The Best Books For Aspiring CEOs

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The CEO (Chief Executive Officer) is at the heart of any business. A successful CEO is someone who is able to lead the team, steer the ship and face any uncertainties head on.

But being a good CEO is more than just talent, it’s about making sure you have the right skills to lead a company to success.

What Does Being A CEO Entail?

Being a CEO involves a lot of elements. A good CEO will be able to see the bigger picture, whilst also having enough of a grasp on the details to make good decisions. Some key tasks of a CEO include:

Strategic decision making: The CEO will be the person steering the business. A good CEO will make big decisions based on the overall direction of the company, especially during turbulent times.

Leadership: The CEO will be the leader of the company both internally and externally. Within the company, they will be in charge of making sure the business is running as it should. Externally, they will be the face of the company, likely in areas like press, speaker events and more.

Team morale: Whilst other teams will exist to help retain teams, the CEO will be in charge of overall team morale. They will address the company, sign off on retention initiatives and track progression to make sure the right people stay in the company.

Financial oversight: As part of their decision making responsibilities, CEOs will have to have oversight of the finances. Whilst this sounds like a straightforward job, CEOs will have to make decisions about budget cuts, allocations and projections.

Navigating difficult times: In the face of tough times, the CEO will be in charge of leading the company. A CEO will have strong resilience to be able to navigate these times, pulling the company out of the other side.

For those who are aspiring to become CEOs, learning how to grow these skills is a good place to start.

Luckily a number of books exist to help. Here are some of our favourites:

The Five Dysfunctions Of A Team

This book is all about understanding how to create a united team, even if they are in disarray.

The book talks about the 5 behavioural tendencies that are at the heart of why any team struggles. It then talks through how to overcome these and steer the team in one direction again.

Buy the book here.

Thinking, Fast and Slow

One of the most-widely read business books of our time, thinking fast and slow is all about how we make choices and decisions.

The book is a guide around how to improve this decision making, which is a key skill for any aspiring CEO.

Buy the book here.

A CEO Only Does 3 Things

Whether you’re a new CEO or one with 20 years’ experience, one of the most important parts of the job is focus.

This book is all about how to allocate this focus, taking yourself out of the details and looking at the bigger picture. A CEO should focus on culture, hiring and inspiration and the rest will follow.

This book is all about that, helping people be the best CEOs they can.

Buy the book here.

CEO Excellence

This book explores the 6 mindsets that make the best leaders. It will talk about how to think and approach challenges and drive performance within your teams.

Written by partners at McKinsey & Company, this book is a great one for any person in a leadership role.

Buy the book here.

The Ride Of A Lifetime

Written by the ex-CEO of the Walt Disney Company, this book is all about how even the most established brands can have a new lease of life with the right leadership.

The book talks about the importance of optimism, courage, decisiveness and fairness – all important qualities in a CEO.

Buy the book here.

Diary of a CEO

Steven Bartlett’s book is about the fundamental elements of a leader that will allow them to be excellent.

These elements are rooted in psychology, and allow leaders to adapt to anything. With experience interviewing hundreds of CEOs, Steven Bartlett’s book is a great read for anyone looking to enter the world of leadership.

Buy the book here.