Best Police Leadership Books
The countless responsibilities of leading a law enforcement agency or police department do not leave a ton of extra time to crack open a book. But as successful executives across all industries will tell you, there is a proven connection between reading and leading.
In addition to keeping up on the latest trends or discovering new perspectives on police work, reading can serve as an excellent stress reliever or even a source of inspiration.
Police Management and Leadership Books
Leadership for the Twenty-First Century
Author: Joseph C. Rost
Description: This illuminating study critiques the concept of leadership as understood in the last 75 years and looks to the 21st century for a reconstructed understanding of leadership in the post-industrial era. The book concludes with actionable leadership suggestions.
The Mission, the Men, and Me: Lessons from a Former Delta Force Commander
Author: Pete Blaber
Description: As a commander of Delta Force — the world’s most elite counter-terrorist organization — Pete Blaber took part in some of the most dangerous, controversial and significant military and political events of our time. In this book, he shares lessons learned from his experience.
It’s Your Ship: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy
Author: Captain D. Michael Abrashoff
Description: When Capt. Abrashoff took over as commander of USS Benfold, it was like a business that had all the latest technology but only some of the productivity. Knowing that responsibility for improving performance rested with him, he realized he had to improve his own leadership skills before he could improve his ship.
Leadership and Self Deception: Getting Out of the Box
Author: The Arbinger Institute
Description: Since its original publication in 2000, “Leadership and Self-Deception” has become a worldwide, word-of-mouth phenomenon. This latest edition draws on correspondence the authors have received from readers who have used its principles to improve their leadership skills.
It Worked for Me: In Life and Leadership
Author: Gen. Colin Powell
Description: Colin Powell, one of America’s most admired public figures, reveals the principles that have shaped his life and career in this inspiring and engrossing memoir. Its message of strength and endurance is intended to help readers everywhere achieve a more fulfilling life and career.
Good to Great
Author: Jim Collins
Description: The author of “Built to Last,” the defining management study of the 1990s, Collins studies successful and unsuccessful businesses to shed new light on virtually every area of management strategy and practice in this 2001 best-seller.
The Leadership Challenge
Author: James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner
Description: A gold-standard manual for effective leadership, “The Leadership Challenge” is grounded in research and written by premier authorities in the field. With deep insight into the complex interpersonal dynamics of the workplace, this book positions leadership both as a skill to be learned, and as a relationship that must be nurtured to reach its full potential.
[RELATED] Police Captain Builds the Case for More Effective Law Enforcement Leadership Training >>
Daring Greatly
Author: Brené Brown
Description: A New York Times best-seller from thought leader Brené Brown, this transformative vision for the way we live, love and lead emphasizes the power of vulnerability.
Called to Rise
Author: Chief David O. Brown and Michelle Burford
Description: The Dallas police chief who inspired a nation with his response to the killing of five of his officers shares his personal story and his faith in America’s potential to unite communities through a dedication to transparency and trust.
The Leadership Dojo: Build Your Foundation as an Exemplary Leader
Author: Richard Strozzi-Heckler
Description: History is filled with accounts of great leaders, but how did they become so? Written for emergent leaders in any endeavor, this work from renowned consultant Richard Strozzi-Heckler offers a new approach to leadership.
Man’s Search for Meaning
Author: Viktor Frankl
Description: Psychiatrist Viktor Frankl’s memoir has riveted generations of readers with its descriptions of life in Nazi death camps and its lessons for spiritual survival. A Library of Congress survey that asked readers to name a “book that made a difference in your life” found “Man’s Search for Meaning” among the 10 most influential books in America.
Legacy: What the All Blacks Can Teach Us All About the Business of Life
Author: James Kerr
Description: Best-selling author James Kerr goes deep into the heart of one of the world’s most successful sports teams, the legendary All Blacks of New Zealand, to reveal 15 powerful and practical lessons for leadership and business.
[RELATED] Retired Police Chief Offers Career Advice for Aspiring Law Enforcement Leaders >>
Lead … for God’s Sake!: A Parable for Finding the Heart of Leadership
Author: Todd Gongwer
Description: The lives of an intensely driven basketball coach, an ultra-successful CEO and an unassuming janitor intersect in this captivating parable about leadership, relationships and the pursuit of success. This unforgettable story will challenge you to think deeply about who you are as a leader, what success means to you and why you do what you do.
The Score Takes Care of Itself
Author: Bill Walsh
Description: Bill Walsh, a towering NFL figure whose leadership transformed the San Francisco 49ers from the worst franchise in sports to a legendary dynasty, shares his leadership philosophy in a series of interviews with bestselling author Steve Jamison.
Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage
Author: Alfred Lansing
Description: Leadership and heroism take center stage in this definitive account of the harrowing and miraculous 1914-15 voyage of legendary Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton and the crew of the Endurance.
Heroic Leadership: Best Practices from a 450-Year-Old Company That Changed the World
Author: Chris Lowney
Description: Author Chris Lowney reveals the leadership principles that have guided the Jesuits for more than 450 years: self-awareness, ingenuity, love and heroism. Lowney shows how these same principles can make each of us a dynamic leader in the 21st century.
Lincoln on Leadership: Executive Strategies for Tough Times
Author: Donald T. Phillips
Description: What Abraham Lincoln did to become our most honored and revered president is history. “Lincoln on Leadership” is the first book to examine his diverse leadership abilities and how they can be applied to today’s complex world.
The Contrarian’s Guide to Leadership
Author: Steven B. Sample
Description: In this offbeat approach to leadership, college president Steven B. Sample challenges many conventional teachings on the subject. He urges leaders to focus on some key counterintuitive truths, and offers down-to-earth, homespun and often provocative advice on complex and thoughtful issues.
Rising Through the Ranks: Leadership Tools and Techniques for Law Enforcement
Author: Mike Wynn
Description: Effective leadership is a journey, not a destination. Former Pittsfield, Mass., Police Chief Mike Wynn tells real stories of leadership and courage from police departments and investigative agencies.
The Desire to Serve: Servant Leadership for Fire and Emergency Services
Author: Eric Russell
Description: The author presents a leadership philosophy that applies the values of “agapao love,” humility, altruism, vision, trust, empowerment and service to the field of law enforcement and emergency services.
Police Leadership Reading List: One More Recommendation
For more reading material related to law enforcement life, education and professional development, check out the Law Enforcement Leadership blog published by the University of San Diego’s online Law Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership master’s degree program.
If You Like Police Leadership Books You'll Love This Program
