Write a Leadership Book That Inspires Change

How to Write and Publish a Leadership Book

Leadership Books Matter!

Great leaders don’t just lead organizations: they lead ideas. Writing and publishing a leadership book allows you to present your ideas with clarity and authority.

From John Maxwell’s classic The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership to Simon Sinek’s Start With Why, leadership books have shaped entire generations of executives and entrepreneurs. They’ve launched speaking careers, transformed companies, and spread philosophies far beyond the boardroom.

A well-written leadership book can outlive a quarterly plan, a five-year strategy, or even a CEO’s tenure. It becomes part of the conversation about what leadership means, how it evolves, and how future leaders will act.

To assist you in writing and publishing your leadership book, we’ve drawn up a list of questions aspiring authors typically ask us. Now, on to those questions.

1. Which Leadership Books Become Bestsellers?

What sets apart the leadership books that break through and reach bestseller lists like The New York Times or Wall Street Journal? Often, it’s a blend of compelling ideas plus smart positioning, built on a strong media platform.

Examples of bestselling leadership books include:

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell
Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Willink & Leif Babin
Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek
First, Break All the Rules: What the World’s Greatest Managers Do Differently by Marcus Buckingham & Curt Coffman
A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership by James Comey

Best-selling leadership books have been based on lessons learned in business, experiences in the military, exhaustive research, politics, history, and more. They’ve been based on the careers of specific people, as seen in the New York Times bestselling The Leadership Secrets of Colin Powell, by Orin Harari. They’ve even been based on history: Think of the New York Times bestselling Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun, by Wess Roberts.

There is no “proper” level of scholastic achievement or work experience that qualifies you to write a great leadership book. There are only great insights and great writing.

chatgpt-image-oct-2-2025-01_42_58-pm-copy

1. Which Leadership Books Become Bestsellers?

What sets apart the leadership books that break through and reach bestseller lists like The New York Times or Wall Street Journal? Often, it’s a blend of compelling ideas plus smart positioning, built on a strong media platform.

Examples of bestselling leadership books include:

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell
Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Willink & Leif Babin
Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek
First, Break All the Rules: What the World’s Greatest Managers Do Differently by Marcus Buckingham & Curt Coffman
A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership by James Comey

Best-selling leadership books have been based on lessons learned in business, experiences in the military, exhaustive research, politics, history, and more. They’ve been based on the careers of specific people, as seen in the New York Times bestselling The Leadership Secrets of Colin Powell, by Orin Harari. They’ve even been based on history: Think of the New York Times bestselling Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun, by Wess Roberts.

There is no “proper” level of scholastic achievement or work experience that qualifies you to write a great leadership book. There are only great insights and great writing.

2. Are There Different Ways to Write a Leadership Book?

Most leadership bestsellers follow a proven structure:

Introduction with a story, crisis, or tension.
Core frameworks or principles (laws, rules, steps).
Integration/tools sections (checklists, exercises).
Conclusion tying back to the introduction.

In addition, there are several more structures, including the:

Business Fable Format. Some leadership books (like Shawn Galloway’s COACH: A Safety Leadership Fable) weave lessons into a fictionalized story about a company or leader. This narrative style makes abstract ideas feel concrete and keeps readers engaged through character-driven conflict.
Research Synthesis Format. Books like Jim Collins’s Good to Great or Daniel Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence draw heavily on studies, case histories, and data, presenting patterns and insights supported by rigorous evidence. This appeals to readers who want intellectual depth and empirical grounding.
Memoir-Driven Format. Here, the author’s personal journey becomes the structure. Books like Phil Knight’s Shoe Dog show how leadership lessons emerge organically through lived experience, mistakes, and triumphs.
Playbook/Toolkit Format. Some books lean heavily on practical tools — checklists, step-by-step exercises, and templates (like Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People). These are designed to be used directly by readers in their day-to-day leadership challenges.

(For more, see “Different Types of Leadership Books.”)

2. Are There Different Ways to Write a Leadership Book?

Most leadership bestsellers follow a proven structure:

Introduction with a story, crisis, or tension.
Core frameworks or principles (laws, rules, steps).
Integration/tools sections (checklists, exercises).
Conclusion tying back to the introduction.

