From Conscious Incompetence to Unconscious Competence. 10 Books Every Leader Worth Following Should Read.

Welcome to Leadership is not a title where we explore purposeful, courageous, and intentional Leadership. Leadership is certainly not a title but influence, value creation, and impact. If you like my take on Leadership, please sign up for my monthly newsletter here:?https://drflofalayi.substack.com/.

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I resumed this newsletter for the fall season three weeks ago with a piece titled, Unleash your Leadership; surprisingly, the feedback and interaction with readers and leaders have been engaging, and I have spent considerable time supporting leaders as they explore how to address barriers, fears, and worries limiting their ability to unleash their respective leadership capabilities effectively.

Which led to this week's topic on moving from conscious incompetence to unconscious competence and exploring how to resume gathering intelligence, information, and wisdom.

We must not assume or equate the plethora of leadership literature with competency. Unfortunately, research shows that the chasm between outstanding Leadership and reality doesn't appear to be slowing down anytime soon. I think this can be attributed to the current ecosystem, where leaders are unable or do not make time for their personal development.

Get Wise-r.

The wise king in proverbs admonished that "Wisdom is the principal thing, and we should therefore get wisdom." Therefore if anyone wants to be successful, focusing on acquiring wisdom should be first and foremost.

Jim John also stated that "Learning is the beginning of wealth.?Learning is the beginning of health. Learning is the beginning of spirituality. Searching and Learning is where the miracle process all begins."

And may I remind you of this succinct quote — "Learning is not attained by chance; it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence." — Abigail Adams.

To be the leader that others genuinely admire, you have to proceed through the four stages of competence referred to as the "conscious competence" learning model, which relates to the psychological stages involved in skill development.?According to STRATZR's four stages of development model, the journey from unconscious incompetence to unconscious competence starts with discovery, learning, practice, and experience.

And what does this entail?

1. Unbridled enthusiasm and focus on your philosophy and personal development.
2. Commitment — choosing to stay committed to the rigor, discomfort of unlearning, and relearning like a pit bull.
3. Curiosity — Childlike exploration, a sojourn that leads to wonder and ponder.
4. Time — A deliberate reprioritization of your calendar for reading, Learning, and practice.

So what's next -

You have to get back to reading...feel free to start small or find like-minded folks in a book club setting. Find whatever it is that works for you, and do it!

Here is my list of some recommended leadership books for your consideration:

1. Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman?- A good book by Nobel Prize-winning economist and ideal for understanding how people think and react.
2. Humanocracy by Gary Hamel and Michele Zanini?- If an organization has ever crushed your dreams, this book might help to rejuvenate you.
3. 2030 by Mauro Guillen?- Discover why we're having fewer babies, the middle class is stagnating, unemployment is shifting, and new powers are rising.
4. Leadership in Turbulent Times by Doris Keans Goodwin - Leaders are under much pressure to lead through times of turmoil, and the guidance leaders need on navigating crisis and the reassurance from history and how the greats encountered similar challenges. A good book on crisis management and transformational Leadership, as well as a roadmap out of dark times.
5. Think Again by Adam Grant?- A critical expose on the art of rethinking is learning to question your opinions and open other people's minds.
6. Antifragile by Nassim Nicholas Taleb?- Insights on probability, decision-making, and resilience. How we can create lives that are less likely to collapse when improbable events shake society's foundations.
7. Leadership by Algorithm by David De Cremer?- A well-written and informative book on artificial intelligence and how it will affect how organizations are managed.
8. Inclusify by Stefanie Johnson?- Many leaders discuss the need for more diverse, inclusive workplaces, but few are making real progress. This book provides insights into how people who stand out can fit in.
9. Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert B Cialdini - This book explains the psychology of why people say yes and how to apply these insights ethically in business and everyday settings.
10. Race, Work, and Leadership: New Perspectives on the Black Experience by Laura Morgan Roberts, Anthony J. Mayo David A. Thomas - Insightful compilation of how race matters in people's work and leadership experience. This book highlights timely questions and the present-day dynamics of race in the workplace.

Notable Mentions -

1. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho - ?A beautiful tale of a kid from Spain who goes on a remarkable adventure in which he comes face-to-face with love, death, and the gods. This book reminds us that life is an adventure and we should aim to live up to our particular legends (that is, what we have always wanted to accomplish).
2. Caste by Isabel Wilkerson - An insightful book on the caste system that influences people's lives and behavior and the nation's fate. Linking the caste systems of America, India, and Nazi Germany, the author explores eight pillars that underlie caste systems across civilizations, including divine will, bloodlines, stigma, and more.
3. The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers by Ben Horowitz Becoming a leader means different things, from leading an organization to creating a new one as an entrepreneur. This book highlights the realities of entrepreneurship, addressing unknowns, providing clarity in uncertain times, and making tough calls and difficult decisions.
4. Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankel - This book describes Viktor Frankl's time spent in the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz during the Holocaust. Frankl was able to keep perspective despite all of the agony and suffering and conclude that there "must be meaning in suffering."
5. Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin — The harsh environments of Navy SEAL missions provide the ultimate platform for Leadership and how to apply battlefield wisdom to the business world as a means to earn trust and respect from your team and organization.

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Let's have a conversation.

Intrigued??Let's have a chat. Send me an email or message, and I'll send a zoom invitation.

Good reads -

1. On Well-being:?https://hbr.org/2019/10/how-to-deal-with-constantly-feeling-overwhelmed?
2. On Becoming A Great Remote Manager: https://www.kfadvance.com/articles/great-remote-manager?
3. On Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Your Chief Diversity Officer is leaving:?https://www.kornferry.com/insights/this-week-in-leadership/your-chief-diversity-officer-is-likely-leaving

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Dr. Flo?is a Hybrid leader: American-born, British Trained, and Nigerian Raised. Leadership Psychologist, Inclusion Strategist, and Executive Coach?@?Korn Ferry?|?Follow me on Twitter?@drflofalayi