Leadership Resources
Key Resources for Nonprofit and Head Start Leadership Success
Leading nonprofit organizations and Head Start programs come with a set of challenges. Limited funds and time constraints can impede effective leadership development. Leaders often find themselves overwhelmed by immediate tasks rather than focusing on long-term growth.
Our resource guide features essential readings on strategic planning for nonprofit organizations and creating a nonprofit business plan. This list combines foundational texts with cutting-edge research, emphasizing positive psychology and holistic leadership. Included are resources on addressing workplace discrimination and promoting equity, featuring influential authors like the Obamas.
Explore these recommended books to advance your leadership skills.
15 Books to Read
The Secret to Effective Leadership: Happiness Principles by Shawn Achor
Shawn Achor’s The Happiness Advantage explores how happiness fuels success rather than the other way around. By focusing on positive psychology, Achor shows that happiness enhances productivity, health, and relationships. For leaders in nonprofit organizations, understanding this shift can be pivotal in fostering a positive, high-performing team environment.
Foster a Positive Work Culture with Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead
Dare to Lead by Brené Brown offers a fresh perspective on leadership through the lens of vulnerability and authenticity. Brown’s practical strategies guide leaders in creating an inclusive and courageous work environment. A vital read for those dedicated to transforming their leadership style and team culture.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey: A Leadership Classic
Stephen Covey’s influential book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, has been guiding leaders for three decades. Covey’s quote, “To achieve goals you’ve never achieved before, you need to start doing things you’ve never done before,” captures the essence of this transformative guide. In the revised 30th Anniversary Edition, Covey emphasizes seven habits: proactive behavior, end-focused planning, effective prioritization, shifting from private to public success, win-win thinking, empathetic understanding, and continuous personal growth.
The Power of Grit: Angela Duckworth’s Guide to Perseverance
In Grit: The Power and Passion of Perseverance, Angela Duckworth reveals that success isn’t just about talent; it’s about grit. Through her research, Duckworth demonstrates that grit—a blend of passion, perseverance, and resilience—is a skill anyone can develop. Grit isn’t innate; it’s learned through dedicated practice and continuous feedback.
The Power of a Growth Mindset in Achieving Success by Carol S. Dweck
In Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, Carol S. Dweck explores how a growth mindset can transform your approach to challenges and opportunities. Individuals with a fixed mindset believe their abilities are static, while those with a growth mindset recognize that success comes from persistence and effort. By cultivating a growth mindset, you empower your team to strive for excellence and embrace lifelong learning.
Givers, Takers, and Matchers: Leadership Lessons from Adam Grant
In Give and Take, Adam Grant identifies three leadership styles: givers, takers, and matchers. Grant’s research demonstrates that givers—leaders who generously support others—are the most successful. Unlike takers who focus on their own gains or matches who balance giving and taking, givers build lasting success by fostering a culture of reciprocity and collaboration.
Data-Driven Success: Strategies for Nonprofit Leaders by Sheri Chaney Jones
In Impact and Excellence, Sheri Chaney Jones offers a unique perspective for nonprofit and Head Start leaders, emphasizing the power of data over traditional leadership techniques. The book provides practical strategies for refining missions and leveraging data to enhance teamwork and achieve superior outcomes.
Energy Management as the Key to Success by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz
Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz’s The Power of Full Engagement shifts the focus from time management to energy management as the cornerstone of high performance. Leveraging insights from top athletes and CEOs, the book introduces strategies to optimize physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual energy, leading to a healthier, more balanced life.
The Four Frictions of Change: Insights from The Human Element
In The Human Element, Loran Nordgren and David Schonthal explore the challenges of implementing new ideas within organizations. The authors use the metaphor of an airplane’s drag to illustrate how four specific frictions can impede progress and offer practical strategies for reducing these obstacles to foster successful innovation.
