Here are 67 books that Leadership and Self-Deception fans have personally recommended if you like
Leadership and Self-Deception.
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How many people have had a great idea and just needed to gain support within a large organization to move ahead? I have, over and over again, along with very accomplished teams. It’s often hard work to create something new. It requires both art and science. When people understand how it works, they elevate their craft and achieve more while lifting others up. Some of them even change the world. I’ve found great wisdom and amazing stories of courage and adventure from people who have already been there, done that, and written about their experiences. I hope these book recommendations broaden your perspective and inspire your imagination!
This book provides actionable guidance for those who want to identify and assess new strategic growth opportunities for their companies. I found it especially valuable since my research has highlighted how much groundbreaking intrapreneurial success depends on strong alignment with the broader organization’s strategy.
A basic premise is that red oceans are already filled with lots of competition, and blue oceans offer a broader range of motion to define new categories and establish a sustainable leadership position. Readers will find a powerful framework and tools for those who commit to world-class strategy as they assess where to focus- and how to do it.
This book is a valuable primary reference, especially for a deep dive into strategy as part of the overall intrapreneurial journey.
OVER 4 MILLION COPIES SOLD WALL STREET JOURNAL AND BUSINESSWEEK BESTSELLER RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC AND IMPACTFUL STRATEGY BOOKS EVER WRITTEN
The global phenomenon that has sold over 4 million copies, is published in a record-breaking 46 languages and is a bestseller across five continents--now updated and expanded with new content. Named by Fast Company as one of the most influential leadership books in its Leadership Hall of Fame. A strategy classic.
In this perennial bestseller, embraced by organizations and industries worldwide, globally preeminent management thinkers W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne challenge everything you thought you…
A moving story of love, betrayal, and the enduring power of hope in the face of darkness.
German pianist Hedda Schlagel's world collapsed when her fiancé, Fritz, vanished after being sent to an enemy alien camp in the United States during the Great War. Fifteen years later, in 1932, Hedda…
The world of entrepreneurship has been my driving passion for decades. Why? It is entrepreneurs, despite their many quirks, who make the world a better place. It’s entrepreneurs who create jobs in a world where jobs in many places are in short supply. It’s entrepreneurs who wake up every day with a passion to forge their own path with the freedom to do so. And it’s why I embarked at mid-life on a second career as a business-school professor. It’s why I teach and why I write. The books I suggest here will give you a fighting chance to deal effectively with the challenges you’ll surely find along your entrepreneurial journey.
Jim Collins’ best book is the most pragmatic and most useful business book I’ve ever read. Period. From “getting the right people on the bus” to “the hedgehog concept” and more, the fundamentals entailed in creating a truly great business are all here. What more need I say?
________________________________ Can a good company become a great one? If so, how?
After a five-year research project, Jim Collins concludes that good to great can and does happen. In this book, he uncovers the underlying variables that enable any type of organisation to make the leap from good to great while other organisations remain only good. Rigorously supported by evidence, his findings are surprising - at times even shocking - to the modern mind.
Good to Great achieves a rare distinction: a management book full of vital ideas that reads as well as a fast-paced novel. It is widely regarded…
From an early age, I had an insatiable curiosity. I questioned organized religion. I wondered why people can’t get along and why wars were fought over personal ideas and beliefs. Additionally, early in life, I had multiple physical and psychological spiritual experiences that kept my wonder and searching alive. My curiosity took me on a journey of self-discovery. I studied the ontology of language and became certified as a structural integration body/mind therapist and mediator. Each of the suggested books played a role in awakening me and providing tools to become a better human being. I hope the books inspire you.
This was the first book that piqued my interest in human dynamics and relationships. Steven’s seven habits ask us to examine our patterns of interaction with others and consider how we can think and act differently in our work. Steven’s approach opened my eyes to some bad habits I had, while also inspiring me to learn more.
