10 Essential Books for Every Leader (That Still Hold Up in 2025)

If you’re anything like me, your shelf, Kindle or iPad are full of leadership books.

When I was learning to lead on the job, based 4,500 miles away from home and back in the days of 28.8kb dial up internet, books were my mentors, my coaches, and encouragers.

Over the years, 10 books have stood out. Books I come back to again and again. Books I recommend to clients all the time. Books that are practical, encouraging, and actually help when you’re in the thick of leading a team.

Here they are — along with a short note on what they are, what they cover, why I rate them, and how they can help you lead better this year.

1. Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek

A deep dive into the biology and emotion of leadership and how great leaders build trust.

The book explores how leaders can create environments where people feel safe, leading to cooperation and success.

• Why I love it: It emphasises empathy and putting your team first.

• How it helps you: Learn to build a culture where your team feels valued and motivated.
  

2. The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle

An exploration of the secrets behind highly successful groups.

Coyle identifies key skills that generate cohesion and cooperation in teams, and the three foundations to build culture.

• Why I love it: Actionable, sharp, and based on real research.

• How it helps you: Understand and implement the elements that make teams thrive.
  

3. The Now Habit by Neil Fiore

A strategic programme for overcoming procrastination.

Fiore offers some fantastic techniques to reduce stress and increase productivity.

• Why I love it: It’s practical and non-judgy — perfect when you’re stuck.

• How it helps you: Build habits that enhance focus and efficiency without burnout.
  

4. The Game Plan by Steve Bull

A guide to developing mental toughness in the workplace.

Bull applies sports psychology principles to business leadership. It was a game-changer (no pun intended) for me.

• Why I love it: It makes mindset practical, not fluffy.

• How it helps you: Build resilience and a winning mindset in your leadership.
  

5. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell

A comprehensive guide outlining essential leadership principles.

Each law is backed by real-world examples and practical advice.

• Why I love it: It’s like a leadership greatest hits album.

• How it helps you: Gives you a solid, structured foundation to grow from.
  

6. Silos, Politics & Turf Wars by Patrick Lencioni

A leadership fable addressing organisational barriers.

Lencioni discusses how to overcome divisions within organisations to achieve unity.

• Why I love it: It’s painfully relatable — and hopeful.

• How it helps you: Offers real strategies to break down silos and build collaboration.
  

7. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni

A fable revealing the common pitfalls teams face.

Identifies five dysfunctions that hinder team performance and how to overcome them.

• Why I love it: You’ll see your own team in here — and know what to do.

• How it helps you: Tackle trust, conflict, accountability and get your team back on track.
  

8. The Power of Moments by Chip & Dan Heath

An exploration of why certain experiences have extraordinary impact.

The Heath brothers show how to create meaningful moments that resonate.

• Why I love it: It’s a playbook for making people feel something.

• How it helps you: Craft experiences that build loyalty, motivation and belief.
  

9. The One Minute Manager by Ken Blanchard

A concise guide to effective management.

Blanchard presents simple techniques for goal setting, praising, and reprimanding.

• Why I love it: Simple works.

• How it helps you: Improve day-to-day management without overcomplicating things.
  

10. Win at Work and Succeed at Life by Michael Hyatt & Megan Hyatt-Miller

A guide to achieving balance between professional and personal life.

The authors introduce the “Double Win” strategy for success in both arenas.

• Why I love it: You don’t have to choose work or life — it’s both.

• How it helps you: Implement boundaries and rhythms that work long term.

If you want to hear more about how these books have helped me — and how I’ve seen them help clients too — check out the video below.

And if you’re stuck with a leadership challenge right now, pick the one that jumps out and start there.

Want even more ideas to grow as a leader?

Download The Great Boss Leadership Library — a curated list of the most useful, real-world books I’ve used with clients and teams.

No overblown theory. Just books that actually help.

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Because no-one taught you how to be a great boss.

But you can learn.