Resources to build your foundations as an effective leader.
Here at Praeduco Ltd. we have assembled our top recommended books and resources for leaders. One of our highest values is learning, and we show up for this value by constantly being curious about the many and eclectic resources and reading available for leaders.
In this post you’ll find resources from our wide range of influences – leadership in sport, the military as well as psychology and spiritual exploration. Our Founder, Elle Whitelegg, was the original writer of this post and we’ve developed it over time, you’ll find her reasons for recommending the resources and an insight into the beginnings of Praeduco Ltd.
We encourage our clients and visitors to our site to explore our recommended books for leaders, and see where their own curiosity takes them. If we’ve missed something you think others need to know about, leave us a comment below.
Enjoy!
Self discovery
The Artist’s Way – Julia Cameron, discover your inner artistic expression, even if you THINK you have none. You’ll learn a daily practice of the artist’s pages, and artist dates. My dear friend Joslyn recommended this to me just when I needed it.
The Daily Stoic – Ryan Holiday, I also recommend the accompanying diary, and have gifted The Daily Dad to several friends. This book has formed a daily discipline I consistently return to.
Sacred Contracts – Caroline Myss, I listened to this on Audible and it was beautiful, read by the author, Caroline, in front of a live audience it hits deep. If you’re lost, confused as to your purpose, waiting for a lighting bolt of inspiration… you need this book.
Humankind: A Hopeful History – Rutger Bregman, a reminder that humanity is best when it’s being kind. Many examples combined to lead us to being human and kind.
Quiet – Susan Cain, It’s ok to be introverted, it’s a super power. It’s only in western society that we’ve come to over-value someone commanding attention, holding court.
Leadership & Business
Measure What Matters – Justin Doerr, are you caught up with busy work? Is your company scaling in the way you want? Are you in a cycle of not being able to hire, but knowing you need to in order to grow. Set some Objective Key Results and watch as you grow and achieve what you actually want!
Legacy – James Kerr, the playbook of the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team, a dynasty of players who put “no dickheads” above trophies.
Company of One – Paul Jarvis, do you NEED to grow? Does your company have to be big for you to achieve your life goals? I was gifted this book (actually I kind of pinched it from an abandoned pile) from my friend, Lynsey who runs a B2B vegan bakery business in Plymouth, she gets up at 4am, bakes and delivers her cakes to local cafes and is done by 10am leaving the rest of the day to surf, bike, run or write her upcoming cook book. She’s my hero for someone who has chosen the way they want to live vs. being driven by “should”.
I’ve read many more books on how we can form & storm teams, create great environments and trigger growth but these two are the fundamental lessons I return to, and I believe others iterate upon. If you have recommendations I’d love to hear them.
Our Favourites
Wolfpack – Abby Wambach
This book taught me what it means to lead, no matter where you are in the team. Abby takes current paradigms and considers them from new angles, re-thinking the cultural norms and stories we are told, like Little Red Riding Hood, and proposes fresh points of view. When her professional soccer career was coming to an end, Abby had the choice of either sulking on the sidelines or being the best damn cheerleader for her team the world had ever seen – spoiler alert, she had to be moved down the bench away from the coaches because she was cheering SO LOUDLY! If you’re looking to learn more about what it means to build a tribe, and be fully committed to the betterment of it, this is a read, or a listen, for you!
Available from Awesome Books or Waterstones
The Body Keeps the Score – Bessel van der Kolk
I read this book as I was going through some heavy work involving my own stories. It’s part scientific set-up & explanation, part solution and requires some concentration to fully absorb (or for me at least!). My biggest take away was the discussion of k-cells and when we’ve experienced trauma, whether physical or phycological, we not only change at the cellular level but we become pre-disposed to look for more trauma (cue the Recticular Activating System).
The book finishes with tangible frameworks that have helped trauma victims of abuse, PTSD from military service and many more – drama & acting, equine therapy, as well as journaling and self reflection practices. Whether you’ve experienced trauma yourself or want to better understand the effects it can have on others, this is well worth a read or a listen
Available from Awesome Books and Waterstones, your local library (UK) or independent bookstore.
Friends of Praeduco
I am such a huge fan of my friends who have dedicated themselves to write something and birth it into the world. You’ll find me cheering from the sidelines (just like Abby in Wolfpack) for their bravery and dedication.
How to move it – Joslyn Thompson Rule, Joslyn and I met in the warm up area of a CrossFit competition what feels like a lifetime ago and we’ve been friends ever since. Now a globally recognised Peloton coach and Podcast host she continually awes me with her kindness and curiosity of the world, and the dedication to her craft of being the best possible coach she can be. In so doing, she’s a leader of others with a gentle grace that cannot help but inspire.
101 women of science – Claire Philip, A children’s author and constant source of inspiration to me, Claire has written on dinosaurs, sharks and fairies alike. A series of books about a unicorn and her friends, a discovery of the women who changed science – I dare you not to find a beautiful story to read your little one (or your self!) go search for her work! Claire is one of those people who decides she will be friends with you, and you have no power to stop it, and I’m so glad she chose me.
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