:

Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success

by Adam Grant

Sometimes we get the impression that people who spend their lives taking from others get further ahead. In this fabulous book, Adam Grant shows how this is only true when givers aren’t paying attention to boundaries. When givers harness their power of contribution with boundaries intact, they outperform the takers and matchers, advancing further in their careers and in life satisfaction. This book challenged me to stop asking “what will I get if I do X?”, and instead to ask “how can I contribute if I do X?”

Love + Work: How to Find What You Love, Love What You Do, and Do It for the Rest of Your Life

by Marcus Buckingham

If you want a book about work, which reads like a book about life and what you love, then you should read this book. I’m not a huge reader of non-fiction, but this book hooked me. Buckingham writes this book with very personal stories, which help illustrate his point that we are all intensely unique, and that we should design our systems like work and school around this fact. Instead, we have designed our systems for conformity and suppression of our individuality. This book gives me ideas for creating a better workplace and for raising my children.

When givers harness their power of contribution with boundaries intact, they outperform the takers and matchers advancing further in their careers and in life satisfaction.

Nathan’s Top Recommendation

Here is Nathan’s favourite book this year:

The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right  

by Tania Luna

For a topic so decidedly ‘unsexy’, I found it a remarkably engaging book! My wife recommended it on the heels of discussing vacation planning and organizing our complex work roles.

I highly recommend this book for anyone navigating a complex world. While my initial interest was the practical takeaway, I was drawn into Gawande’s storytelling and enjoyable writing style. Gawade is a surgeon and uses the highly challenging world of international medical doctors, skyscraper builders, and pilots to not only show the value of the checklist, but the paramount importance of a well-designed checklist (Research data from these industries form the backbone to make this point). No matter how well-trained or sophisticated the role, or how urgent the task is, we can all make significant improvements with a well-designed checklist!

Dan’s Leadership Book Recommendation

Here is Dan’s favourite management book for this year:

It’s the Manager: Moving From Boss to Coach  

by Jim Clifton & Jim Harder

Of the many voices out there talking about work trends and employee engagement, Gallup always gets my attention. They’re one of the leading organizational research groups in the world and have been helping leaders for decades to understand what it takes to build engaging and enjoyable workplaces. After all that learning, they’ve discovered that one factor above all others impacts employee engagement. As the title suggests, It’s the Manager. The authors not only lay out their case for the importance of managers, but also provide a wealth of practical insight into the little shifts a manager can make to create a big impact on the people they lead. This is required reading for both new and experienced managers.

On behalf of ACHIEVE Centre for Leadership, we hope you enjoy our list of leadership books for the holidays. Happy reading!

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