Leadership Books Recommended by CIOs and Technology Executives

Last week, we asked Heller Report readers: “What book has had a major impact on your leadership style?” Along with a diverse list of terrific books, we received thoughtful comments about the influence the book has had on the reader’s career.

Authentic Leadership: Rediscovering the Secrets to Creating Lasting Value by Bill George
"Practical advice to live my life in a consistent, positive manner at work, at home, and socially."
-Paul Hanson, Chief Operating Officer, Young America

In Search of Excellence: Lessons from America's Best-Run Companies by Thomas J. Peters and Robert H. Waterman
"I read it during my senior year of high school and it was the first business book that I genuinely enjoyed; and in hindsight, the first business leadership book that resonated with how I wanted to look at the world. This is the book that had the most impact and was my first “aha” moment that the right leaders could make almost any career a joy to work in."
-Michael Kohlman, Information Systems Manager, Cook Group Inc.

Winning by Jack Welch
“Jack provides succinct and profound guidance in 3 major areas: your company, your competition and your career.”
- Stuart Kerr, Principal Director of Technical Computing, The Aerospace Corp.

Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done by Larry Bossidy, Ram Charan and Charles Burck
“This book really got me started at thinking about how to move a team to a certain goal and understanding the importance of strategic execution at the enterprise level. This is a book you keep around to read again and again.”
- Chris Loehr, SVP, Network Manager, IBC Bank

Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't by Jim Collins
“As Collins puts it ‘First who, then what.’ Highlights how important it is to get the right people in the team before you decide on what to do.”
-Prashant Cherukuri, CIO, [24]7, Inc.

The World's Most Powerful Leadership Principle: How to Become a Servant Leader by James C. Hunter
“The role of IT is to serve the internal and external customers and to deliver value with solutions, innovation and services. The better a leader understands the power of servant leadership, the better they are for the organization and staff. IT leadership needs to be about the IT team -- serving them, which builds a strong functioning organization. There are many other (books), but this has to be at the top og the list, and I keep extra copies to give out.”
-Gary B. Kuyper, Chief Technology Officer, Bethany Christian Services Inc.

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
“There are numerous motivational techniques - good and bad - that one can use if they want to develop superior products.”
-Dan Terrasi, Head of Technology Solutions, Northern Hemisphere, WIB Technology

Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell
“Understanding when to trust gut instincts and when to question them is critical to the success of any leadership position. This book lays out situations when initial reactions are more important than quantitative analysis or advanced analytics, and when the same way of thinking can lead companies down the wrong path.
-Bryce Austin, VP and CIO, Wells Fargo Business Payroll Services

Managing Corporate Lifecycles by Ichak Adizes
“Adizes provides some interesting insights regarding the mix of leadership styles that are needed during different stages of an organization's lifecycle."
-Irving Burday, President, Burday Consulting Associates

Unusually Excellent: The Necessary Nine Skills Required for the Practice of Great Leadership by John Hamm
“The best leadership book I've read by far"
-Sam Lamonica, Vice President and CIO, Rosendin Electric

Authentic Leadership: Rediscovering the Secrets to Creating Lasting Value by Bill George
“There are four or five (books) that make up a package that work together, but it all started with Authentic Leadership, which started me on a journey to recognize and deeply appreciate that leadership about is people, starting with me.
-Dan Wakeman, VP & CIO, Educational Testing Service

Leadership the Eleanor Roosevelt Way: Timeless Strategies from the First Lady of Courage by Robin Gerber
“I love Robin’s reflection on Eleanor’s writings and examples. It provides a perspective that is practical and applicable to both genders. I’ve used it repeatably in mentoring and managing.  My copy is well tagged, dog eared, and highlighted. One of Eleanor’s quotes is my current mantra: ‘What matters now, as always, is not what we can’t do:  it is what we can and must do.’”  
-Mary Leonardo Patry, Senior Director, Information Technology, MedImmune

Cigars, Whiskey and Winning: Leadership Lessons from General Ulysses S. Grant by Al Kaltman
“Concise and insightful.”
-Daniel Little, Director, Technology Infrastructure, Energy Plus Company

Managing Transitions: Making the Most of Change by William Bridges and Susan Bridges
“This book was crucial to how I introduced changes and managed through them when I moved into the CIO position.”
-Michael Abbene, Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Arch Coal, Inc. (Retired)

The Story Factor by Annette Simmons
recommended by: Arun deSouza, Director, Strategic Planning & Security - Global Information Systems & Services, Inergy Automotive Systems

First, Break All the Rules: What the World's Greatest Managers Do Differently by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman
recommended by Matthew Cooley, VP of IS, Scentsy, Inc.

The Soul of a New Machine by Tracy Kidder
recommended by: Dave Berry, Interim CIO at TOMS Shoes, Inc.

Leading IT: The Toughest Job in the World by Bob Lewis
recommended by Chad Sutton

Feel free to add the book that influenced your leadership style the most in the Comments section below. Thank you.