As we start the new year, all of us are evaluating last year and looking to grow in the coming year.  A number of people have asked for leadership reading suggestions for the coming year.  So here are 12 leadership must read selections for each month in 2020.
To go directly to the book on Amazon, click the title of the book or the link at the bottom of paragraph.

Leaders Who Last by Dave KraftI just finished for the 2nd time Dave Kraft’s Leaders Who Last. Kraft describes the five foundational areas of leaders: power, purpose, passion, priorities and pacing.  He keeps things short and easy to read.  A couple sittings is all this book takes.  Because the book is concise, you get a lot of meat and skip all the filler. https://gml.tips/LdrsLastBk

Ordering Your Private World by Gordon McDonaldI just finished this book again, and again it was a great read!! McDonald picks a couple really important high level leadership keys and dives into them really well.  The keys he picks are practical, down to earth and he nails it.  This is a “every leader must read book.”  It is well written, easy to read and application comes easily.https://gml.tips/OrderWorldBk

I read Ordering Your Private World and Leaders Who Last one after the other.  Both books are similar yet different. They complimented each other, carried a common theme and were a great one-two punch. They were awesome back to back and I highly recommend you read them together. 

Leadership Pain by Samuel ChandI bought this book because it was on a huge sale.  Having read it, it’s worth every penny no matter how much you pay for it.  There are books you read only once and books you keep around to read at crucial moments in your life. Leadership Pain is clearly the latter and a must read.https://gml.tips/LdrPainBk

Conviction To Lead by Al MohlerMohler is a university president, ministry leader and influencer.  What made this book great was the content, writing style and flow.  Each chapter is a different topic, which makes the book feel short and easy to read.  Instead of feeling the weight of a huge book, each chapter is encapsulated with a key element of leadership.  The content is personal and comes from years of experience.https://gml.tips/ConvictnToLeadBk

Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leaf BabinJocko Willink and Leaf Babin hit immediate success with their book, Extreme Ownership.  Having been Navy Seals, they bring the life and death, win or die insight into everyday view.  The premise and simplicity of their principles is powerful and the action is pounding.  When you start Extreme Ownership, you won’t put it down.https://gml.tips/ExtremeOwnershipBook

Ego is the Enemy by Ryan HolidayIn researching character qualities of great leaders, ego and humility has risen to the top of the pile.  Out of the blue one day, Ego is the Enemy showed up on my radar.  Ego and leadership are a bad mix and this book does a great job dealing with the subject.  The book is written from a stoic perspective, so eat the fish and spit out the bones.  The subject matter is a must read for every leader.https://gml.tips/EgoEnemyBk

Wooden on Leadership by John WoodenJohn Wooden is the winningest college coach in history and a great leader.  His lessons from the world of sports bring a win or lose view that makes understanding leadership really easy.http://amzn.to/1LNPsPW

How To Win Friends and Influence People by Dale CarnegieThis book has been on the Amazon most read list for more than 137 weeks.  It is always in the top leadership book list and has sold millions upon millions of copies.  Leadership by definition is a people skill and this book is the defacto standard on how to improve our people skills.  Not only should you read it this year, I suggest reading it every year.https://gml.tips/InfluencePeopleBk

The Character of Leadership by Jeff IorgThis book focuses on who you are, not what you do.  It is a quick read that is full of great insight and focuses on nine qualities that define great leaders.  The title isn’t catchy, but the content is steller.  My copy of the book is highlighted from front to back and anyone who breaths oxygen needs to read it.https://gml.tips/ChractrOfLdrshpBk

Derailed by Tim IrwinWant to know the signs of failing leadership?  In similar style as Jim Collins book Good to Great, Derailed focuses on five lessons learned from catastrophic failures of leadership.  I have read this book at least three times and each time it gets better.  Every leader needs to own this book and read it on a recurring basis.https://gml.tips/DerailedBk

The Book on Leadership by John MacArthurSo often leadership books are the author sharing principles, insights and lessons about leadership.  Here the author walks us thru the life of the apostle Paul and uses Paul’s life as the foundation for the lessons.  It starts broad, but as you progress it gets more targeted and informing.  Most leadership books follow a specific recipe and this one breaks that mold.  It is a refreshing read that is well done.https://gml.tips/TheLdrshpBk

Above The Line by Urban MyerI’m not an Ohio State fan and really don’t follow college football, but this book came highly recommended and exceeded my expectations.  I trust the following quotes will entice you to read this book:
“The defining characteristic of every championship team is leadership.”
“Average leaders have quotes. Good leaders have a plan. Exceptional leaders have a system.”
“I’ve come to learn that your football system gets better when your leadership system gets better.” 
“Above the Line behavior is the foundation of success in anything you do. There isn’t an aspect of your life that is untouched by it, and because of that, the decision to behave Above the Line or Below the Line is the most important choice you make every day.”
https://gml.tips/AboveTheLineBk

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