My Q2 Reading List
8 Books That Shaped My Leadership Thinking
Before we get started with the books, I have a quick note for you. As we head into the heart of summer, I’m taking a break.
After a busy and rewarding first half of the year, I’m taking some time to recharge by spending more time with friends and family, and less with screens and schedules. I hope to rest, reflect, and return with fresh energy.
When I come back this fall, I’ll be focusing more deeply on leadership in the technical world. This is a topic that has been pulling me the whole year so far. There’s a real need for stronger, more human leadership in engineering and related fields. I’m excited to dive into leading without a title, leadership training, and creating effective change.
To everyone who’s followed along, reached out, or shared kind words so far this year: thank you. I’m grateful for the support and excited about what’s ahead.
But before I fully shift into vacation mode, here are the books that have shaped my thinking in Q2.
Leadership, Influence, and the Power of Story
This quarter, my reading list focused on leading and connecting with others. These books spoke about organizational frameworks, interpersonal dynamics, or personal growth. Each challenged me to think differently about how we show up at work, at home, and with ourselves. The importance of effective communication jumped off the pages of these books. Whether you want to tell a good story, sell a product, or get ahead at work, how you communicate separates you from the noise.
My Top Two Reads from Q2
Out of everything I read this quarter, Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Stories Sell by Matthew Dicks stuck with me long after I put them down.
Start with Why prompted me to take a hard look at my journey, and in doing so, I landed on something that felt foundational. My “why” is simple but powerful: to help people and organizations reach and exceed their potential. Sinek’s concept of the “Golden Circle” helped me reframe how people are motivated (myself included). It’s a framework I’ve already started applying in how I lead, communicate, and think about strategy. Don’t ask what our objectives are, ask why we seek to achieve them.
Stories Sell was a completely different kind of book, but just as impactful. Matthew Dicks takes a straightforward, no-nonsense approach to storytelling and generating stories. His practical exercises and structure tips demystify the storytelling process. I put his advice to the test in a recent leadership workshop, where I used his format to open the session with a personal story. The result? I had the room’s full attention from the first few sentences. When the surprise happened, you could hear a pin drop in the room. That alone made the book worth the time.
These books will inform how I connect with my audiences, whether they are family, friends, colleagues, or clients.
My Most-Recommended Book This Quarter
While “Start with Why” and “Stories Sell” were standouts for me, the book I’ve found myself recommending the most is “Managing Up” by Melody Wilding.
It’s packed with smart, actionable strategies for navigating the corporate jungle. Wilding covers setting boundaries, working with difficult managers, or advocating for yourself in high-pressure environments. What I appreciate most is that the advice doesn’t require positional authority. It’s all about increasing your influence, clarity, and confidence, no matter where you sit in the org chart.
Anyone, at any stage of their career, can supercharge their effectiveness at the office with this advice. If you’re working in a complex, fast-moving organization and want to operate with more intention and less stress, this book is for you.
What I Read in Q2:
1. Stories Sell by Matthew Dicks
As I mentioned earlier, this book is a guide to effective storytelling. Matthew Dicks is a master storyteller, and Stories Sell is part how-to, part inspiration. Drawing on his experience as a teacher, DJ, and storytelling competitor, he argues that storytelling is more than an art. Storytelling is also a critical business skill. This book reinforced that facts rarely change minds, but stories often do. Business success is about capturing the hearts and minds of our customers, and storytelling remains the most effective way to accomplish that.
2. The Leadership Pipeline by Ram Charan, Steve Drotter, and Jim Noel
A classic in organizational leadership, this book outlines a framework for growing leaders at every level of an enterprise. It’s not light reading, but it’s dense with value. The authors’ focus on the transition points between roles highlights the skills gaps that most organizations struggle to overcome. The reality is that as individuals grow, their roles will change dramatically, but they are often not prepared for that shift. It helped me think more clearly about the expectations, skills, and values that are critical for success.
3. Surrounded by Idiots by Thomas Erikson
Despite the provocative title, this book takes a serious look at communication styles using color-based personality types (red, yellow, green, blue). While it can veer toward oversimplification, I found it useful as a conversational starting point for understanding interpersonal friction. It reminded me that miscommunication is often about mismatch, not malice. I’m using this information today to recognize communication patterns in people and adjust my approach accordingly.
4. Managing Up by Melody Wilding
This was a surprisingly practical listen about managing the often-overlooked dynamic of working with senior leaders. Wilding speaks directly to high-achievers who feel the pressure to deliver while navigating unclear or shifting expectations. It offers strategies for self-regulation, boundary-setting, and professional assertiveness. These skills aren’t on an org chart but are nonetheless critical to success. The “Steal This Script” sections stuck out to me. Wilding has exact scripts readers can use to simplify the tough conversations with others. I have already recommended this book a dozen times since I read it. I will continue to do so for anyone looking to grow in their organization.
5. The Third Door by Alex Banayan
Part memoir, part motivational guide, Banayan’s book is about his quest to uncover how successful people broke into their industries. The "third door" metaphor represents the unconventional route that will get you to where you want to go. It is a helpful frame for anyone who doesn’t see themselves fitting the traditional mold. It’s fast-paced and occasionally dramatic, but at its core is a message about persistence, curiosity, and bold outreach. Banayan learned many lessons along his story, but the most salient is that there is always a way to overcome your obstacles.
6. Start with Why by Simon Sinek
Customers do not buy what you do, they buy why you do it. Colleagues don’t follow what you say; they follow why you say it. This is a foundational text for purpose-driven leadership.. This book urges leaders to clarify the "why" behind their work before jumping into the "what" and "how." While the TED Talk covers the core idea, the full book dives deeper into the psychology and examples behind great leadership. It’s a helpful reminder that clarity of purpose is a force multiplier for teams, brands, and individuals alike. In addition to leadership, the book references marketing, management, and even neuroscience principles to illustrate the importance of starting with why.
7. Unlock Your Leadership Story by Pat Wadors
This book is a thoughtful exploration of how our personal stories shape the way we lead. Pat Wadors draws from her experience as a CHRO to tell her story through the lens of childhood fables. She invites readers to reflect on their experiences and to use those as the foundation for authentic leadership. It’s less about frameworks and more about introspection. If you’ve ever struggled to connect your professional identity with your journey, this book helps you bridge that gap. It left me thinking differently about the power of sharing who we are, not just what we do.
8. How to Lead When You're Not In Charge by Clay Scroggins
This book is for emerging leaders and anyone trying to create change without positional authority. Scroggins emphasizes the idea that influence starts with ownership. To gain influence, we must show up with initiative, humility, and discipline, regardless of our title. It’s a motivating listen that pairs well with real-world examples of leading from the middle. A bit of forewarning, Christianity deeply influenced the writing of this book, and Scroggins references it often. If that’s not for you, pass on this one.
Summer Pause, Fall Focus, and What I’ve Been Reading
As I take a step back this summer, I’m reminded that growth isn’t just about pushing forward. It’s also about pausing, learning, and refocusing. These books helped me do just that. They challenged how I think about leadership, communication, and connection. They’ve already influenced how I show up in my work.
One of my favorite parts of sharing what I read is hearing what’s inspired others. If you’ve come across a book (or podcast, article, or essay) that shaped your thinking this year. I’d love to hear about it. Drop me a note or leave a comment. I’m always looking for the next great read.
Until then, enjoy the season, take care of yourself, and I’ll see you in the fall!