In addition, there are several more structures, including the:

Business Fable Format. Some leadership books (like Shawn Galloway’s COACH: A Safety Leadership Fable) weave lessons into a fictionalized story about a company or leader. This narrative style makes abstract ideas feel concrete and keeps readers engaged through character-driven conflict.
Research Synthesis Format. Books like Jim Collins’s Good to Great or Daniel Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence draw heavily on studies, case histories, and data, presenting patterns and insights supported by rigorous evidence. This appeals to readers who want intellectual depth and empirical grounding.
Memoir-Driven Format. Here, the author’s personal journey becomes the structure. Books like Phil Knight’s Shoe Dog show how leadership lessons emerge organically through lived experience, mistakes, and triumphs.
Playbook/Toolkit Format. Some books lean heavily on practical tools — checklists, step-by-step exercises, and templates (like Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People). These are designed to be used directly by readers in their day-to-day leadership challenges.

(For more, see “Different Types of Leadership Books.”)

3. How Do You Begin a Leadership Book?

Openings matter, and there are many ways to begin a book. Each approach grabs readers differently, but they all effectively frame the content.

You can see this in popular leadership books:

Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win opens by placing you in a situation where leadership literally means the difference between life and death:

“The early morning light was dimmed by a literal fog of war that filled the air: soot from tires the insurgents had set alight in the streets, clouds of dust kicked up from the road by U.S. tanks and Humvees, and powdered concrete from the walls of buildings pulverized by machine gun fire. As our armored Humvee rounded the corner and headed down the street toward the gunfire, I saw a U.S. M1A2 Abrams tank in the middle of the road up ahead, its turret rotated with the high main gun trained on a building at almost point-blank range. Through the particle-filled air, I could see a smoky-red mist, clearly from a red smoke grenade used by American forces in the area as a general signal for ‘Help!’”

First, Break All the Rules: What the World’s Greatest Managers Do Differently begins by telling you that what you thought was true is not:

“The greatest managers in the world do not have much in common. They are of different sexes, races, and ages; they employ vastly different styles and focus on different goals. But despite their differences, these great managers do share one thing. Before they do anything else, they first break all the rules of conventional wisdom. They do not believe that a person can achieve anything he sets his mind to. They do not try to help a person overcome his weaknesses. They consistently disregard the Golden Rule. And, yes, they even play favorites.”

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership jumps right into introducing the first law:

“I have often opened my leadership conferences by explaining the Law of the Lid because it helps people understand the value of leadership. If you can get a handle on this law, you will see the incredible impact of leadership on every aspect of life. So here it is: how well you lead determines how well you succeed. Leadership is the lid to your potential. The lower your leadership ability, the lower the lid on your potential. The higher your leadership ability, the higher the lid on your potential.”

Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap… and Others Don’t opens by stating the thesis:

“Good is the enemy of great.

“And that is one of the key reasons why we have so little that becomes great.”

Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action begins by stating a key point:

“This book is about a naturally occurring pattern, a way of thinking, acting and communicating that gives some leaders the ability to inspire those around them. Although these ‘natural-born leaders’ may have come into the world with a predisposition to inspire, the ability is not reserved for them exclusively. We can all learn this pattern. With a little discipline, any leader or organization can inspire others, both inside and outside their organization, to help advance their ideas and their vision. We can all learn to lead.”

As you can see, there is no set approach to beginning a leadership book, nor is there a checklist for devising a good opening. It depends on your subject matter, audience, goals for your book, and other factors. But all these factors must be considered if you are to create a great opening.

For more, see our “How To Begin a Leadership Book.”

chatgpt-image-oct-5-2025-03_04_17-pm-copy

3. How Do You Begin a Leadership Book?

Openings matter, and there are many ways to begin a book. Each approach grabs readers differently, but they all effectively frame the content.

You can see this in popular leadership books:

Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win opens by placing you in a situation where leadership literally means the difference between life and death:

“The early morning light was dimmed by a literal fog of war that filled the air: soot from tires the insurgents had set alight in the streets, clouds of dust kicked up from the road by U.S. tanks and Humvees, and powdered concrete from the walls of buildings pulverized by machine gun fire. As our armored Humvee rounded the corner and headed down the street toward the gunfire, I saw a U.S. M1A2 Abrams tank in the middle of the road up ahead, its turret rotated with the high main gun trained on a building at almost point-blank range. Through the particle-filled air, I could see a smoky-red mist, clearly from a red smoke grenade used by American forces in the area as a general signal for ‘Help!’”

