Ditch your business books and pick up these three novels for a fresh … – ETHRWorld Middle East

When we talk about "leadership books", we often come across books with titles like, "How To Win Friends and Influence People ", "Talent is overrated", " The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People", and many more. However, rarely you will find any fiction or a classic novel making up to the first page of Google on leadership lessons. It is ignorant to think that insights into and solutions for our most fundamental business and leadership challenges are all going to be found in business books. Leaders need to take a more conscious and purposeful look at ourselves and our reality in a broader context. While we don't intend to discourage you from reading business books, fiction books help leaders to push the right side of their brain - the creative, introspective, empathetic side, which is as crucial as the logical, practical, and rational aspects of their leadership. Here are the three novels that you should pick up to get fresh perspectives on leadership. The Fountainhead This book by Ayn Rand follows the story of Howard Roark, a master architect, who insists on following the integrity of his own vision. Regarded as one of the most influential books, it elucidates on ideas of integrity, values, conviction, the virtue of selfishness, etc. One of the key takeaways from this book is the phrase, the courage of your convictions. For any of us, there is no such thing as being a successful employee/ manager/ CEO/ Entrepreneur, without having the courage of your convictionsanother key highlight light of this book which talks about the struggle between first-handers and second-handers. First-handers use their own minds. They do not copy or obey, although they do learn from others. Roarks speech at the Cortland Homes trial is a pivotal moment in the book, when he says, Throughout the centuries, there were men who took first steps down new roads armed with nothing but their own vision. The great creators - the thinkers, the artists, the scientists, the inventors - stood alone against the men of their time. Every great new thought was opposed. Mans search for meaning In 1945, within months of his liberation from a concentration camp in Nazi Germany, Viktor Frankl sat down to write a book - Mans search for meaning, which went on to sell over 10 million copies in 24 languages. The book is divided into two parts - In the first part, the author shares his experiences during World War II as a prisoner at multiple concentration camps and shares the unfathomable circumstances he was forced to navigate. The second part is comprised of theoretical insights or rather key lessons learned from the first part. Amongst all the great lessons which continued to encourage and influence leaders across the world, one of the great lessons was the ability to choose our attitude, and thats what makes a leader. Frankl was a keen observer of human behaviour and thought. One of Frankls most profound observations was this: Even though conditions such as lack of sleep, insufficient food and various mental stresses may suggest that the inmates were bound to react in specific ways, in the final analysis, it becomes clear that the sort of person the prisoner became was the result of an inner-decision and not the result of camp influences alone. Fundamentally then, any man can, under such circumstances, decide what shall become of him mentally and spiritually. The Great Gatsby "The Great Gatsby," which McLennan calls an "American dream is not only a heartwrenching story of love and loss but also some enduring truths from a dynamic leader that are as applicable as ever today. However, a key learning here from the novels protagonist, Jay Gatsby is the importance of self-awareness. If Gatsby lacked anything, it was self-awareness. He really believed that by communicating eloquently, establishing and maintaining his brand, and relying on hope, he could change things. Sadly, he never realised that he couldnt change his reality. Without a clear sense of reality, no leader can achieve lasting greatness.

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Ditch your business books and pick up these three novels for a fresh ... - ETHRWorld Middle East