Atomic Habits

This is a ground-breaking book which breaks down the habit-forming process. In particular, it focusses on the fact that:

'You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems. Your goal is your desired outcome. Your system is the collection of daily habits that will get you there'.

Black Box Thinking

Superb comparison between the cultures which exist in the National Health Service, and those practised within Aviation. I particular liked the reference to marginal gains. This simply states that small, incremental improvements, each as little as 1%, can lead to remarkable overall success.

Turn the Ship Around

A practical leadership book which emphasises the importance of driving decisions to those who hold the most accurate information. This is mission command exercised in one of the most demanding environments on earth!

The 4-Hour Work Week

This classic text was the original catalyst behind trying to build work around life, rather than the other way around. If you are interested creating your own 'side-hustle' then this is the book for you!

The Diary of a CEO

If you haven't listened to the podcast of the same name, please do so. This is a compilation of all the best parts of Steve Bartlett's interviews condensed into one place. Highly recommended!

Feel Good Productivity

Productivity guru and YouTube influencer Ali Abdaal takes a new look at productivity based around what makes you happy. The theory being that if you make your work feel good, then productivity will take care of itself!

What's your dream?

What are you aiming for in life? What does 'good' look like for you? This excellent book helps you to work this out, and more importantly, take the necessary steps towards achieving it.

On Leadership

Whatever your opinion may be on Tony Blair, he presided over the UK as Prime Minister during a period of profound change for the world. In this book he provides sage advice to all who aspire to a senior leadership position.

Drive

If you are able to understand the factors that motivate people, then you unlock true teamwork and performance. Daniel Pink provides a compelling argument to determine what to focus on for those who are knowledge workers.

Never Split the Difference

Whether you are negotiating finance for a major purchase, or navigating sensitive contractual discussions with your customer, former FBI hostage negotiator Chris Voss shows you how it's done. He draws upon the human psychology behind the art of negotiation. A must read! 

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

One of the absolute classic productivity books which is timeless. One of the key tenets about being an effective leader is that you must be able to lead yourself before you lead others. This book shows you how to take charge of all aspects of your life, and focus in on those areas which will move the needle! 

The Personal MBA

Attending Business School can be prohibitively expensive. Why not teach yourself the and become 'business savvy' at a much reduced cost? That's the premise of this book. The author has analysed MBAs the world over and provided a condensed summary of the disciplines you need to know about to grow your business acumen. Highly recommended!

The First 90 Days

It is always disorientating when you assume a new role. But there is a science behind how long it will take you to induct into your new organisation. New joiners will start with a 'value deficit' which needs to be paid back before value is added. The good news is that this period can be shortened. This book explains how.

Influence

The more senior you become, the more you will need to rely on your powers of influence and diplomacy to gain consensus. This book explains how to gain the skills required to articulate, argue and convince others of your point of view. This is a superskill required of all senior leaders. 

Essentialism

When you are fulfilling a busy leadership role, it can be really difficult to determine where to apply your main focus. This book argues a strong case towards focussing on less in pursuit of more. What will move the needle the most? Where should I focus my attention in order to make the biggest difference. An engaging read which will make you think about how you work on a daily basis.