Resources

Resources

There are so many leadership resources out there. I am often asked “Where do I start?” or “What do you recommend?” As a result, I thought I would compile some of my favorites. I will continually update this page and add more, so keep checking back.

I’ve grouped them by Book Reviews, Books, Podcasts, TED Talks and Other. If you click on the title for each group, you can view all the Recommended Resources in that category.

Additionally, at the bottom of the page, you can see all the resources by group and by leader. You can always search using the search bar too.

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Book Reviews

Click on the Book Review link to see all Book Reviews

Recommended Books

Click on the Recommended Books link to see all Recommended Books

Radio Show Episodes

Click on the link above to see all Radio Show Episodes. Here are ones on my favorite resources.

Resource Library
Atomic Habits
Jacquie Surgenor Gaglione
Atomic Habits
Jacquie Surgenor Gaglione

James Clear lays out a clear model (incorporating 4 Laws) for developing habits:

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Jacquie Surgenor Gaglione
Emotional Intelligence 2.0
Jacquie Surgenor Gaglione
Emotional Intelligence 2.0
Jacquie Surgenor Gaglione

Success is no longer determined by intellectual intelligence, experience or education, but rather, by emotional intelligence (EQ).

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Jacquie Surgenor Gaglione
Crucial Conversations
Jacquie Surgenor Gaglione
Crucial Conversations
Jacquie Surgenor Gaglione

Patterson, Grenny, McMillan & Switzer observed people who seem to navigate crucial conversations with skill and determined that they had a specific skillset which they used to create a model.

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Jacquie Surgenor Gaglione
Daring Greatly
Jacquie Surgenor Gaglione
Daring Greatly
Jacquie Surgenor Gaglione

Brene Brown’s challenges the assumption that vulnerability is weakness and provides research to refute the claim.

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Jacquie Surgenor Gaglione
A Whole New Mind
Jacquie Surgenor Gaglione
A Whole New Mind
Jacquie Surgenor Gaglione

Daniel Pink’s tagline for this book is “Why right-brainers will rule the future.” Hmmm, ruling the future seems like a fun goal

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Jacquie Surgenor Gaglione
The Leader Who Had No Title
Jacquie Surgenor Gaglione
The Leader Who Had No Title
Jacquie Surgenor Gaglione

Told as a business fable, The Leader Who Had No Title tells the story of Blake Davis, a military veteran working at a book store.

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Jacquie Surgenor Gaglione
The Coaching Habit
Jacquie Surgenor Gaglione
The Coaching Habit
Jacquie Surgenor Gaglione

Michael Bungay Stanier asks you to stay curious just a little bit longer, rather than simply jumping to giving advice which is our tendency.

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Jacquie Surgenor Gaglione
The Happiness Advantage
Shawn Achor
The Happiness Advantage
Shawn Achor

Shawn Achor, a leader in the positive psychology field upends the traditional belief that success drives happiness, and instead presents research to demonstrate that happiness drives success.

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Shawn Achor
The Power of Moments
Chip Heath & Dan Heath
The Power of Moments
Chip Heath & Dan Heath

We all have pivotal moments that we remember. Some are naturally elevated in our minds; such as a wedding or the birth of a child. Others moments were consciously created; such as a holiday tradition, or an amazing onboarding experience at work.

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Chip Heath & Dan Heath
Drive
Daniel Pink
Drive
Daniel Pink

Daniel Pink investigates what we believe about motivation and challenges much of those beliefs. While research shows a disconnect between motivation and rewards & punishments (what he calls carrots and sticks), business is still stuck in this outdated and ineffective model.

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Daniel Pink
Radical Candor - The Book
Kim Scott
Radical Candor - The Book
Kim Scott

Kim Scott creates a quadrant with a horizonal axis which measures how much someone challenges directly and a vertical axis which measures how much someone cares personally. The quadrant where someone cares personally and challenges directly results in Radical Candor.

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Kim Scott
The Infinite Game - The Book
Simon Sinek
The Infinite Game - The Book
Simon Sinek

We all understand finite games; with a set time frame, established rules, and clear winners and losers (sports, competitions). Our world, generally, reflects a infinite game, where the rules and time frame are unclear and there often is no clear winner and loser.

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Simon Sinek
Start with Why - The Book
Simon Sinek
Start with Why - The Book
Simon Sinek

Simon Sinek has a bold vision in which people are fulfilled by their work and are called to lead from their Why (what inspires them). He presents the Golden Circle which he writes is rooted in biology.