Along with a few business dilemmas and dramas, this book set me on a path of inquiry about humans, relationships, work ethics, and the power of words and conversations.
New York Times bestseller - over 25 million copies sold The No. 1 Most Influential Business Book of the Twentieth Century
"[Thirty] years after it first appeared, the wisdom of The 7 Habits is more relevant than ever. On an individual level people are burning out, and on a collective level we are burning up the planet. So Dr. Covey's emphasis on self-renewal and his understanding that leadership and creativity require us to tap into our own physical, mental, and spiritual resources are exactly what we need now." Arianna Huffington
One of the most inspiring and impactful books ever written,…
In 1913, a 15-year-old pregnant girl was found dead of apparent suicide. Dr. James Wilson, a new graduate and the first doctor ever to start a practice in this rural town, feels guilty over her death because of his delayed intervention.
I am the principal of Guttman Development Strategies (GDS), an organization development firm that works with senior executives and their teams in major corporations globally to build horizontal, high-performance teams, provide leadership coaching, and develop leadership skills. I am a speaker and author of three acclaimed management books and dozens of articles in business publications.
The insights in this groundbreaking book apply across the board, from social and family life to interacting and managing others in organizational life.
What factors are at play when people of high IQ flounder while those who are more modestly endowed succeed? Goleman argues that the difference is Emotional Intelligence, which, as he explains, comprises empathy, effective social skills/communication, self-awareness, self-regulation, and motivation.
I’ve watched too many of the allegedly best and brightest, tough-minded executives flame out because they failed to rein in emotional impulse, read others’ feelings, or handle interpersonal relationships. The skills are learnable, and in today’s asymmetric, hybrid, matrixed organizations, they are essential for success.
The groundbreaking bestseller that redefines intelligence and success Does IQ define our destiny? Daniel Goleman argues that our view of human intelligence is far too narrow, and that our emotions play major role in thought, decision making and individual success. Self-awareness, impulse control, persistence, motivation, empathy and social deftness are all qualities that mark people who excel: whose relationships flourish, who are stars in the workplace. With new insights into the brain architecture underlying emotion and rationality, Goleman shows precisely how emotional intelligence can be nurtured and strengthened in all of us.
By Ivanna Mikhailovna Rosendal and Anne Katrine Carlsson SejrAuthor
Why are we passionate about this?
We are two leaders of teams who work in the intersection between people and technology and are obsessed with the human factor in organizational transformation. We have developed the Maneuvering Monday universe to create a space where we discuss topics around leadership, organizational design, and transformation with other thought leaders and experts around the world, and love to nerd these topics to better understand different perspectives and, not least, share tactics to make work better. We spend so much time at work, so it has to be meaningful. All the books on this list have inspired us to improve as leaders, colleagues, and employees. We hope they will inspire you too!
We loved this book because it gave us concrete ideas for how to approach—or “unblock”—difficult situations at work, while also entertaining us at the same time!
It has a great way of communicating the author’s advice with short fictional stories in the beginning of each chapter to highlight the specific challenge that the chapter can help you tackle with a set of methods. It gave us tangible and pragmatic advice in the space of strategy, steering, decision-making, ownership, teamwork, meetings, and change management.
I, AK, ended up reading the book from cover to cover because the topics resonated with situations at work, but I believe it’s helpful that each chapter can be read standalone, so I can go back in the future to address specific needs.
Need significant outcomes quickly? But does everything feel like swimming through peanut butter? It is time to Unblock your organization.Perhaps you want to double your company’s market share or reinvent its core business. Or you are bringing a new product to market or need to implement regulations. If so, this book is for you; it’s designed for leaders who want to move the needle.To achieve your goals, you need people to take ownership. You need less talking, more action, less analysis and faster decisions, less bureaucracy, and more initiative.Learn to apply modern organizational methods in areas of:Strategy: Craft a strategy…
By Ivanna Mikhailovna Rosendal and Anne Katrine Carlsson SejrAuthor
Why are we passionate about this?
