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11 Books To Boost Your Productivity + Make You A Better Leader
Summer may be the perfect time for beach reads, but it’s also high season for a personal project. Whether you’re looking to improve your presentation skills, gain smart, authentic leadership skills, or balance your life, we’ve got you covered.
Leaders Eat Last—Simon Sinek
Plenty of books out there promise to make you a better leader. This one, though, actually details what makes a good leader, since anybody—regardless of title or rank—can rise to the occasion. You’ll learn dozens of ways to inspire those around you to reach their full potential. Sprinkled throughout the advice, too, Simon Sinek shares anecdotes about the military, banking industry, and more, to illustrate each point. One tactic: Building a healthy environment for everyone, called a circle of safety. In other words, creating a culture where everybody matters, and each member of the team is trusted, respected, and autonomous.
Leave Your Mark: Land Your Dream Job. Kill It in Your Career. Rock Social Media.—Aliza Licht
Reading this book—a refreshingly modern take on professional success—is like chatting with a smart, savvy mentor over lunch. Part work-memoir, part business self-help tome, it’s by one of the first PR executives to embrace the power of social media. Consider, for instance, Aliza Licht’s stance on personal use of social media platforms. She once witnessed a co-worker pass on a qualified job candidate because of a questionable photo that person had shared. Our general rule of thumb? If a photo or post doesn’t elevate you as a leader, don’t share it. Licht raises the bar on that: “If you wouldn’t feel comfortable running a full-page ad of your tweet in The New York Times,” she writes, “don’t post it.”
Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self To Your Biggest Challenges—Amy Cuddy
After the author’s incredibly inspiring TED talk on body language (it’s the second-most viewed talk in TED’s history), she began hearing from men and women across the globe whose lives had been changed by Cuddy’s research. And in her book, she shares how we can all apply that research to go after our goals. For one, she found that when someone strikes a powerful pose—for instance, standing like Wonder Woman before a presentation—the act actually alters his or her brain chemistry, upping testosterone and lowering cortisol. She shares tons of tricks, too, for making small adjustments in your life to build toward a confident, powerful presence, from setting alarms on your phone to check your posture to scheduling walking meetings. The down-to-earth book is loaded with practical advice, and always reiterates Cuddy’s no-nonsense mantra for fighting impostor syndrome: She doesn’t champion faking it ‘til you make it. Her attitude? Fake it ‘til you become it.
Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well-Being, Wisdom, and Wonder—Arianna Huffington
After achieving ultimate success on paper, Arianna Huffington suddenly collapsed. She worried about an underlying medical issue, but learned she’d simply worn herself too thin, working long hours and not getting enough sleep; she was suffering from exhaustion. For her, it was the ultimate a-ha moment. So take it from a wildly successful business woman: You’ll experience a higher level of success when you live a balanced life. How do we thrive? Instead of focusing on money and power, Huffington champions her “third metric” by which we can measure success. Her story helps us go deeper and build a rewarding, well-rounded existence, through mindfulness, pursuing our passions, giving back, taking time to unplug—and getting plenty of sleep. And Huffington speaks from experience.
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do In Life and Business—Charles Duhigg
After reading this book, which delves into the science behind habit formation, you’ll never look at behavior (yours or a loved one’s) in the same way. Ultimately, everything we do is a result of habits: what we eat, if we spend or save, how often we exercise. And by breaking down the author’s “habit loop”—made up of a cue, a routine, and a reward—we can actually change habits over time. Read: We can reprogram our brains to develop new routines. The author also writes about the importance of community, which we’ve found to be so true at barre3, in our studios and virtually: “For a habit to stay changed, people must believe change is possible. And most often, that belief only emerges with the help of a group,” he writes. “Your odds of success go up dramatically when you commit to changing as part of a group. Belief is essential, and it grows out of a communal experience.”
Sprint: How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas In Just Five Days—Jake Knapp, John Zeratsky, and Braden Kowitz
From three partners at Google Ventures, this step-by-step guide walks readers through the authors’ tried-and-true method for attacking a professional challenge through a so-called sprint. Rather than stewing over a problem or product for a matter of weeks (while also multi-tasking on a number of other projects), they advocate for a 5-day workshop of sorts, bringing together smart people from throughout a company and focusing exclusively on one thing. The informative how-to is intertwined with case studies of Silicon Valley start-ups who’ve gone through a sprint, all with incredible results.
Good to Great—James Collins
This classic is a must-read for anyone who’s interested in the inner-workings of healthy, successful companies—the ones that make make the leap from good to great. James Collins extensively studied the practices that great companies held dear, and he distills their shared ideologies, cultures, and more. A little more jargon-y than the others on this list, Good to Great nonetheless makes plenty of points that help readers succeed outside the conference room, such as instituting a culture of disciple and focusing on “one big idea” (notice a theme?).
