Leadership books to read?

[fireman32]

Looking for good books on Leadership, I have the Dichotomy of Leadership on the way, but I’d like any input on others that you may have found useful. If they are geared toward the fire service that would be a plus.

 

[Batjack]

I can mention 3 that may not seem to fit your situation as they are text used at the War College, but will help.
1) Strategic Leadership
2) On War and Leadership
3) Leadership in War

 

[Stob]

My first leadership book that was recommended by a superior was Leadership Secrets of Atilla The Hun. Easy read and kind of funny too.

 

[The Original Rooster]

This one is good and used by the military. It's about servant leadership.

https://www.moore.army.mil/infantry/199th/OCS/content/pdf/The%20Servant%20as%20Leader.pdf

 

[DannyW]

Maybe not current and specific to your concern, I have always found the teachings of Sun Tzu to be relevant to almost any leadership situation.

 

[HarryO45]

My first leadership book that was recommended by a superior was Leadership Secrets of Atilla The Hun. Easy read and kind of funny too.

Wow, when i saw this thread that is exactly the book i thought of. It served me well.

 

[UGA Lineman]

Jocko Willink's, Extreme Ownership and William H. McRaven's, The Wisdom Of The Bullfrog. These two have military backgrounds but the books translate their military experiences to civilian life.

 

[Ruger#3]

If you have Linkedin, look for Darrell Richardson. He has a consulting service for business executives. He post 5 minute reads on Linkedin. Lots of got leadership advice from a guy whose been in the business trenches.

 

[northgeorgiasportsman]

Looking for good books on Leadership, I have the Dichotomy of Leadership on the way, but I’d like any input on others that you may have found useful. If they are geared toward the fire service that would be a plus.

Don't read Dichotomy of Leadership until you've first read Extreme Ownership. If you can, get a copy of EO for every person in your team.

 

[Mars]

I read Extreme Ownership and although I generally agreed with most of what was said, it's message is about as deep as a tea cup. The entire book is a collection of stories that tell you that if you are a leader and anything bad happens anywhere under your command, you are to blame no matter how far removed you seem to be from the situation.

 

[Ruger#3]

Leadership books seem to be the SEAL retirement plan these days. I recently attended a company SEAL led leadership conference. Didn’t learn much I could use but the stories were cool.

 

[Flash]

Not a book but it's in the Book

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you"

We had this in elementary school, keep this in mind when you do whatever.

 

[northgeorgiasportsman]

I read Extreme Ownership and although I generally agreed with most of what was said, it's message is about as deep as a tea cup. The entire book is a collection of stories that tell you that if you are a leader and anything bad happens anywhere under your command, you are to blame no matter how far removed you seem to be from the situation.

If you read it on a surface level, that's probably the message you came away with. But it's much deeper than that. Of all the run-of-the-mill books on leadership, I can't think of one that's been more impactful to me than Extreme Ownership.
Just the philosophy of Leading up the Chain of Command has had a tremendous impact on me.

 

[Geffellz18]

Not much in to book reading, but really enjoy Simon Sinek’s views on leadership.
I just spoke with a group of UGA pharmacy student’s this past Wednesday. This group were a part of a leadership counsel that my company co-sponsors.
As I shared with them, the most important skill IMO is People Leadership.
You can have all the skills, acumen & competency but all is baseless if you cannot effectively transition it to your team based on their individual abilities & personality.
Your team should be a direct reflection of you whether that’s 2, 20 or 200 people, but they don’t have to “Be You”!
Depending on your own personal bias, that last part can be difficult. I’ve had several leaders that tried to mold their teams to think, act and execute just as they would. Thats a recipe for disaster long term!

 

[livinoutdoors]

Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield.
How to be Amazing at Everything by LOD.

 

[The Original Rooster]

Another good book on Servant Leadership is The Servant by James C. Hunter.

 

[Ruger#3]

If you read it on a surface level, that's probably the message you came away with. But it's much deeper than that. Of all the run-of-the-mill books on leadership, I can't think of one that's been more impactful to me than Extreme Ownership.
Just the philosophy of Leading up the Chain of Command has had a tremendous impact on me.

I do believe having many of those principles covered in other military leadership schools provides a different perspective.

 

[dwhee87]

I read Extreme Ownership and although I generally agreed with most of what was said, it's message is about as deep as a tea cup. The entire book is a collection of stories that tell you that if you are a leader and anything bad happens anywhere under your command, you are to blame no matter how far removed you seem to be from the situation.

That's not at all what I took away from that book. I rank it up there at the top, and it changed the way I look at my or anyone's role in an organization. A team wins together, and every member of the team is responsible for success. That's the overall message I got.

Another really good one is "Turn This Ship Around" by David Marquet. Another military guy (not a seal).

Those two are the two books that that I attribute my leadership style to, more than any others.

 

[fireman32]

Hardest part of leadership for me is first, staying motivated and second, knowing when to be a people pleaser or an authoritarian. On scene, it’s no issue, we’re there to handle business and unity of command is practiced without fail. The intricacies of station life can get interesting though.
Fireman hate change, and we hate the way things are.

 

[HarryO45]

Ranger Handbook

Timeless