Summer is coming, and we all could use a little rest and relaxation after the last 16 months. It’s pretty clear that the pandemic has changed many things, from the way we work to the way we interact with and lead others. But it’s not like these were easy before; grasping the nuances of managing people is intricate and complicated. Now – more than ever – as work evolves and we transition the way that we lead, it’s good to stay on top of not only the newest techniques for leading but also tried-and-true methods as well.  

 Since one of the best ways to learn is through books, we gathered five of our favorites (some old and some new) that will help foster the best leader in you, and the principles and lessons they contain will help you with managing your business and employees better and more efficiently. 

 Be sure to give them a read, as they’re great for all leaders, from the newest of business owners to those with years of experience leading at different levels. 

 The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People 

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey highlights seven practices that promote personal effectiveness. Covey’s insights include how to focus on outcomes, methods of effective prioritization, developing connections with others, and balancing work, home, and personal responsibilities.  

 The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You 

John C. Maxwell explores leadership behaviors extensively in The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership and utilizes stories to provide context. When asked about the most important leadership principle, Maxwell gives a succinct answer: “The one thing you need to know about leadership is that there is more than one thing you need to know about leadership!”  

 The EQ Deficiency: How Emotional Intelligence and Compassion Can Cure an Emotional Pandemic, Solve Our “People Problems” and Be a Catalyst for Positive Change 

The EQ Deficiency by Brittney Connor is a wealth of knowledge on how to grow as a leader, and Connor looks at daily opportunities to impose positive impacts on others and understanding the role emotional intelligence plays for individuals and amongst colleagues. 

 Humanocracy: Creating Organizations as Amazing as the People Inside Them 

Gary Hamel and Michele Zanini’s Humanocracy is perfect for our current age now that we are moving towards a more value-based care approach in both the health care industry and with how we conduct business. Hamel says that "For the first time since the dawning of the industrial age, the only way to build a company that's fit for the future is to build one that's fit for human beings as well." While this was relevant before, it’s even more relevant now as organizations are seeking to become increasingly resilient, agile, adaptive, innovative, and customer centric as we emerge from the pandemic. Leaders looking for ways to spark this change in their organization should especially read this book. 

 The Power of Habit 

The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg is a great book for leaders to read, as it will help with understanding how habits are formed and what you can do about changing bad habits and building new ones. Duhigg emphasizes how habits can impact your organization and become forces to contend with even if you never realized they were there. He also proposes that being able to spot and manage these habits can be the key to successfully leading an organization, which is especially pertinent now since many of our habits have changed in response to the pandemic.