The best books about leadership for our times

In a world in which dictators and authoritarian leaders are all too prevalent, Barbara Kellerman offers keen insights into the roots and practices of “bad” leadership. A prolific leadership scholar and commentator, she deftly links leadership and power—especially the abuse of power.  

Like Barbara, I see power as neither a bad nor a good force. Most leaders seek power—sometimes for themselves and their group alone, but often to accomplish something widely beneficial. Meanwhile, followers may hope to increase their power by supporting leaders they see as powerful. Yet, individuals and groups that attain unchecked power all too often damage their fellow humans and certainly undermine democratic government. I value this book for its help in fighting back against abuses by the powerful wherever we find them. 

Ira Chaleff has long focused on “followership” and how followers can foster humane leadership and fight back against abusive leaders. I appreciate his dispelling the view of followers as necessarily passive. He clearly presents ways that active followers can short-circuit bad leadership by “speaking truth to power.” I definitely endorse his advice to leaders who want to foster courageous followership in their organizations and beyond. I’m also eager to read Ira’s recent book, To Stop a Tyrant: The Power of Political Followers to Make or Brake a Toxic Leader.

All too often, scholars and commentators emphasize the successes and failures of highly visible leaders and neglect followers, the other part of the leadership equation. Ira’s many years of researching, writing, and speaking about the crucial work of followership have gone a long way toward remedying that neglect. 

This book may seem out of place in a list of leadership. Here’s why I was enthralled by it. This retelling of the canonic Huck Finn story had me asking about the Huck-Jim relationship: Who is the savvier person here? Who is the more heroic? Who is clear about his purpose? Maybe James (as Jim is truly named) is more leaderly than Huck in his courage, purpose, and concern for others. 

Huck, the rebellious adventurer who survives an abusive father and other miscreants and the hazards of life on the Mississippi, is a quintessential American figure. I also see Huck’s growing appreciation of James and their developing kinship as quintessentially American. 

Percival himself exercises leadership for our times by widening the lens of a treasured American story. This book should be taught alongside Huck Finn.

William Ury is widely appreciated for collaborating with Roger Fisher to offer effective conflict resolution guidance (see Getting to Yes). I have long taught their concepts and methods in my leadership courses. This book is a culmination of Ury’s incredible career of helping groups resolve an array of conflicts, including the most intractable (in Columbia, for example). 

Ury describes himself as a “possibilist” who believes the most daunting conflicts can be sustainably resolved via three “victories”–getting on the balcony to more fully understand the perspectives of the warring parties, building a bridge among the parties, and engaging more neutral stakeholders. 

This book lifts my spirits at a time when some powerful individuals and groups are operating from a win-lose, zero-sum mentality that too easily devolves into a lose-lose for all. I vote with Ury for a transformational, win-win mentality.

For decades, Ron Heifetz’s “adaptive leadership” framework has helped organizational and community leaders guide their groups through turbulent waters. I especially appreciate his advising leaders to alternate between “the balcony” and “the dance floor” so they can both engage with their group’s efforts to understand and respond to their challenges and gain a wider perspective on where change efforts are and should be going. 

This book reminds us that leaders need to care for their groups but also for themselves. I find particular value in their reminder to take care of one’s own issues so they do not interfere with the work of helping group members “take the heat” when dealing with tough issues. Ron and Marty’s emphasis on adaptability is more vital than ever in this era of climate change, threats of pandemics, and burgeoning human migration within countries and across national borders.