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Leaders are readers. To become a better version of yourself, you must learn from experience. It’s foolish to think personal experience alone is enough to make you a better leader. Learning from others accelerates growth. The benefit of reading first-person accounts is learning from other people’s experiences. The well-known General James “Mad Dog” Mattis once said, “If you haven’t read hundreds of books, you are functionally illiterate – you can’t coach, and you can’t lead.” I know we are all busy in our lives. If you want to improve, make reading a part of your daily routine. Analyze what you spend your time on. How much time do you spend watching TV or movies, on social media, playing video games? How many books and how many lessons could you read in that time? You don’t have to read large chunks in one sitting; just read one page at a time. Remember, your personal growth is in your hands.
Three books have changed how I lead and interact with people. These books have enhanced my leadership abilities and transformed my approach to personal and professional relationships.
Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink & Leif Babin
This book sets the foundation for what it means to be a leader. Extreme Ownership is a mindset that, if adopted, will unleash your true potential as a leader. This isn’t just another leadership book filled with abstract ideas – it’s full of practical, real-life experiences that are simple to understand but challenging to enact. As a young NCO, one principle that impacted me is “There are no bad teams, only bad leaders.” If you are the leader and your team is not meeting the standard or is ineffective, that is your fault, and you should take ownership of that problem. Ultimately, this book is a game-changer filled with practical advice you can use immediately, reassuring that your time spent reading is not in vain.
The Dichotomy of Leadership by Jocko Willink & Leif Babin
No other leadership book I have read talks about the need to balance opposing leadership characteristics. What makes leadership hard is that it is not as simple as most books make it out to be. This book lays out how leaders must be adaptable to be successful. Leaders must continuously evaluate their approach to find the delicate balance between two opposing extremes. Some examples of dichotomies explored in the book are being a leader vs. being a follower, confidence vs. arrogance, discipline vs. flexibility, and caring for your team vs. enforcing exacting standards. Two dichotomies come to mind that NCOs deal with every day. One is the popular saying “work-life balance.” The other is balancing strict enforcement of standards vs. maintaining morale. If you’re serious about mastering leadership, this book is necessary.
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
First published in 1936, this book has stood the test of time, and its advice is just as applicable today as it was then. If you want to improve your communication, build strong relationships, and become a more effective leader, add this book to your list. This book focuses on connecting with other people. To become a better leader, you must learn how to build strong relationships with your team and peers. NCOs will often need to influence those around them without having direct authority. Nothing great can be accomplished alone; you need other team members. This book will help provide the necessary skills to create an unstoppable team.
Reading is essential to gaining a better perspective of the world around you. Our experience is not enough to learn the lessons required to be successful in today’s world. These three books teach the necessary mindset to lead, balance opposing forces, and build relationships with the people around you. I want to challenge you to start reading, and I recommend you start with one of these books and begin practicing its principles.
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