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Simon Sinek
Dare to Lead - The Book
Brene Brown
Dare to Lead - The Book
Brene Brown

Brene Brown has spent her professional career dedicated to research and in the research for this book, she sought to answer the question, “How do you cultivate braver, more daring leaders, and how do you embed the value of courage in your culture?”

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Brene Brown
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team - The Book
Patrick Lencioni
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team - The Book
Patrick Lencioni

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team is an excellent book to lay the foundations of a strong team. In Five Dysfunctions, Lencioni presents a 5 layered hierarchy essential to a highly functioning team. I view this as a core book for any leader.

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Patrick Lencioni
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Episode 28: Leadership and Life Bookshelf: The Happiness Advantage – How Happiness Leads to Success
Episode 28: Leadership and Life Bookshelf: The Happiness Advantage – How Happiness Leads to Success

Happiness isn’t just a result of success—it’s the key to achieving it. Drawing from The Happiness Advantage, we explore how a positive mindset boosts performance, resilience, and relationships. Learn practical strategies to rewire your brain for happiness and unlock greater success.

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Episode 24: Leadership and Life Bookshelf: Dare to Lead – Courageous Leadership in Action
Episode 24: Leadership and Life Bookshelf: Dare to Lead – Courageous Leadership in Action

What does it take to be a courageous leader? Dive into Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead and explore key lessons on vulnerability, trust, and resilience. Learn how to embrace discomfort, build stronger teams, and lead with authenticity.

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Episode 20: Leadership and Life Bookshelf: Unlocking Success with Atomic Habits
Episode 20: Leadership and Life Bookshelf: Unlocking Success with Atomic Habits

Dive into James Clear’s Atomic Habits, exploring how small changes can lead to remarkable personal and professional growth. Learn about the four laws of behavior change—Make it Obvious, Attractive, Easy, and Satisfying—and how to apply them to build lasting habits. Whether you’re looking to improve your leadership skills or daily routines, this episode offers practical tips to create meaningful, sustainable change.

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Episode 16: Leadership and Life Bookshelf: Radical Candor – the Art of Giving and Receiving Feedback
Episode 16: Leadership and Life Bookshelf: Radical Candor – the Art of Giving and Receiving Feedback

Radical Candor by Kim Scott provides a powerful framework for giving effective feedback by balancing care personally and challenging directly. Through engaging stories and practical advice, the book helps leaders build trust, improve team dynamics, and foster growth. It’s a must-read for anyone looking to master the art of meaningful communication and guidance.

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Episode 11: Leadership and Life Bookshelf: The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
Episode 11: Leadership and Life Bookshelf: The Five Dysfunctions of a Team

Discover how to overcome common barriers to teamwork with insights from Patrick Lencioni's The Five Dysfunctions of a Team. This episode unpacks the essential elements that build a cohesive, results-driven team, offering practical tips for cultivating trust, accountability, and commitment. Tune in for a roadmap to help any team work better together.

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TED Talks

Click on the TED Talks link to see all Recommended TED Talks

Resource Library
How to tame your Advice Monster
Michael Bungay Stanier
How to tame your Advice Monster
Michael Bungay Stanier

We have the tendency to want to solve other people’s problems by giving them advice. The truth is, though, that we suck at it. Instead, we should ask the right questions and help them dig down to the real challenge.

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Michael Bungay Stanier
The Happy Secret to Better Work - The TED Talk
Shawn Achor
The Happy Secret to Better Work - The TED Talk
Shawn Achor

In his hilarious Ted Talk, Achor cites various studies about the importance of happiness to success in life and at work. He argues that happiness creates success and not the other way around. With facts like “your brain is 31% more productive at positive, than at negative or neutral,” you can’t help but buy into what he says. He also shares several strategies proven to improve happiness.

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Shawn Achor
Listening to Shame - The TED Talk
Brene Brown
Listening to Shame - The TED Talk
Brene Brown

An almost follow up to her TED Talk on vulnerability, she goes on to describe the extreme vulnerability she felt after her first TED Talk. She digs deep on shame and the impact it has on our lives. She differentiates shame from guilt. She claims that shame is an epidemic in our culture and discusses how to get past it.

