These seven books influenced and shaped my understanding and core belief of what it is to be a leader. Read between my teens and mid-twenties.
- 7 habits of highly effective teens by Sean Covey
Adapted from Stephen Covey’s 7 habits of highly effective people and written by his son Sean. The 7 habits method continues to be relevant even today. Written and illustrated in a digestible format for young adults. This was the first management practice book that my father gifted me in a time of uncertainty and ambiguity. Adolescence. It took me years to sit down and read the whole book but once I adopted it became a way of life.
- Chicken Soup for the teenage soul by Jack Canfield, Mark Hansen, and Kimberly Kirberger
There was a rise in American teen culture during the nineties. With many sub-culture movies focused on some form of elitism, the promotion of microaggressions and in-group out-group behaviour. My parents bought me a set of Chicken Soup for the teenage soul. A decade later, they passed it onto my teen brother. At a time when there was a lot of pressure to be popular, we read many an honest and heartfelt story learning that you don’t have to be “in” to be cool. The stories are a practical demonstration of the impact of storytelling. From a leadership perspective, the more you share with your team, the more humane you become to them because most of us may not like others, but we can relate to their stories. That is powerful.
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Ever the sucker for a classic novel and benevolent protagonist, I fell in love with Atticus Finch and his bravery in standing against racial inequality and unfairness. Sure, the situation challenged the character because of his position and the context of the time he found himself. Yet as a single father, he knew he had to be accountable for his choices and actions. He had young ones watching him. We are after all shaped by what we learn as kids.
- The purpose driven life by Rick Warren
Rick Warren was the mentee of the famous Management Practice author and educator, Peter Drucker. Though the purpose driven life is faith-based, it taught me many leadership life lessons of knowing who you serve (what is your agenda and intention), life purpose and keeping my word when working with others.
- Cry, my beloved country by Alan Paton
Another tough but qualitative story about loss, the power of humility and forgiveness in a time of deep upheaval and discord in South Africa. It brings to mind the adage that you don’t make peace with your friends, you make peace with your enemies.
- Biased by Jennifer Eberhardt
I came across this book when I was deep into personal studies of unconscious bias method. Jennifer presents a factual study about how truly unconscious our biases are. Our brains are wired to prefer familiarity, what we know and what we have become accustomed to, in the spaces that we find ourselves. Biased is a wakeup call to check your bias. Irrespective of color, creed, or background.
- Lean in Sheryl Sandberg
Shortly after its release, there was a lot of negative reviews labelling Lean in as a book about white corporate feminism. From my own experience as a person of colour, I too have been at a boardroom table full of mature white men – who have either ignored, laughed at, or boxed me in with my female counterpart (a mother), assuming I know nothing of corporate or business matters (many stereotypes here). Digging deeper into the narrative, it’s a book about owning your version of feminism. Associates should still take you serious if you wear high heels and red lipstick. Respect is primary professionalism. You can be conservative and still make yourself heard especially when part of the minority. Bias is bias is bias, even at corporate level.
