Ken’s Top 4 Books a CEO Should Read

A CEO needs a myriad of skills to be effective professionally and personally. First, let’s acknowledge that if the business you own and run is small or medium-sized, you may not have adopted that title.

Nonetheless, the functions of the role are yours to execute every day. Laying the foundation of your leadership skills is critical to building independent, accountable teams that run like clockwork and reflect your vision for your business.

While understanding the company’s financial aspect is also foundational, without the strength to communicate with the team, delegate items from your plate to theirs, motivate them to thrive in their role, recruit and retain top talent, foster collaboration amongst team members, and continuously develop their skills.

By investing time in your leadership skills and pairing them with superior operating discipline, you can create an unbeatable competitive advantage.

Verbal Judo: The Gentle Art of Persuasion by George J. Thompson

Communicate Effectively

If you consider the difference between Karate and Judo, you will quickly notice the metaphor applied to communication. Generally speaking, Karate employs blocking moves, whereas, in Judo, the motion/force of the opposing force is not blocked but redirected.

Imagine a recent conversation where you walked away thinking that person didn’t hear a word I said. Ask yourself, what were they saying to you? What was their message? Would they describe you as having listened to them?

Karate has you blocking their point with a message of your own. Judo allows you to take their message and gently adjust it with your input. Taking the time to fully listen, internalize, and respond to what others are communicating will revolutionize your business.

Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go: Career Conversations Employees Want by Beverly Kaye and Julie Winkle Guilionoi

Develop Their Talent

Leaders I’ve worked with have called upset, shaken, and frustrated because they’ve lost a great employee. When we dig deeper, the signs were likely present all along.

This role model told us they’d like to learn something new, but we kept them in the same role “they were good at.” We may have said to ourselves that we don’t have anyone else to do what they do, so we can’t assign them new or different roles. Now they’re gone. Instead, you can have conversations that serve all: the business, the customer, and the employee.

Factfulness by Hans Rosling

Check Your Facts

The dust cover states that the book is “Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World – and Why Things Are Better Than You Think.” As a business leader, you will find this book providing clarity you may not have experienced.

It is the proverbial step back from the tree to view the forest better. Why is this important? Reflect on your decisions and ask yourself where a different perspective would have led to a better, more timely choice. Developing self-awareness will likely be a key outcome for reading this book.

Positive Intelligence by Shirzad Chamine

Looking Inward, Then Outward

Have you ever thought, said, or heard someone begin a sentence with, “They made me feel…”?

If so, there is some inside work for you today, starting with taking Coach Shirzad’s Saboteur Assessment. This inventory will help you uncover learned behaviors that likely served you well when young but sabotaged your success as an adult.

In his accompanying book, you will discover the behaviors that may have kept you from connecting with some in your company and preventing a successful relationship. Your awareness will then translate to seeing others from a more empathic perspective, moving past obstacles, and creating tighter bonds.

You’ve noticed that the thread running throughout the recommendations is self-awareness. A principle I follow as a Professional Certified Coach from the International Coaching Federation is to evoke awareness in our work together. Your influence as a leader is correlated with the degree to which you are self-aware, accountable, and vulnerable. All of your business success can be undone in the blink of an eye if relationships within your organization lack trust.

If you’ve considered the impact a coaching engagement can have on you and your organization, then start with a Meet & Greet where we can see if we click. You will see a video sample of a typical 15-minute session by visiting the website. Already know you’d like to work with a coach and want to kick the tires? If so, the Breakthrough Strategy Session is for you. During our time together for this complimentary coaching session, you will experience coaching, use some of our tools & resources, and come away with a custom action plan. You will also know whether moving forward is something you say yes or no to. There is no obligation, and we will never chase you after you’ve made a decision. Click here to learn more about Ken Kilday and his leadership coaching services.