Though industries are constantly shifting and changing, the one constant that will always remain is that we need to keep learning. Books offer you an inside look at some of the top minds and most successful companies. In only a couple of hours, you can learn skills directly from experts in the field. As a coach, I can never stress the importance of reading to my clients enough. Listed are the top three books that will put you on the fast track to success.

1. Mindset, The New Psychology of Success, By Carol S. Dweck

This book will remind you that a growth mindset is essential during periods of crisis and disruption. Mindset, reiterates that it’s ok to innovate and experiment through uncertainty. That having a growth mindset will increase our chance of success and allow us to be more compassionate towards ourselves and others in the coming years. Based on the recent Covid-19 pandemic, where we were confronted with challenges with no definitive answers, this book is a great refresher on how you can continue to be successful in the face of adversity. 

2. You’re It: Crisis, Change, and How to Lead When it Matters Most, By Leonard J. Marcus, Eric J. McNulty, Joseph M. Henderson, Barry C. Dorn

This book allows you to understand some of the toughest decisions facing our nation’s leaders during the pandemic. It also takes you on a journey through the tough decision-making process inside the world’s largest companies, hottest startups, and leading nonprofits. A book for turbulent times, ‘You’re It’ is essential reading for anyone preparing to lead an adaptive team through crisis and change.

3. Leadership In (Permanent) Crisis, By Ronald Heifetz, Alexander Grashow and Marty Linsky

Harvard University has made a significant impact in the field of Leadership Development through studies on “adaptive leadership.” Adaptive leaders, according to the Harvard Business Review, “use the turbulence of the present to build on and bring closure to the past. In the process, they change key rules of the game, reshape parts of the organization, and redefine the work people do.” This book is a great summary of the skills and capacities needed to be an adaptive leader.

I cannot say this enough, reading is one of the most productive activities you can do as a leader and entrepreneur. To thrive, you must never stop learning.  Whether for pleasure or business, there will always be new ways to grow and develop. Being well-read will undoubtedly lead to success. 

Want to know more about what I’m reading right now? 

The Big Test: The Secret History of The American Meritocracy, By Nicolas Lemann.

It has proven to be a great read on the evolution of higher education, The Big Test, gives a clear look at the role of SATs and The College Admissions Board. A thorough history disguised as a fast-paced story, this book has a twisting plot and compelling characters. The history—which ends in the 1990s—invites us to grapple with some of the most pressing questions we face in 2020: How do we expand access to education in ways that are fair, just and equitable?