The best books to be a more confident leader

I loved this book because Brene is the real deal. This book helped me know what qualities I needed to step up and own my full self–as an authentic, real-deal leader. When I didn’t feel confident during my career pause and after my burnout, I didn’t know what to do differently, let alone how to do it.

Through Brene’s storytelling and research, I felt inspired again. I wanted to step into my courageous self because I knew I was capable. Brene helped me get there in this book (and still does with her podcast under the same name!).

I loved this book so much that I cited Dweck and the growth mindset in Pause because every human needs to know about this mind-blowing concept. As a coach, I help my clients understand that a growth mindset is critical to doing anything differently. To be more confident, you have to show up differently. 

This book helped me get off auto-pilot mode or thinking things can’t be done. I learned that I had a lot of fixed mindset, which put a limit on everything I did! Because of this book, I now challenge my assumptions, get curious about what I thought couldn’t be changed or about someone, and learn how to be a more critical thinker about how I showed up–not just about the things I was doing–but the way I did them. 

I love Jen Sincero, who keeps things light and funny and so relatable when it comes to owning your full badass self! She reads her own audiobook, and the book is a powerful reminder of all the ways to remember how capable you are–as a woman in the world who has places to go and badass things to do! I found myself laughing throughout the book and wanting to read all the other books in her badass series–but start with this one first.

Jen’s self-deprecating humor resonated with me, and for anyone wanting a gentle nudge to remember what you’re capable of and who likes to laugh, this book is great! I have since invested in Jen’s “You are a badass” merchandise, including sticky notes and a desktop button I’ve used myself and given as gifts to my coaching clients–who doesn’t need a little reminder of your badass self every day?

I read this book as part of my Search Inside Yourself (SIY) facilitator training when I worked at Google and later taught. I love this book because it’s full of science-based research on the power of mindfulness. I personally love all of Rick’s books and hosted him on my podcast, The Pausecast podcast (Ep. 17), where he blends his psychology and mindfulness expertise into easy and relatable concepts.

This book stuck out to me because Hanson shares how great teachers like Jesus, Moses, Mohammed, Gandhi, and the Buddha all had brains built essentially like anyone else's, yet they were able to harness their thoughts and shape their patterns of thinking in ways that changed history. I was inspired by their stories and also saw how I could model my own thinking in ways that better serve me and the world. 

I loved this book so much because I was blown away by the unconscious roles all of us tend to take on in life that don’t serve us–that lead to unnecessary drama and drained interactions. This book was funny, and I laughed out loud a lot at the roles/scenarios like “mailman” or “firefighter” because they were so simple in concept, and also I was so unaware that these behavior patterns existed–even in my own life–many of which I fell into if I wasn’t aware of how I was interacting and not taking responsibility for my communication. 

While the read is somewhat academic, Berne uses these “games” to highlight how drama can zap our energy or best intentions, and instead, we end up feeling inferior, superior, or like children even when we’re fully capable as adults.

If you are wondering how you keep getting into the same drama professionally or personally or what may be keeping you from feeling more confident–this book is a must-read for anyone interested in personal growth and being more confident and empowered when it comes to managing your energy.