One of the keys to reach higher is to explore and digest the works of different thought leaders. Reading about and thinking of different points of view help expand effectiveness – professionally and personally. Each person will have a different set of favorites but here are my current top eight.

8. Tom Peters – Tom calls himself a chief agitator and he lives up to this title. As a former consultant with well-known McKinsey, Tom made a name for himself when he and co-author Rob Waterman wrote In Search of Excellence. One of Tom’s strengths is helping others think innovatively. Tom constantly challenges the status quo and inspires creative thinking. If you are in need of a brain-jolt with a smile, read one of Tom’s books.

7. Noel Tichy – Professor Tichy is the writer of The Leadership Engine and other thought-provoking books. One of the key points from Noel is the importance of having a teachable point of view. This way of describing self-awareness is at the heart of growth in leadership. Knowing self first is critical to helping others move ahead on their individual paths. If you want a logical, compelling case for growing leadership in a culture, Noel Tichy is for you.

6. Stephen Covey – Author of the very famous 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Dr. Covey is one of the deep thinkers of our time. It’s hard to know where to start but I must say Covey helped me understand the idea of ‘paradigm’ or mindset. Awareness and change of paradigms is at the heart of any lasting self-improvement program as mindsets drive behavior. If deep reflection is in your future, consider reading Dr. Covey’s books.

5. Dr. Deming – Time for confession. I have not completely read any of Dr. Deming’s books (although I use them as references). But, what did hook me on Dr. Deming is his 32-volume video series. The ideas were very difficult and confusing at first but started making sense as I persisted through the series. With pen and paper nearby, Deming made more and more sense. If you want to become a better system thinker, Deming is your man.

4. Andy Andrews – During a period of self-doubt, Andy helped me move past being afraid of making decisions. His Traveler’s Gift is a profound book that encourages all readers to grow in wisdom. Andy weaves a fictional story with historical figures to help any student of any age personally develop. If common sense mixed with timeless standards is your goal, Andy will help.

3. Jim Collins – The book Built to Last knocked my socks off! The idea of having a core purpose while innovating everything else continues to be an excellent benchmark to follow. Then Jim went and wrote Good to Great and again amazed me with his careful research and timeless results. Both of these books should be on the list of any leadership student. If you prefer an extraordinary business model supported by detailed research, Jim Collins is a great choice.

The last two thought leaders on my list are personal friends who have stretched me and challenged my thinking. I refer to each of these friends by a generic name to protect  privacy. Who are the people in your life who make you better?

2. Frank Smith 1 – As a former boss, Frank 1 modeled leadership … consistently. I had become acquainted with some leadership theory before meeting Frank 1 but he showed me how to do well firsthand with our interactions and those I observed of him working with others. This example was and continues to be very powerful!

1. Frank Smith 2 – Frank 2 looks at things differently than I do. Frank 2 and I literally spent hours over a few years discussing and refining many leadership thoughts. I like to think I helped Frank 2 grow but he probably contributed more to my growth than vice versa. Frank 2 was great at pointing out new resources (books, seminars, videos, etc.) and then he and I would process these different perspectives. Frank 2 and I remain good friends today.

These are not the only influencers on my list but they certainly have made (and continue to make) an impact. How about you?

Who IS on your list?

Who do you WANT on your list?

Copyright 2010 Michael A. Friesen. All rights reserved.