Top 10 Engaging and Inspiring Christmas Reads and Podcasts for Leaders

Recommendations provided by Jane Fisher, Dom Brook and Diane Mason.  

Christmas is around the corner. You might be trawling Amazon for last-minute Christmas gifts, searching for your next big read, or looking for your 2023 podcast addiction. To help you narrow down your search, some of our expert leadership and coaching providers from the Business Scale Up Programme have gifted us with some of their own recommendations.  

There is a mix of empowering advice, actionable tips, and storytelling from those that have successfully tread the leadership path. Whatever style or format you or your recipient connects with most, we’ve got you covered. 

#1 

📚 Start with Why​, Simon Sinek 

“There are only two ways to influence human behaviour: you can manipulate it or you can inspire it.”  

This book is superb if you want to inspire others as a leader.​ 

Simon Sinek weaves a clear vision of what it truly takes to lead and inspire, drawing on a wide range of real-life stories, including looking at the most successful leaders.​ 

As a result of his research, he can highlight that: ​ 

• Most leaders talk about WHAT they do - the products or services that make them money. ​ 

• Some leaders talk about the HOW - the process they use that sets them apart. ​ 

• Very few leaders talk about (or even know) their WHY - the reason the business exists in the first place (which is not ‘money’ as this is a by-product).​ 

Sinek argues that when we start with WHY in everything we do, we inspire action because WHY engages our emotions. WHAT, on the other hand, simply engages our logical brain. It’s a great concept.​ 

Recommendation provided by Jane Fisher, Jane Fisher Associates

#2 

📚  Big Five for Life, John P Strelecky  

If you’re looking for a particularly inspirational read, then this is the book for you.  

Strelecky believes that we are all called to be leaders at various points in our lives, even if it’s just to lead ourselves. This book aims to enhance the way you look at your role as a leader – at home and at work. The principles in this book, such as the ‘Big Five for Life’ and ‘Museum Day Morning’, have positively impacted readers around the world. Each in their own unique way as they have applied them to their life, their situation. 

Recommendation provided by Diane Mason, DMM Training and Development

#3 

📚  Dare to Lead, Brene Brown  

Brown illustrates that true leadership is built upon vulnerability, values, trust and resilience. ​  

She explains that truly daring leaders are:​ 

• Prepared to be vulnerable and listen without interrupting.​ 

• Empathetic.​ 

• Connected to emotions that underpin an experience - not just to the experience itself. 

• Self-aware and have self-love because who we are is how we lead. ​ 

The book is filled with actionable advice on how to lead an honest, vulnerable, and courageous life, helping people to find meaning in their own excellence and is a great handbook for anyone who wants to learn how to be an authentic, empathetic, and courageous leader.​ 

It is a great book for any leader who is interested in a deep, mindful and unique approach to leadership.​ 

Recommendation provided by Jane Fisher, Jane Fisher Associates

#4 

📚  Lean In, Sheryl Sandberg  

This book has been described as a ‘cultural phenomenon’ and carries with it empowerment for women. It ignites conversations about women and ambition, as well as the drive for equality in leadership. Sandberg, Facebook COO, takes inspiration from her own time with successful businesses and looks at how women can make small changes to become successful leaders and effect change.  

​#5 

📚  The Chimp Paradox, Dr Steve Peters 

A key aspect of great business leadership is recognising and negotiating new business opportunities, and that requires high levels of self-awareness.​ The Chimp Paradox is a highly entertaining, engaging and insightful book that offers a powerful mind management model to help individuals become happier, more confident, healthier and successful.  

It:​ 

• Helps one understand key parts of the brain and how they each affect decision-making.​ 

• Describes how the “chimp” part of the brain - the emotional part - can hijack thought processes, leading to self-sabotaging thoughts or behaviour.​ 

It offers strategies to help us be self-aware, recognise our behaviours and judgements and manage our emotions, ultimately impacting our effectiveness as leaders and decision-making.  

Recommendation provided by Jane Fisher, Jane Fisher Associates

#6 

📚 The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen R. Covey 

Covey’s seven habits are made up of the primary principles of character upon which happiness and success are based. In this engaging read, he provides an approach to solving personal and professional problems. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People puts forward a principle-centred approach to both personal and interpersonal effectiveness. Rather than focusing on altering the outward manifestations of your behaviour and attitudes, it aims to adapt your inner core, character, and motives.  

Recommendation provided by Dom Brook, Brook Corporate Developments  

#7 

🎧 The High-Performance Podcast, Jake Humphries

In this podcast series, Jake Humphries, of BT Sport’s Premier League fame, brings you an insight into the lives of high-achieving performers and leaders who have achieved in their field of expertise. You’ll find out what behaviours led to success and how they manage to consistently stay at the top. A truly worthwhile listen! 

Recommendation provided by Dom Brook, Brook Corporate Developments  

#8 

🎧  Biz 15: The Voice of the SME, Brook Corporate Developments 

In this podcast series, Biz 15 explores the issues you may find in building your own business, from leadership to making the right decisions. Hosted by Dom Brook, of Brook Corporate Developments, this series will engage you through open and honest discussions with the team as they focus on leadership, the struggles it carries and solutions to problems. 

Recommendation provided by Dom Brook, Brook Corporate Developments  

#9 

📚  Take the Stairs, Rory Vaden  

In this book, a focus is heavily placed on the concept of self-discipline. Popular speaker and strategist, Vaden is no stranger to the idea of leadership and achievement. His book asks a simple question, ‘how do successful people stay focused and achieve results?’ His guide takes you on a journey as you ascend the ‘stairs’ that lead you to success whilst avoiding procrastination and avoidance.  

Recommendation provided by Diane Mason, DMM Training and Development 

#10 

📚  The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team, Patrick Lencioni  

Through a detailed narrative and his excellent storytelling, Lencioni turns his hand to the fascinating world of teams. Through the story, he reveals why even the best teams often struggle. This read will offer you a powerful model that can be used to overcome common hurdles when trying to build a team. For those striving to be effective team leaders, this fable is powerful yet simple in its messaging.  

Recommendation provided by Diane Mason, DMM Training and Development

From all of us here, we want to take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thank you, Jane, Dom and Diane for sharing your recommendations!

By working with the Business Scale Up Programme, you can save 30% on the cost of training and consultancy from the providers above as well as a number of other experts. If you are interested in hearing more about how Business Scale Up might be able to support you and your team with leadership and management development, book a free consultation with one of our Business Engagement Advisers.