A serious commitment to personal and professional development is a must for aspiring and experienced business leaders alike. As leaders are constantly tasked with navigating expected and unexpected challenges, continually developing one’s leadership skills in particular is essential to weathering today’s unpredictable business climate.
From books and peer groups to mentors and podcasts, there are a number of in-person and online resources business leaders can access to fuel their own growth. To help, 20 Forbes Business Council members share specific resources they leverage to hone their leadership skills, as well as how they can benefit other leaders.
1. ‘The Score Takes Care Of Itself’
I recommend The Score Takes Care of Itself by Bill Walsh because this book offers timeless leadership lessons on building a high-performance culture. Walsh’s focus on discipline, standards and long-term vision—rather than short-term wins—resonates with business leaders driving innovation. It’s a must-read for mastering strategic leadership, resilience and team empowerment. – Alejandro Martinez, Propelling Tech
2. Mentors
Everyone has their own mentor. For me, that person is my mother—the closest and dearest person in my life. Leadership can be learned in many places, but the most important quality on this journey is wisdom. True wisdom can only be passed down by those who possess it. Without wisdom, even the most experienced leader, armed with an MBA and years of training, can still make countless mistakes. – Jekaterina Beljankova, WALLACE s.r.o
3. ‘The Coaching Habit’
I recommend The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More, and Change the Way You Lead Forever by Michael Bungay Stanier to hone leadership skills. It offers a practical framework for developing coaching habits that empower individuals and teams. By emphasizing questions and active listening, leaders create space for growth and learning, fostering collaboration and developing future leaders. – Jay Patel, Spacelabs Healthcare (OSI Systems)
4. A Coaching Company Partnership
We work with a great coaching company called Predictable Profits, which helps me resolve the challenges of operating a business. The group is super valuable because I get coaching and peer conversations that result in real, tangible changes for my business. Plus, I get to commiserate with other entrepreneurs about all the crazy. – Robert Brill, Brill Media
Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
5. ‘Leadership Mindset 2.0’
The book Leadership Mindset 2.0: The Psychology and Neuroscience of Reaching your Full Potential by R. Michael Anderson was a complete game-changer for me. It explored the psychology and neuroscience behind limiting beliefs, difficult conversations and how to build a stronger relationship with ourselves as leaders. It’s a practical, easy-to-read and life-changing resource for leaders. – Sarah Goodall, Tribal Impact
6. Strength Finders
Strength finders and related tools are an anchor of resources I use and recommend to colleagues to better understand their superpowers, how to apply them and build complementary teams that drive outcomes for the collective. These tools help leaders of all ages and levels identify what areas they can continue to improve on and how to maneuver in current roles to leverage their strengths. – Jennifer Sanders, North Texas Innovation Alliance
7. ‘The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People’
I look to The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. This book offers timeless principles on leadership, personal growth and effectiveness. Covey’s focus on proactive thinking, prioritization and emotional intelligence makes it a must-read for business leaders looking to build strong, value-driven organizations while continuously improving themselves. – Stephen Sokoler, Journey
8. Young Presidents’ Organization
One resource I highly recommend for honing leadership skills is the Young Presidents’ Organization. It’s an incredible network of business leaders who share real, unfiltered and confidential insights and experiences that you won’t find in books or articles. The peer-to-peer learning and support have been invaluable for navigating challenges, helping me make better decisions and grow as a leader. – Sara Mauskopf, Winnie
9. ‘The Power Of TED’
I highly recommend The Power of TED: The Empowerment Dynamic by David Emerald for leaders seeking to shift from reactive problem-solving to empowered leadership. It teaches the Empowerment Dynamic as the antidote to the Dreaded Drama Triangle, which is a cycle of destructive reactivity that stymies our ability to respond with intentionality to challenging circumstances. – Ann Sheu, Mpowered Families
10. Peer Groups
I’m a big fan of peer groups like Vistage and COO Alliance because they give you the ability to listen, learn and teach others based on real-world experiences. We may have different businesses, but our struggles and opportunities are so similar. Leverage others and be available for them when they are in need. – Hunter McMahon, iDiscovery Solutions, Inc. (iDS)
11. ‘The 8th Habit’
The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness by Stephen Covey is based on decades of research and real-world comparisons of companies and leaders. It’s empirical evidence of what actually matters in leadership and what is glorified but unproven. – Dave Zirnhelt, Rate-My-Agent.com
12. Your Peers’ Feedback
Leverage people’s feedback. I regularly look for feedback from peers and collaborators in every one-on-one meeting I have. This not only improves the working environment, promoting an open culture feedback based, but also provides you with constant motivation and a willingness to improve. Leadership requires constant effort and constant learning, so use feedback to grow and strengthen your leadership. – Massimiliano Melis, AITEM
13. ‘Whatever It Is, I’m Against It’
Whatever It Is, I’m Against It by Brian Rosenberg is my most recent go-to leadership resource. Transformative change is hard. This book provides readers with a way to think about the barriers to change, as well as ways to bring others along as you work to overcome those barriers and make a meaningful difference. – Catherine Wehlburg, Athens State University
14. Harvard Business Review
I find the Harvard Business Review to be an invaluable resource for honing leadership skills. It offers insightful articles, case studies and research-backed strategies on leadership, decision making and team dynamics. I recommend it to other business leaders for its practical advice and diverse perspectives that can help when navigating complex challenges. – Wayne Liang, Liang Holdings
15. ‘Leading With Gratitude’
In my experience leading teams, gratitude isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a game-changer. Leading with Gratitude: Eight Leadership Practices for Extraordinary Business Results by Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton reinforces what I’ve seen firsthand: when leaders genuinely appreciate their people, engagement, trust and performance soar. The book is packed with practical ways to build a culture of recognition, making it a must-read for anyone who wants to lead with impact and authenticity. – Paul Van Metre, ProShop ERP
16. Expert Podcasts
Listening to podcasts from various experts on human interpretation and psychology gives me the opportunity to understand people’s behaviors, particularly the individuals I work with. I am then better able to anticipate their needs to ensure we are aligned on reaching our mutual goals. – Lihy Teuerstein, IDE Water Assets
17. ‘Thinking In Bets’
I look to Annie Duke’s Thinking in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don’t Have All The Facts. It’s a game-changer for decision making under uncertainty. Leadership is about making the best possible call with the information you have. Duke’s approach helps cut through noise, minimize regret and focus on process over outcome. It’s a must-read for any leader who wants to sharpen their thinking and improve their long-term results. – Julia Rafal-Baer, ILO Group
18. Modern Elder Academy
I recommend visiting the Modern Elder Academy. It reshaped how I think about leadership, especially in times of transition. Chip Conley’s insights on wisdom that comes with experience and how to integrate it with a beginner’s mindset are invaluable. Leadership isn’t just about skill; it’s about adaptability, self-awareness and mentorship. If you’re serious about growth, go to Baja for a visit. – Aleesha Webb, Pioneer Bank
19. ‘Zero To One’
Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future by Peter Thiel and Blake Masters challenges leaders to think differently about innovation, competition and building a truly unique business. Their insights on creating monopolistic advantages and fostering a strong vision make it essential for founders and executives aiming to scale successfully. – Asaad Hakeem, SARC MedIQ Inc.
20. Real Interactions
While books and podcasts are great, the best leadership insights come from real interactions. Listening to my team helps me understand their challenges, improve communication and adapt my leadership style. I’d recommend this to any leader, as it builds trust and creates a culture of continuous improvement. – Ryan Hutchins, Ampleo Valuation Services LLC dba Peak Business Valuation
Read the full article here
