Expert to Exec

Resources

The Reading List

Expertise got you here. These are about the rest — pick the shelf that names your current problem.

The backbone of this list came from my own mentor and coach, Lynne Snead, who issued it as "a 15-month challenge." It holds up.

Know yourself first

Self-awareness, mindset, and the stories you tell yourself

  • Leadership and Self-Deception — Arbinger Institute
  • 7 Habits of Highly Effective People — Stephen R. Covey
  • Emotional Intelligence — Daniel Goleman
  • Strong Ground — Brené Brown
  • The Power of Self-Confidence — Brian Tracy

Say it so it lands

Conversations, influence, and being heard

  • Conversational Intelligence — Judith Glaser
  • Humble Inquiry — Edgar H. Schein
  • Say It Well — Terry Szuplat
  • Never Split the Difference — Chris Voss with Tahl Raz
  • How to Influence People — John Maxwell

Lead people well

Trust, teams, and the daily craft of leadership

  • The Speed of Trust — Stephen M.R. Covey
  • Dare to Lead — Brené Brown
  • 5 Levels of Leadership — John Maxwell
  • The New Art of Managing People — Tony Alessandra and Phil Hunsaker
  • Humble Leadership — Edgar H. and Peter Schein
  • Leadership is an Art — Max De Pree

Navigate the climb

The next level, the politics, and the focus it takes

  • What Got You Here Won't Get You There — Marshall Goldsmith
  • The Secrets to Winning at Office Politics — Marie G. McIntyre
  • The Power of Focus — Canfield, Hansen, Hewitt

One deliberate omission, in Lynne's words: Stephen R. Covey's Principle-Centered Leadership — "a challenging read, better via Audible, but worth the effort for serious leaders."

Books compress decades into hours. Coaching makes them yours.

I coach technical experts through the move from respected expert to recognized executive.

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