22 Books to Gift the Current and Aspiring Leaders In Your Life

There’s something special about getting a book you love from someone who gets you. During the 2022 holiday season, show the people around you that you’re paying attention by selecting a book that will help them reach their goals.

If you’re looking to give a literary gift to your boss, colleague, direct reports or any other current or aspiring leader in your life, we’ve curated a diverse list of aspirational authors whose books make the perfect 2022 holiday gifts for the readers (and leaders) on your list!

Our thoughtful list of 2022’s best *books for leaders can help spark ideas, offer a fresh perspective, provide invaluable insight for creating a just workplace, facilitate finding joy, reveal a roadmap for managing a team and more.

Choose from award-winning best-selling books, critically acclaimed books for leaders and reader-loved books that are sure to become leadership classics.

Table of Contents

1.

Ideaflow: The Only Business Metric That Matters
By Jeremy Utley and Perry Klebahn

Drawing upon their combined decades of experience leading Stanford’s premier Launchpad accelerator and advising some of the world’s most innovative organizations, Jeremy Utley and Perry Klebahn of Stanford’s renowned Hasso Plattner Institute of Design (aka the “d.school”) offer a proven strategy for coming up with great ideas by yourself or with your team, and quickly determining which are worthy.

We all want great ideas, but few actually understand how they’re born. Innovation doesn’t come from a sprint or a hackathon — it’s a result of maximizing ideaflow.

Buy the book >>

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2.

Running Remote
By Rob Rawson and Liam Martin

Once you accept and master some fundamental differences, remote work can fuel higher productivity, eliminate time-wasting meetings and treacherous commutes, and strip away the ugly politics that often undermine the most talented employees.

It also leads to great cultural inclusivity and richer cultural exchange.

Running Remote is for ventures of all stripes—companies small and large, one-person operations, mom-and-pop shops, and global mega-corporations.

The teachings herein are as valuable for on-premises organizations as they are for the tech worker.

Buy the book >>

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3.

Intelligence Isn’t Enough
A Black Professional’s Guide to Thriving In the Workplace
By Carice Anderson

Recounting the frustration she felt as a young Black woman beginning her career, Carice Anderson knows that many Black professionals are relying on their education and intellect alone to be successful in the workplace.

In this book, she empowers young Black professionals by equipping them with advice and little-known principles of career success from her experiences and interviews with 30 successful Black leaders.

Buy the book >>

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4.

Leading With Joy
Practices for Uncertain Times
By Akaya Windwood and Rajasvini Bhansali

Leadership that connects people and centers compassion and trust instead of competition and disconnection is needed more than ever before.

There are plenty of manuals that show people how to manage organizations, but what is really needed in this moment is a book that shows us how to include kindness and inspiration within leadership.

Leading with Joy promotes a courageous and compassionate approach to leadership that can sustain purposeful action and social change.

Buy the book >>

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5.

Lead From The Heart
Transformational Leadership For The 21st Century
By Mark C. Crowley

This is the book every workplace leader needs right now.

In this thoroughly revised and updated edition of his now classic book, visionary Mark C. Crowley provides the roadmap workplace leaders the world over are seeking: How to most successfully and sustainably inspire and manage other human beings in the post-pandemic era.

Buy the book >>

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6.

Be Unexpected
Resetting Routines to Revolutionize the Future of Work
By Marva Bailer

The book is a guide to energizing routines and meetings in the workplace.

Whether they are done in-person or over video chat, Bailer shows how every meeting does not have to be the same formula over and over.

With psychological and field research to back up her practices, Be Unexpected is sure to help purpose-driven leaders in the business world create an enthusiastic and lasting impression, from networking one-on-one to presenting in front of a large audience.

Buy the book >>

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7.

A Kids Book About Design
By Jason Mayden

Dubbed by Fast Company as a “children’s book about design [that] should be required reading for CEOs,” this book will help unlock your design potential.

Through the author’s personal experience and multi-step process, empower the kid in your life — and your inner child — to share their ideas, make, create, and be the best designer they can be.

Buy the book >>

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8.

Finding Your Granite
My Four Cornerstones of Personal Leadership
By Douglas Pflug

Executive Leadership Coach and Mentor Douglas Pflug walks you through some of the life experiences, lessons and key takeways from his years as a dual sport university athlete, 28 years as a police officer, 30 years as an elite strength and conditioning coach, mentor and leader

An essential resource for individuals and business leaders who wish to stay ahead of the evolving leadership trends of strategic thinking, inspiration and motivation, strong interpersonal skills, vision, decisiveness and passion, this book was designed to educate, entertain and inspire front-line 911 emergency workers to seek and achieve their potential.

Buy the book >>

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9.

When Women Lead
What They Achieve, Why They Succeed, and How We Can Learn from Them
By Julia Boorstin

Boorstin brings together the stories of over 60 female CEOs and leaders, and dozens of new studies.

Her combination of narrative and research reveals how once-underestimated characteristics, from vulnerability and gratitude to divergent thinking, can be vital superpowers — and that anyone can work these approaches to their advantage.

Buy the book >>

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10.

Mouse in the Room
Because the Elephant isn’t Alone
By David Wood

A simple, repeatable approach for conflict resolution, tough conversations, badass leadership, more influence, thriving teams, deep connection, being truly seen and real confidence.

This book is your doorway to authentic, transparent, honest communication. A little courage can improve your romantic relationships, make you a better parent, and enhance your leadership and team-building at work.

Buy the book >>

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11.

