Did you add reading to your list of goals this year? Where do you start? What kind of books? Do you sort by authors? Or do you randomly pull out 5 books from your bookshelf of never-read-but-purchased-because-I-wanted-to books because you should probably read those?

This past year, my goals included developing further as a leader. So I not only read more, I started picking non-fiction books that helped develop my influence at work, in community and in my family. However you choose books for 2022, consider these top pics from my 2021 reading list.

The Infinite Game – Simon Sinek

“To live a life with an infinite mindset means thinking about second and third order effects of our decisions.”

Simon Sinek

Are you sometimes caught up in the day to day, chasing after the next quarterly goal? What if there was something more? This book challenged my goal mindset and helped me think bigger—a growth mindset. Part of growing in leadership is moving from a goal-mindset to a growth-mindset. Simon Sinek does an amazing job calling out the short term planning of today’s businesses and sharing examples of how companies are thinking differently about “winning”. If you’ve read Start with Why or Leaders Eat Last, this book won’t disappoint.

This is Marketing – Seth Godin

Sometimes I hear about books through other books. Have you ever read a quote in a book and thought, “Maybe I should read a book by that author, too.” And that’s how I picked up This is Marketing by Seth Godin. Seth Godin provides a direct and simple approach to communication, no flowery-filler words needed. His simple communication is refreshing and inspiring. Starting your own business this year? Do you work in Marketing in your company? Do you need to sell something this year? Check out this book to help you get started on the right foot.

“Marketing is the generous act of helping someone solve a problem. Their problem.”

Seth Godin

Everyone Communicates Few Connect – John Maxwell

This year I was introduced to John Maxwell for the first time. If you’re like me and have never heard about John Maxwell, it’s okay, you haven’t been living under rock, you just probably haven’t heard about him yet. (Yes, I was told by someone I must have been living under a rock…). From early elementary I’ve been passionate about speaking, so once I heard about John Maxwell, I picked up his book on how to connect. “If you want to learn how to connect and thereby become more effective in everything you do, there’s good news…you can learn how to do it and become better tomorrow” (John Maxwell). Anyone can communicate, but I wanted to connect, so voila. Want to be a better connector with your spouse, partner, manager, team, company, child? Maxwell provides some simple and practical tools to help you connect better.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – Stephen R. Covey

“Just picked up “7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” How did I wait so long to read this book!?” (LinkedIn Post after reading the first chapter.) Okay, so if you’re going to be intentional about growing in leadership this next year, definitely pick this one up. It’s long and jam-packed with the qualities and character of leadership that is so needed for today. Seriously, just put it on your list and start when you can. I’m re-reading this book in 2022.

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership – John Maxwell

So after I was introduced to John Maxwell, I read 6 of his 80+ books. I read more books by him this year than any other author. This book jumpstarted my passion to grow in leadership. It not only gave me a direction to start growing towards, it also gave me a place to start. “The one thing you need to know about leadership is that there is more than one thing you need to know about leadership. To lead well we must do 21 things well” (John Maxwell).

Try starting here. These five books challenged me, encouraged me, pointed me to other books, and influenced me in influencing others. They helped me be a better dad, husband, employee, friend, son, all areas where I get to work out leadership skills. I know they hold something for you too.

We’re on this journey together. Here’s to even greater growth in 2022.