In high-stakes fields like law enforcement, emergency response, and the military, leadership extends beyond tactical decisions; it’s about cultivating a strong, purpose-driven culture. Recognizing the subtleties of how trauma exposure impacts those you lead and supporting proactive stress management are essential steps to building a strong team that can endure the long-term pressures of high-stress professions.
The following booklist is suggested reading if you're seeking to sharpen your leadership skills and gain insights on cultivating a culture that promotes strength, connection, and adaptability in the face of challenges.
Leadership-Related Books:
- Infinite Game by Simon Sinek
Sinek explores the difference between finite and infinite thinking in leadership, emphasizing the importance of long-term vision and adaptability for sustained success. Also includes a great chapter about building Trusting Teams that is not to be missed.
- The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle
Coyle reveals the secrets of successful groups, highlighting how great cultures are built through shared vulnerability, trust, and purpose. He also shares important details on what perpetuates culture to keep progress going.
- Black Box Thinking by Matthew Syed
This book focuses on learning from failure, encouraging a growth mindset and innovation by using mistakes as opportunities for improvement. Importantly, he also covers how the cultural norms of groups are set and how that can impact performance errors.
- The Fearless Organization by Amy Edmondson
Edmondson explains how leaders can foster psychological safety within teams, promoting openness and learning without fear of negative consequences. She does a great job at articulating cases from her decades of research working with a wide variety of teams in a wide variety of settings.
- Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek
Sinek emphasizes the importance of leadership built on trust and sacrifice, showing how putting others first leads to stronger, more resilient teams. My favorite chapter: Chapter 17- So Goes the Culture, So Goes the Company.
- The Attributes by Rich Diviney
Diviney outlines the essential qualities that enable individuals to thrive in high-stress environments, beyond just technical skills. Some great chapters include; Be Like the Frog (on adaptability), The Benefits of Little Tragedies (on resilience), and No One Cares How You Feel (on empathy).
- Tribe by Sebastian Junger
Junger examines the deep sense of belonging and community that forms in times of adversity, and how it impacts our psychological well-being. I particularly like this book because it is actually about the restaurant industry! I have always found it very helpful to look at other industries and see what we can borrow from their unique experiences and apply to our own line of work.
- Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara
Guidara shares how going above and beyond in hospitality fosters deep connections and a powerful, service-oriented culture.
- Legacy by James Kerr
Kerr reveals the leadership principles behind the All Blacks rugby team's success, emphasizing humility, discipline, and responsibility in building lasting legacies.
Trauma-Related Books:
- What Happened To You by Bruce Perry, MD and Oprah Winfrey
This is BY FAR the best and most accurate book on trauma and how it impacts yourself and others. I have no idea why it hasn’t become as popular as some of the others, but I can tell you, this one is THE ONE to read. If I could make every person who is going to have any kind of job working with people who experience trauma or extreme stress read one book, this would be it.
- Reinventing Your Life by Jeffrey Young and Janet Klosko
A guide to breaking free from destructive life patterns that often stem from early experiences, focusing on transforming negative thought cycles that may have been with you for decades but still subtly impact your everyday life.
Additional Books for Insight:
- Dopamine Nation by Anna Lembke
Lembke examines how the brain's reward system can lead to addiction and compulsion, and how finding balance can lead to a more fulfilling life. Not all addictions are to substances (hint hint…) some of our most powerful addictions are to high intensity experiences.
- The Coddling of the American Mind by Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff
This book discusses how well-intentioned safetyism and overprotection in society can limit resilience and critical thinking, particularly in younger generations. It really does a great job of discussing how teaching young people anti-fragility skills early in life (like we do with Tactical Longevity) sets them up for not only surviving but thriving as adults.
- Widen the Window by Elizabeth Stanley
Stanley explains how stress and trauma affect our nervous system, offering strategies to expand our capacity for resilience and emotional regulation. She really gets into the reasons things work and don’t work and there’s even a little bit of bashing on some of our pop-culture relaxation skills… which if you know me, you know I, not so secretly, appreciate.
- The Neurobiology of "We" by Daniel J. Siegel
Siegel explores the science of interpersonal connection, showing how relationships impact our brain and overall well-being. This is a fascinating look at how our interactions with others matter on a much deeper level than we once thought.