We are two leaders of teams who work in the intersection between people and technology and are obsessed with the human factor in organizational transformation. We have developed the Maneuvering Monday universe to create a space where we discuss topics around leadership, organizational design, and transformation with other thought leaders and experts around the world, and love to nerd these topics to better understand different perspectives and, not least, share tactics to make work better. We spend so much time at work, so it has to be meaningful. All the books on this list have inspired us to improve as leaders, colleagues, and employees. We hope they will inspire you too!
We enjoyed reading Magnetic Nonsense because of the way it calls out the corporate bullshit bingo and challenges the management trends that are dominating organizations across the world.
For me, AK, it even challenges some of my own perceptions of concepts that I have spent a lot of time on at work—for instance, cultural values—which was refreshing and thought-provoking. I thought it was a fun read too, and I like that the book’s points and arguments are based on a collection of research, data, and case studies. The author is aggressively passionate about cutting the rubbish and enabling a better work future for all.
The reading experience felt a little uncomfortable for me (because it forced me to reconsider some of my beliefs) in the best and most inspirational way possible, and therefore, I absolutely recommend this book.
For millions of us work feels like The Office - only less funny. We’re drowning in nonsense whilst pretending it’s all perfectly rational.Endless management fads and the soundbites of self-proclaimed gurus promise to improve everything. But they never do. It’s just more pointless and annoying bullshit.But where did all this nonsense come from? Why is it so universal? And how do we make it go away?This is the story of how we got here, why we keep falling for the same rubbish, and what we can collectively do to change our belief systems and enable a better work future for…
Voyager 1 was launched on September 5, 1977, and Voyager 2 was launched on August 20, 1977. Both began a historic journey with unique 'time capsules' on board intended to communicate a story of our world to extraterrestrials. The Voyager message is carried by a phonograph record 12-inch gold-plated disk…
By Ivanna Mikhailovna Rosendal and Anne Katrine Carlsson SejrAuthor
Why are we passionate about this?
We are two leaders of teams who work in the intersection between people and technology and are obsessed with the human factor in organizational transformation. We have developed the Maneuvering Monday universe to create a space where we discuss topics around leadership, organizational design, and transformation with other thought leaders and experts around the world, and love to nerd these topics to better understand different perspectives and, not least, share tactics to make work better. We spend so much time at work, so it has to be meaningful. All the books on this list have inspired us to improve as leaders, colleagues, and employees. We hope they will inspire you too!
The author’s enthusiasm and expertise shine through this book and make it an enjoyable read, especially if you are interested in learning as a capability in human beings and organizations like we are!
I, AK, think that she has managed to make a complex topic engaging, and I felt inspired by her practical ideas for how to nurture a learning mindset in an age of artificial intelligence and technological advancement.
I think it’s a well-researched book with many great examples from real life on the topic of building a sustainable learning environment and continuous improvement in both individuals and corporate settings.
WINNER: getAbstract International Book Award 2025 - Learning Impact Developing a learning mindset is essential in a rapidly changing world. But how can you adopt this approach? What qualities do you need? What role do technology and neuroscience play? How can it boost innovation, problem-solving and collaboration? The Learning Mindset has the answers. Written by an international learning expert, this book explains what a learning mindset is and what the benefits are for individuals, teams and the wider organization. It covers the competencies needed for this approach such as imagination, curiosity, consilience, empathy and openness. This book shows how these…
By Ivanna Mikhailovna Rosendal and Anne Katrine Carlsson SejrAuthor
Why are we passionate about this?
We are two leaders of teams who work in the intersection between people and technology and are obsessed with the human factor in organizational transformation. We have developed the Maneuvering Monday universe to create a space where we discuss topics around leadership, organizational design, and transformation with other thought leaders and experts around the world, and love to nerd these topics to better understand different perspectives and, not least, share tactics to make work better. We spend so much time at work, so it has to be meaningful. All the books on this list have inspired us to improve as leaders, colleagues, and employees. We hope they will inspire you too!