Focal Point: A Proven System to Simplify Your Life, Double Your Productivity, and Achieve All Your Goals—Brian Tracy
It’s a notion we all feel, at one point or another: We spend too much of our time focusing on things we don’t love, and not enough time doing the things that feel truly satisfying. With chapters on business, family, finances, fitness, and more, this book takes a 360-degree look at how we can apply the writer’s Focal Point Process to each and every day. One quick way to frame that process? When most people are asked what they’d do if they learned they had six months to live, the answer’s typically spending time with family, or spending time on activities that are rewarding. Tracy pushes readers further, to live our best life by imagining that we’ll live another 100 years but also will die within 24 hours. “Holding these two thoughts simultaneously,” he writes, “gives you clarity and calmness in the present moment.”
Rework—Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson
Get ready to stop talking and start working. This book is an all-time favorite of barre3 founders Sadie and Chris Lincoln; they loved the message so much, they gifted Rework to their entire team of studio owners. The message: You don’t need plenty of the things most business books swear by—outside investors, an office, or to morph into a workaholic. What you do need? To toss out the rules, plan less, and focus on you and your own business (not the competition).
Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence—Daniel Goleman
Some people wish for an extra hour—or a few!—a day to get things done. Turns out, the scarcest resource in our over-saturated world isn’t time, it’s attention. Daniel Coleman, a psychologist and journalist, has tackled the topic in his latest book, which shows how people who excel in their daily lives have found focus in a variety of ways (mindfulness, meditation, solid preparation, and more), because ultimately, a killer attention span is like a muscle. You have to use it and flex ti to build more. Beware: If you don’t yet meditate, this read will absolutely inspire you to start.
The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results—Gary Keller
Unitasking is so in right now, and we love it. This book falls right in line, outlining how focusing on one thing at a time all but guarantees better results, because we’ve all been there: Too bogged down in our day-to-day to work on the thing that really matters to us. Gary Keller’s universally loved how-to walks through ways anyone can cut through the clutter in a world where we’re constantly bombarded by choices, activities, and information. One thing at a time, one workout at a time, one week at a time—that’s a rationale we can get behind.
What inspirational books have you cracked open lately?
Summer may be the perfect time for beach reads, but it’s also high season for a personal project. Whether you’re looking to improve your presentation skills, gain smart, authentic leadership skills, or balance your life, we’ve got you covered.
Leaders Eat Last—Simon Sinek
Plenty of books out there promise to make you a better leader. This one, though, actually details what makes a good leader, since anybody—regardless of title or rank—can rise to the occasion. You’ll learn dozens of ways to inspire those around you to reach their full potential. Sprinkled throughout the advice, too, Simon Sinek shares anecdotes about the military, banking industry, and more, to illustrate each point. One tactic: Building a healthy environment for everyone, called a circle of safety. In other words, creating a culture where everybody matters, and each member of the team is trusted, respected, and autonomous.
Leave Your Mark: Land Your Dream Job. Kill It in Your Career. Rock Social Media.—Aliza Licht
Reading this book—a refreshingly modern take on professional success—is like chatting with a smart, savvy mentor over lunch. Part work-memoir, part business self-help tome, it’s by one of the first PR executives to embrace the power of social media. Consider, for instance, Aliza Licht’s stance on personal use of social media platforms. She once witnessed a co-worker pass on a qualified job candidate because of a questionable photo that person had shared. Our general rule of thumb? If a photo or post doesn’t elevate you as a leader, don’t share it. Licht raises the bar on that: “If you wouldn’t feel comfortable running a full-page ad of your tweet in The New York Times,” she writes, “don’t post it.”
Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self To Your Biggest Challenges—Amy Cuddy
After the author’s incredibly inspiring TED talk on body language (it’s the second-most viewed talk in TED’s history), she began hearing from men and women across the globe whose lives had been changed by Cuddy’s research. And in her book, she shares how we can all apply that research to go after our goals. For one, she found that when someone strikes a powerful pose—for instance, standing like Wonder Woman before a presentation—the act actually alters his or her brain chemistry, upping testosterone and lowering cortisol. She shares tons of tricks, too, for making small adjustments in your life to build toward a confident, powerful presence, from setting alarms on your phone to check your posture to scheduling walking meetings. The down-to-earth book is loaded with practical advice, and always reiterates Cuddy’s no-nonsense mantra for fighting impostor syndrome: She doesn’t champion faking it ‘til you make it. Her attitude? Fake it ‘til you become it.
Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well-Being, Wisdom, and Wonder—Arianna Huffington
After achieving ultimate success on paper, Arianna Huffington suddenly collapsed. She worried about an underlying medical issue, but learned she’d simply worn herself too thin, working long hours and not getting enough sleep; she was suffering from exhaustion. For her, it was the ultimate a-ha moment. So take it from a wildly successful business woman: You’ll experience a higher level of success when you live a balanced life. How do we thrive? Instead of focusing on money and power, Huffington champions her “third metric” by which we can measure success. Her story helps us go deeper and build a rewarding, well-rounded existence, through mindfulness, pursuing our passions, giving back, taking time to unplug—and getting plenty of sleep. And Huffington speaks from experience.
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do In Life and Business—Charles Duhigg
After reading this book, which delves into the science behind habit formation, you’ll never look at behavior (yours or a loved one’s) in the same way. Ultimately, everything we do is a result of habits: what we eat, if we spend or save, how often we exercise. And by breaking down the author’s “habit loop”—made up of a cue, a routine, and a reward—we can actually change habits over time. Read: We can reprogram our brains to develop new routines. The author also writes about the importance of community, which we’ve found to be so true at barre3, in our studios and virtually: “For a habit to stay changed, people must believe change is possible. And most often, that belief only emerges with the help of a group,” he writes. “Your odds of success go up dramatically when you commit to changing as part of a group. Belief is essential, and it grows out of a communal experience.”
Sprint: How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas In Just Five Days—Jake Knapp, John Zeratsky, and Braden Kowitz
From three partners at Google Ventures, this step-by-step guide walks readers through the authors’ tried-and-true method for attacking a professional challenge through a so-called sprint. Rather than stewing over a problem or product for a matter of weeks (while also multi-tasking on a number of other projects), they advocate for a 5-day workshop of sorts, bringing together smart people from throughout a company and focusing exclusively on one thing. The informative how-to is intertwined with case studies of Silicon Valley start-ups who’ve gone through a sprint, all with incredible results.
Good to Great—James Collins
This classic is a must-read for anyone who’s interested in the inner-workings of healthy, successful companies—the ones that make make the leap from good to great. James Collins extensively studied the practices that great companies held dear, and he distills their shared ideologies, cultures, and more. A little more jargon-y than the others on this list, Good to Great nonetheless makes plenty of points that help readers succeed outside the conference room, such as instituting a culture of disciple and focusing on “one big idea” (notice a theme?).
Focal Point: A Proven System to Simplify Your Life, Double Your Productivity, and Achieve All Your Goals—Brian Tracy
It’s a notion we all feel, at one point or another: We spend too much of our time focusing on things we don’t love, and not enough time doing the things that feel truly satisfying. With chapters on business, family, finances, fitness, and more, this book takes a 360-degree look at how we can apply the writer’s Focal Point Process to each and every day. One quick way to frame that process? When most people are asked what they’d do if they learned they had six months to live, the answer’s typically spending time with family, or spending time on activities that are rewarding. Tracy pushes readers further, to live our best life by imagining that we’ll live another 100 years but also will die within 24 hours. “Holding these two thoughts simultaneously,” he writes, “gives you clarity and calmness in the present moment.”
Rework—Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson
Get ready to stop talking and start working. This book is an all-time favorite of barre3 founders Sadie and Chris Lincoln; they loved the message so much, they gifted Rework to their entire team of studio owners. The message: You don’t need plenty of the things most business books swear by—outside investors, an office, or to morph into a workaholic. What you do need? To toss out the rules, plan less, and focus on you and your own business (not the competition).
Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence—Daniel Goleman
Some people wish for an extra hour—or a few!—a day to get things done. Turns out, the scarcest resource in our over-saturated world isn’t time, it’s attention. Daniel Coleman, a psychologist and journalist, has tackled the topic in his latest book, which shows how people who excel in their daily lives have found focus in a variety of ways (mindfulness, meditation, solid preparation, and more), because ultimately, a killer attention span is like a muscle. You have to use it and flex ti to build more. Beware: If you don’t yet meditate, this read will absolutely inspire you to start.
The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results—Gary Keller
Unitasking is so in right now, and we love it. This book falls right in line, outlining how focusing on one thing at a time all but guarantees better results, because we’ve all been there: Too bogged down in our day-to-day to work on the thing that really matters to us. Gary Keller’s universally loved how-to walks through ways anyone can cut through the clutter in a world where we’re constantly bombarded by choices, activities, and information. One thing at a time, one workout at a time, one week at a time—that’s a rationale we can get behind.
What inspirational books have you cracked open lately?