How to Be a Diversity and Inclusion Ambassador
Everyone’s Role in Helping All Feel Accepted, Engaged, and Valued
By Celeste R. Warren

Regardless of what position you hold, you have the ability to impact change and create a more inclusive environment. Anyone can commit to becoming an unofficial Diversity and Inclusion Ambassador in their organization.

This book features examples, exercises, and practical tools that show you how to assess where your organization is at and develop a purpose and strategy that can make diversity a workplace reality.

Buy the book >>

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12.

Begin Bodly
How Women Can Reimagine Risk, Embrace Uncertainty & Launch a Brilliant Career
By Christine Hunter Arscott

Christie Hunter Arscott equips readers to intelligently take risks using an actionable model built around three mindsets: a curious mindset, a courageous mindset and an agile mindset.

With a step-by-step method for taking risks, assessing rewards, and refining approaches, she gives women a flexible and repeatable framework to help them develop this critical career skill.

Buy the book >>

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13.

The Next Normal
Transform Your Leadership, Your Team, and Your Organization
By Greg Giuliano

Discover an approachable, replicable, and scalable management system to improve your transformation process.

Rethink your approach to leadership, and create a plan to make a bigger impact. Elevate your team’s engagement and performance while accelerating organizational transformation and shaping your future.

Buy the book >>

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14.

The Gift of Lift
Harnessing the Power of Stewardship to Elevate the World
By David R. York

Imagine a world filled with people whose first question isn’t, “What’s in it for me?” but rather, “What’s in it for we?”

Imagine being the kind of leader in your career who says, “I want what matters,” instead of, “What I want matters.” This is the life of a leadership steward and it’s available to everyone.

The Gift of Lift seeks to unlock these secrets and provide a pathway toward intention, meaning, and purpose.

Buy the book >>

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15.

Unstuck
Reframe your thinking to free yourself from the patterns and people that hold you back
By Lia Garvin

Lia Garvin, executive coach and operations leader at influential companies including Microsoft, Apple and Google, provides you with the tools you need to nail the technique of reframing, helping you transform the way you manage conflict, feedback, negotiations, decision-making and more.

Learn how to speak up for yourself with confidence, silence your inner critic and open up a whole new realm of professional possibilities.

Buy the book >>

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16.

Build the Damn Thing
How to Start a Successful Business If You’re Not a Rich White Guy
By Kathryn Finney

Don’t wait for the system to let you in—break down the door and build your damn thing.

For all the Builders striving to build their businesses in a world that has overlooked and underestimated them: this is the essential guide to knowing, breaking, remaking and building your own rules of entrepreneurship in a startup and investing world designed for and by the “Entitleds.”

Buy the book >>

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17.

When They Win You Win
Being a Great Manager Is Simpler Than You Think
By Russ Laraway

Russ Laraway’s approach to management, developed at Google, Twitter, Qualtrics, and Goodwater, shows the way to cultivate a happy, productive, and engaged team.

Happy results are sure to follow―for you, your customers, your shareholders, and your employees alike.

Buy the book >>

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18.

Just Work
How To Root Out Bias, Prejudice, and Bullying to Create a Kick-Ass Culture of Inclusivity
By Kim Scott

Learn how we can all recognize, attack and eliminate workplace injustice ― and transform our careers and organizations in the process.

Revealing a practical framework for both respecting everyone’s individuality and collaborating effectively, Just Work is the essential guide leaders and their employees need to create more just workplaces and establish new norms of collaboration and respect.

Buy the book >>

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19.

Say More About That
…And Other Ways to Speak Up, Push Back, and Advocate for Yourself and Others
By Amber Cabral

Veteran inclusion strategist, coach, writer, and speaker Amber Cabral delivers an incisive and practical guide to assertively addressing inequitable treatment you see at home, work, school, and other settings.

The book offers a complete communications toolkit for equity advocacy you can deploy on your own behalf and on behalf of others.

Buy the book >>

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20.

LoveWork
The seven steps to thrive at work
By Sophie Devonshire and Ben Renshaw

Life provides a unique opportunity to do great things and help make the world a better place. Given that a staggering 90,000 hours of our lives (on average) will be spent working, how many of those precious hours will be meaningful or memorable?

Authors Ben Renshaw and Sophie Devonshire believe it’s possible to make the time you spend at work more rewarding and enjoyable. They share seven simple steps to help you find new ways to build a more positive relationship with your work.

Buy the book >>

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21.

The Power of Regret
How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward
By Daniel H. Pink

Drawing on research in social psychology, neuroscience, and biology, Pink debunks the myth of the “no regrets” philosophy of life.

And using the largest sampling of American attitudes about regret ever conducted as well as his own World Regret Survey—which has collected regrets from more than 15,000 people in 105 countries—he lays out the four core regrets that each of us has.

These deep regrets offer compelling insights into how we live and how we can find a better path forward.

Listen to Kim Scott and Kelly Leonard in conversation with Daniel Pink on LinkedIn Audio Jan. 23, 2023. Sign up now >>

Buy the book >>

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22.

Radical Candor LIT Videobook
Adapted from Radical Candor: Be a Kickass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity
By Kim Scott

If you’ve already read Radical Candor and want a refresher, or you haven’t read the book, you can learn the principles of Radical Candor by watching the new Radical Candor LIT Videobook.

This hour-long adventure features interviews with folks Kim mentions in the book, animations and pictures of Kim from the way-back machine and tips for practicing Radical Candor.

Buy the videobook >>

Need more 2022 holiday gift ideas for colleagues? Shop the Radial Candor store >>

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*Descriptions for these books were provided by the authors and/or taken from publisher’s websites and Amazon.

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