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Unlocking Your Ultimate Potential: The 5 Best Books on Becoming a Great Leader

Sun, 17 Mar 2024 15:14:38 GMT

Unlocking Your Ultimate Potential: The 5 Best Books on Becoming a Great Leader

By: Amanda Sobel

In today's fast-paced and outrageously competitive world, effective leadership and a strong understanding of business principles are essential for success. Whether you are a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned executive, investing time in self-improvement through reading can be a game-changer - as long as you’re reading the right stuff.

In this post, I share five must-read books on how to become a better leader ( and person ) that will broaden your perspective, inspire innovation, and help you unlock your true potential!

1. “The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership: A New Paradigm for Sustainable Success” by Jim Dethmer , Diana Chapman , Kaley Klemp

This book changed my life, starting with the first chapter. It’s immensely impactful no matter your field and will guide you to being a highly successful, conscious Leader. What I like most about this resource is that it’s easier to get through than some other self-help books, has plenty of action items along with real-world results and examples.

“All drama in leadership and life is caused by the need to be right. Letting go of that need is a radical shift all great leaders make.”

2. “The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz

You’ve probably heard of this book, though if you’re like me, maybe the first time you saw it was sitting on the shelf at your local yoga studio. When I finally got around to reading it, I realized what I had been missing out on, and I refer back to it at least once a year. It may take you a little longer to get through, even though its short, as the concepts will force you to really, truly, think. And feel. And then think again.

I recommend this to most of my clients, especially those working in a corporate environment. The Four Agreements is a wonderful resource for learning how to navigate difficulty, discomfort, and discontent particularly with others and within ourselves.

“ It is always better to ask questions than to make an assumption, because assumptions set us up for suffering.”

3. “Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office: Unconscious Mistakes Women Make That Sabotage Their Careers” by Lois P. Frankel, PhD

I wish I had read this when I was in college. Frankel’s tips are spot-on for anyone working in corporate culture, not just women. As someone who has personally made most of these mistakes, I always encourage my clients to read this one! Note: of course I’ve seen men make some of these mistakes too, but I would encourage men interested in Leadership to read this one to understand the unique, cultural perspective of women in the workplace, even now.

“Mistake #82: Asking permission. Children, not adults, ask for approval. Be direct, be confident.”

4. "Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don't" by Simon Sinek

Simon Sinek's "Leaders Eat Last" delves into the biology and psychology behind effective leadership. This book is a captivating exploration of leadership principles that inspire loyalty, trust, and collaboration.

“Leaders are the ones willing to look out for those to the left of them and those to the right of them. Leaders are the ones who are willing to give up something of their own for us”

5. "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen R. Covey

You’ve probably seen this book everywhere for years. Have you ever thought about picking it up? Surely it can’t be as great as everyone says it is, right?

Well, it is a #1 Best Seller and “The #1 Most Influential Business Book of the Twentieth Century” for a reason.

"The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them."

In the ever-evolving landscape of business and leadership, continuous learning is crucial. These five books offer a wealth of knowledge and inspiration for aspiring leaders and established professionals alike. Most importantly though, they offer steps you can take Today .

By immersing yourself in the wisdom they offer, you will gain valuable insights, develop critical skills, and unlock your potential as a leader. Remember, true success lies not just in what you achieve, but in the impact you have on others and the legacy you leave behind.

5 Steps to take after losing your job - Advice from an HR Executive

Wed, 13 Mar 2024 15:06:17 GMT

Losing a job can be a challenging and disheartening experience. Knowing how to navigate this process like a pro will make all the difference in moving forward. At Sable Consulting Group, we believe that doors close for a reason - read below to learn how to set yourself up for a new success!

Gather personal belongings, files, and more

No matter how much notice you've been given, you should take immediate action to retrieve any personal belongings at your work place (especially at your desk!) and get any personal files off of your devices. Of course, we don't recommend opening or saving anything on your work devices not related to your work but things happen!

Additionally, make sure you get copies of any employment contracts, any document or email referring to the job termination, benefits information, and your job description(s) for any roles you've held.

Why is this important?

You do not know when your employer will ask you to leave. Even if they've promised a week or two from the time of notice, they are not required to keep that timeline. I've worked with clients who were let go on a Friday afternoon and told to leave immediately or not come in on the following Monday - don't let yourself be in this position!

2. Reminisce

Once you've retrieved your belongings, files, contracts, etc - it's time to seriously reflect on everything you've accomplished while working for this company. One of the biggest patterns I see when working with clients, no matter their level, is a reticence to acknowledge accomplishments that might be useful for their next role. That's why its crucial to write down a comprehensive list of anything you did in your job - it might seem tedious, and you might not need to use or reference some of the things, but its better to see it all in one place to be able to recall during an interview.

Some examples (besides the job duties in your job description, of course):

Did you take part in serving on any committees, internally or externally?
Were you responsible for onboarding new employees, or any kind of training?
Did you give talks or presentations internally or externally?
Did you suggest a change to a process?
Have you introduced new philantropy?
Advocated for something or someone?
Implemented a new process, software, or way of doing things?
Win any awards, no matter how minor?

3. Identify Professional References

Losing a job can trigger a range of emotions, from shock and anger to sadness and fear. When this happens unexpectedly, you probably have a lot of things on your mind and securing references is probably not one of them - but it needs to be.

If you're on good terms with your supervisor, approach them to ask if they would consider acting as a professional reference in the future. Most companies require at least 1 supervisory reference, if not 3 depending on your level. Also make sure you get their personal email address and phone number if they are willing. Some references will prefer you use their work emails but these can change if they move on to a new company.
If you're not sure how your supervisor feels about you, or know that they probably wouldn't give a great reference, I recommend not approaching them at all.
Identify 1-2 co-workers at any level that you know will speak highly of you and your work. Don't be afraid to ask people that you trained or reported to you directly - potential employers can glean much insight from your work and management style this way.

4. Optimize your LinkedIn

Every employer uses LinkedIn in some capacity, so if you don't have a strong LinkedIn presence, you probably won't stand out. Did you know that o n average, 8 People Get Employed Per Minute on LinkedIn ?

LinkedIn Optimization can be tricky to navigate, so you should consider working with an experienced career coach . But, an easy thing you can do after losing your job is reach out to connections and asking for a recommendation using this platform. Recommendations are highly visible and can give potential employers insight into how you are as an employee, boss, etc.

5. Create a Job Search Roadmap

Create a pros/cons list for each job you've held - don't leave anything out, even if you think it's insignificant
Find common themes
Decide what factors are non-negotiable for you in your next role - and stick to them!

For example, do you want to work remotely? work only 4 days a week? Be an individual contributor but not a manager?

Job searches can be a lot like dating, and knowing your needs up front will save you time and headaches.

(by the way, if you're a stationary nerd like me, check out this awesome, inexpensive lined leather journal )

Losing a job can be a challenging and overwhelming experience, but it's important to remember that it's just a temporary setback. By following these five steps, you can navigate through this difficult period with resilience and determination. Remember, every ending is a new beginning, and with the right mindset and actions, you can turn this setback into an opportunity for growth and success!

About Amanda:

Amanda held a lucrative career in Staffing, working with hundreds of companies to hire thousands of people. Now, she offers personalized one-on-one career coaching sessions to individuals and consults with companies on talent acquisition projects. Interested in working with Amanda? Visit our shop page or email info@sableconsultinggroup.com !