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Brene Brown
The Power of Vulnerability - The TED Talk
Brene Brown
The Power of Vulnerability - The TED Talk
Brene Brown

In her first TEDtalk, Brown digs deep and talks about shame, courage and vulnerability. She explains that vulnerability is at the core of shame and fear, but also what gives us courage, joy, a sense of belonging and love. She speaks about this hard topic with frankness and humour that leaves you wanting to watching it over.

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Brene Brown
Radical Candor - The Talk
Kim Scott
Radical Candor - The Talk
Kim Scott

A great overview of her Radical Candor model and book, Scott reviews the four quadrants of feedback: Ruinous Empathy, Manipulative Insincerity, Obnoxious Aggression and Radical Candor. She challenges bosses to ask for honest feedback from their team as well.

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Kim Scott
Start with Why - The TED Talk
Simon Sinek
Start with Why - The TED Talk
Simon Sinek

I’ve watched this TED Talk so many times, that I’ve lost count. Each time, however, it still hits home and reminds me to go back to my WHY. A quick summary of his book, Start with Why, the talk gives a great overview of the Golden Circle and how communicating from the inside out changes everything.

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Simon Sinek

Podcasts

Click on the Podcast link to see all Recommended Podcasts

Resource Library
Unf*ck Your Brain
Kara Lowentheil
Unf*ck Your Brain
Kara Lowentheil

Lowentheil is a master coach and her podcasts are often about 20 minutes, which is the perfect length for my walk around my neighbourhood. She gives tangible advice about changing my mindset and reframing my thoughts that I find essential when I am struggling in a challenging mental loop.

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Kara Lowentheil
At The Table
Patrick Lencioni
At The Table
Patrick Lencioni

I’m a fan of every book of Lencioni’s that I’ve read so far (which is almost all of them), so listening to him is an awesome extension of what I read.

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Patrick Lencioni
A Bit of Optimism
Simon Sinek
A Bit of Optimism
Simon Sinek

Sinek’s podcast started during a global pandemic when it is easy to focus on the darkness and challenges surrounding us. Listening to him speak with others about leadership, gratitude and optimism always turns me towards the sun and makes me smile, in addition to helping me learn and grow.

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Simon Sinek
Dare to Lead - The Podcast
Brene Brown
Dare to Lead - The Podcast
Brene Brown

I am a fan of how Brown believes we “who we are is how we lead” (Brown. 2018. Dare to Lead p. 11) Her Dare to Lead podcast helps me recognize who I am so that I can grow my weaknesses and become a better leader.

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Brene Brown
Unlocking Us
Brene Brown
Unlocking Us
Brene Brown

I love how Brown can always pull a concept or piece of research and make it just hit home. Through a mix of interviews and personal musings, each podcast makes me pause and reflect. They are full of gems which help me be a better leader, but even more important, how to be a better version of myself.

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Brene Brown

Other Resources

Click on the Other Resources Title to see all Other Recommended Resources

Resource Library
UFYB: Embrace the Suck
Kara Lowentheil
UFYB: Embrace the Suck
Kara Lowentheil

I first heard the phrase “Embrace the Suck” from Brene Brown, But Lowentheil uses it here too in reference to the tough negative emotions that we tend to ignore and push down so we don’t feel.

Kara Lowentheil
Brene Brown on FFTs
Brene Brown
Brene Brown on FFTs
Brene Brown

Brene talks about F*&^ing First Times, which can often send us into a shame spiral. She presents a strategy for addressing these which involves naming it so you can normalize it, put it into perspective and reality check your expectations.

Brene Brown
Perfectionism: Antidotes & Tomorrow Thinking
Kara Lowentheil
Perfectionism: Antidotes & Tomorrow Thinking
Kara Lowentheil

We have a strong tendencies to expect perfectionism from ourselves. Lowentheil has two great podcasts which address the dangers of perfectionism.

Kara Lowentheil
The Call to Courage Netflix Special
Brene Brown
The Call to Courage Netflix Special
Brene Brown

This special on Netflix is a fantastic overview of Brene Brown’s work. She shares many of her stories and research on vulnerability, courage, shame and leadership. A great introduction to explore before digging deeper into the rest of her work.

Brene Brown
Dare to Lead with Simon Sinek
Brene Brown
Dare to Lead with Simon Sinek
Brene Brown

Anytime you can combine Brene Brown & Simon Sinek, I’m in (and it’s going to be a great listen). In this podcast, Brene Brown interviews Simon Sinek about his new book, The Infinite Game, and about how to develop an Infinite Mindset, and the difference between your Why and your Just Cause.

Brene Brown

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