In my book Work Your Network! I wrote a line I still live by: “Readers are leaders. Those who read will lead. Those who don’t will follow those who do.” I put it right under my recommended reading list, because I’ve watched it play out for 40 years as an executive recruiter. The leaders I place are almost always readers. They show up to interviews with fresh ideas, better questions and a bigger view of their industry.
Early in my career I paid $495 out of my own pocket for a speed reading course. That was real money for me back then. I did it because of a Ben Franklin line that stuck with me: “Empty the pennies of your purse into your mind and your mind will fill your wallet with gold.” It was one of the best investments I ever made. I set a goal of 52 books a year, one a week, and I’ve found that the more I learn, the more I earn.
So here are five books I recommend to executives, whether you’re in a job search, getting ready for a promotion or simply want to sharpen your edge. The most important one comes first.
5 Books Every Executive Should Read
1. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
If you only read one book on this list, make it this one. Your career runs on relationships, and Carnegie teaches the basics better than anyone: remember names, show real interest in the other person, and let people feel important. Every great networker I know uses these ideas whether they’ve read the book or not. My advice is to read it, then read it again every few years.
2. Rites of Passage at $100,000 to $1 Million+ by John Lucht
This is the book I point executives to when they want to understand how senior level job changes really work. Lucht covers how retained and contingency recruiters operate, how to get on a recruiter’s radar and how to manage your own career moves at the top. If you want to work well with headhunters like me, this book will save you years of trial and error.
3. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
This has long been one of my favorite books. Hill’s core idea is simple and powerful: “Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe it can achieve.” Your attitude drives your results, in an interview and in your career. Before any big meeting I want my candidates walking in with a clear goal and real belief in themselves. Hill teaches you how to build that.
4. Influence by Robert Cialdini
Whether you’re a “salesperson” or not, you are always selling, especially when you are networking and interviewing. Cialdini explains why people say yes. One idea I talk about in my book is the law of reciprocity: if I do something nice for you, you now want to do something nice for me. Give first in your network and you’ll be amazed at what comes back.
5. Knock ’em Dead by Martin Yate
When it’s time to get practical about interviews, Yate is hard to beat. His books walk you through tough questions, how to tell your story and how to prepare. All of Yate’s books are good. Pair this one with your own homework on the company and you’ll walk in ready.
How to Make Reading Pay Off
Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body, and like exercise, it only works if you keep at it. Here are five simple ways to get more out of every book:
- Set a goal. Pick a number of books for the year and write it down. Even one a month adds up to 12 new ideas a year.
- Take notes. Underline, dog ear pages and jot down one idea you’ll use this week.
- Share what you learn. Sending a book recommendation to a contact is one of the easiest ways to stay in touch with your network.
- Bring it to the interview. When someone asks what you’re reading, have a real answer and a takeaway ready. It tells them you’re still growing.
- Use the library. You don’t need a big budget. If you can’t buy the books, go to the library.
I’ll leave you with one more line from my book: “Five years from now you will be the same person you are now, except for the people you meet, and the books you read.” Meet great people and read great books, and your career will take care of itself.
Looking for your next executive role, or for a great leader to join your team? Our network of 700 recruiters works on positions from $75,000 to $2,000,000 base. Reach me at info@josephmichaels.com or call 1-800-786-1099. And if there’s a book that changed your career, I’d love to hear about it.
Joe Pelayo is an executive recruiter with Joseph Michaels International Recruiters and author of Work Your Network!