The Future of Leadership Drive: Embracing Mastery, Autonomy, and Purpose
Dan Pink’s Drive presents a new vision for leadership that moves beyond the carrot-and-stick mentality. By prioritizing mastery, autonomy, and purpose, leaders can create an environment where motivation and performance thrive.
Leading with Strengths: Strategies for Organizational Success
Tom Rath and Barry Conchie’s Strengths-Based Leadership outlines how leaders can achieve success by recognizing and leveraging the strengths of their team members. The book emphasizes the importance of investing in strengths, building a well-rounded team, and meeting the core needs of your team.
The Power of Honest Feedback: Radical Candor in Leadership by Kim Scott
Kim Scott’s Radical Candor provides leaders with the tools they need to deliver feedback that is both compassionate and direct. Through personal stories and case studies, Scott illustrates how this approach can transform teams, making it particularly valuable for nonprofit leaders who aim to create a supportive yet high-performing work environment.
Finding Purpose in Leadership: Start with Why by Simon Sinek
In Start with Why, Simon Sinek encourages leaders to look beyond the “what” and “how” of their work to discover the deeper “why” that motivates them. Sinek’s insights help leaders and teams align their core values with their daily actions, fostering a sense of purpose that drives success.
Compassionomics: Why Compassion Matters in Healthcare by Stephen Trzeciak and Anthony Mazzarelli
In Compassionomics, Stephen Trzeciak and Anthony Mazzarelli uncover the profound impact of compassion on healthcare. Their research highlights how a small investment of time in compassionate care can lead to significant benefits, including improved patient outcomes and reduced stress for healthcare providers. This book is essential for anyone looking to enhance the quality of care in their organization.
The Book of Joy: A Guide to Finding Happiness Amidst Life’s Challenges
In The Book of Joy, the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu, with Douglas Carlton Abrams, offer a heartwarming exploration of joy in the face of adversity. Drawing from their rich life experiences, they provide readers with practical advice on how to maintain happiness and peace, making this book an invaluable resource for anyone navigating life’s ups and downs.
Minority Leader: How to Lead from the Outside and Make Real Change by Stacey Abrams
Minority Leader by Stacey Abrams offers invaluable insights into leading effectively from a position of disadvantage.
Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina by Misty Copeland
In Life in Motion, Misty Copeland shares her inspiring journey from an underprivileged background to becoming the first African American principal ballerina at American Ballet Theatre.
Expect to Win: 10 Proven Strategies for Thriving in the Workplace by Carol Harris
Expect to Win by Carol Harris provides ten actionable strategies for navigating and succeeding in the workplace. Harris, a seasoned professional, shares her insights on overcoming obstacles and leveraging your unique strengths to excel.
I’m Not Yelling: A Black Woman’s Guide to Navigating the Workplace by Elizabeth Leiba
In I’m Not Yelling, Elizabeth Leiba offers a candid guide for Black women navigating professional spaces. Leiba combines personal anecdotes with practical advice to help readers address challenges, assert their presence, and thrive in their careers.
The Work: Searching for a Life That Matters by Wes Moore
The Work by Wes Moore explores the pursuit of a meaningful life through the lens of personal and professional growth.
It Worked for Me by Colin Powell
It Worked for Me by Colin Powell presents a collection of leadership lessons and personal anecdotes from the former U.S. Secretary of State.
Playing the Game Without a Coach: How Courage, Resilience, and Forgiveness Helped One Man Seize the American Dream by Benjamin Raymond
Benjamin Raymond’s Playing the Game Without a Coach recounts his remarkable journey to the American Dream, driven by courage, resilience, and forgiveness.
The Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes
The Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes chronicles a year of embracing new opportunities and challenges.
Race, Work, and Leadership: New Perspectives on the Black Experience Edited by Laura Morgan Roberts, Anthony Mayo, and David Thomas
Race, Work, and Leadership is a groundbreaking compilation that provides fresh perspectives on the Black experience in professional settings.
My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor
In My Beloved World, Sonia Sotomayor shares her inspiring journey from a childhood in the Bronx to becoming the first Latina Supreme Court Justice.