In this book, the author shows how aligning yourself with your needs and being able to express them leads to more effective communication. This is in the context of being a woman who has a very narrow acceptable definition of wants that we are allowed to have.
For me, Ivanna, reading this book opened up my eyes to the times when I have failed at negotiating. It helped me understand how to effectively communicate the needs that I have in a negotiation.
Stop being a servant of the life you're living and become a creator of the world you want. Electrifying lessons in power, influence and persuasion to equalise women in an unequal world.
Why do so many women feel they're too much yet not enough? How can you feel 'good and mad' yet reluctant to speak up in a meeting or difficult conversation? What causes women to freeze at critical moments?
Kasia Urbaniak spent 17 years studying to become a Taoist nun. To foot the bill for her studies, she worked as a high-paid (and extremely successful) dominatrix in dungeons around…
I did all the right things to become a corporate lawyer or an academic, but learned those were not for me. What I love is solving problems, with other people. And that is what negotiation is all about. Whether it’s work on a big transaction or trying to stop a civil war, putting a deal together up front, or trying much later to pick up the pieces of a relationship gone wrong, what I most enjoy doing is figuring out what we need to solve for, who has to be involved, and how we are going to get there. These books have helped me get better at doing that.
It’s not either/or: You can get a good deal and improve your relationship with the other side, at the same time. I loved Getting to Yes when I first read it in Roger Fisher’s law school class, and I still love it today, because it taught me I could solve difficult problems or deal with difficult people, and do it in a principled way. Whether it is a transaction for a Fortune 500 company, negotiating for a raise, or working on an international boundary dispute, the concepts and tools are the same, and they don’t start by requiring the other side to lose. Whether you are a negotiation expert, or just starting out, start here.
__________________________ THE WORLD'S BESTSELLING GUIDE TO NEGOTIATION
Getting to Yes has been in print for over thirty years. This timeless classic has helped millions of people secure win-win agreements both at work and in their private lives. Founded on principles like:
* Don't bargain over positions
* Separate the people from the problem and
* Insist on objective criteria
Getting to Yes simplifies the whole negotiation process, offering a highly effective framework that will ensure success.
Deputy Jenna Hart has only been working in her sleepy hometown of Pearl Springs for seven months when city officials begin to be targeted by a killer. Twenty years ago, the construction of a dam caused people to lose their land to eminent domain. That wound has not healed with…
After more than two decades of practice in the “corporate divorce” arena, I understand the challenges that arise from internal dissension within the management, operations, and ownership of a closely held business. Business is about relationships; relationships with customers, vendors, lenders, landlords, and often, relationships with business partners. Sometimes, business relationships stop being productive and start to impede business growth and success. That’s where I come in. I work with business owners to bring a successful resolution to disputes concerning the management and control of the business.
This book is a practical guide to delivering news you’d rather not have to deliver. As someone who has avoided my share of difficult conversations that should have been had years ago, I very much appreciate the step-by-step framework this book provides.
With an emphasis on preparation, compassion, and follow-up, this book explains that delicate but productive conversations are rarely one-time events, but multiple, structured conversations. And while the book is for the person delivering the bad news, the authors are careful to explain that it's not about the person delivering the bad news, but the one receiving it, that matters if a difficult conversation is to be productive. This book is a must for anyone who regularly manages other people or has fraught business relationships.
In How to Have Tough Conversations, we cut straight to the chase-because, let's face it, you don't have time for fluff. This book is your ultimate resource for transforming the dreaded tough talks into opportunities for growth and success. Whether it's a conversation you've been avoiding or truths you've hesitated to address, here you'll find the keys to elevating those discussions and achieving the outcomes you need.
With a blend of humor and down-to-earth practicality, we make it easier than ever to navigate those tricky talks. Say goodbye to sweaty palms and hello to mastery in communication skills and conflict…