First, Break All the Rules: What the World’s Greatest Managers Do Differently begins by telling you that what you thought was true is not:

“The greatest managers in the world do not have much in common. They are of different sexes, races, and ages; they employ vastly different styles and focus on different goals. But despite their differences, these great managers do share one thing. Before they do anything else, they first break all the rules of conventional wisdom. They do not believe that a person can achieve anything he sets his mind to. They do not try to help a person overcome his weaknesses. They consistently disregard the Golden Rule. And, yes, they even play favorites.”

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership jumps right into introducing the first law:

“I have often opened my leadership conferences by explaining the Law of the Lid because it helps people understand the value of leadership. If you can get a handle on this law, you will see the incredible impact of leadership on every aspect of life. So here it is: how well you lead determines how well you succeed. Leadership is the lid to your potential. The lower your leadership ability, the lower the lid on your potential. The higher your leadership ability, the higher the lid on your potential.”

Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap… and Others Don’t opens by stating the thesis:

“Good is the enemy of great.

“And that is one of the key reasons why we have so little that becomes great.”

Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action begins by stating a key point:

“This book is about a naturally occurring pattern, a way of thinking, acting and communicating that gives some leaders the ability to inspire those around them. Although these ‘natural-born leaders’ may have come into the world with a predisposition to inspire, the ability is not reserved for them exclusively. We can all learn this pattern. With a little discipline, any leader or organization can inspire others, both inside and outside their organization, to help advance their ideas and their vision. We can all learn to lead.”

As you can see, there is no set approach to beginning a leadership book, nor is there a checklist for devising a good opening. It depends on your subject matter, audience, goals for your book, and other factors. But all these factors must be considered if you are to create a great opening.

For more, see our “How To Begin a Leadership Book.”

4. How Do I Clarify My Purpose and Audience?

Before you write a word, ask yourself these two questions:

#1: Why am I writing this book?

Do you want to inspire? Maybe you’ve overcome challenges and want to share your journey.
Do you want to teach? Perhaps you’ve developed a framework that has helped your teams excel.
Do you want to establish authority? Your book could reinforce your reputation as a thought leader.

If you don’t have a strong reason to write a book, don’t waste your time. (For more, see “Hey Ghostwriter, Why Should I Write A Book?”)

#2: Who am I writing for?

Your audience shapes every choice you’ll make, from tone to examples. Writing for C-suite executives requires a different style than writing for young professionals. One group may want deep case studies and strategy; the other may need actionable, relatable lessons.

Be specific when considering this question. “Everybody” isn’t a good answer; trying to please everyone is impossible. So be very specific. Focus on a narrow slice of potential readers who will really benefit from reading your book, and write for and to them.

4. How Do I Clarify My Purpose and Audience?

Before you write a word, ask yourself these two questions:

#1: Why am I writing this book?

Do you want to inspire? Maybe you’ve overcome challenges and want to share your journey.
Do you want to teach? Perhaps you’ve developed a framework that has helped your teams excel.
Do you want to establish authority? Your book could reinforce your reputation as a thought leader.

If you don’t have a strong reason to write a book, don’t waste your time. (For more, see “Hey Ghostwriter, Why Should I Write A Book?”)

#2: Who am I writing for?

Your audience shapes every choice you’ll make, from tone to examples. Writing for C-suite executives requires a different style than writing for young professionals. One group may want deep case studies and strategy; the other may need actionable, relatable lessons.

Be specific when considering this question. “Everybody” isn’t a good answer; trying to please everyone is impossible. So be very specific. Focus on a narrow slice of potential readers who will really benefit from reading your book, and write for and to them.

5. How Do I Choose the Right Angle?

Leadership is a vast topic. Consider these approaches that narrow the frame:

The Personal Journey Memoir – Telling your own story of leadership, lessons learned, and mistakes made. Think Shoe Dog by Phil Knight.
Frameworks and Models – Sharing a system you’ve developed that others can adopt. Think Jim Collins’s Good to Great.
Research-Driven Analysis – Leaning on data and studies to reveal patterns. Think Daniel Goleman’s work on emotional intelligence.
Values-Based Inspiration – Writing about ethics, purpose, and vision. Think Howard Schultz’s Onward.

Leadership shelves are crowded, so your challenge is to stand out. What makes your perspective distinct? It may be your industry experience, your cultural lens, or a contrarian insight.

Case Example: Simon Sinek didn’t just talk about leadership: he reframed it around the simple question of “why.” That single twist turned him from a consultant into a global speaker.

5. How Do I Choose the Right Angle?

Leadership is a vast topic. Consider these approaches that narrow the frame:

The Personal Journey Memoir – Telling your own story of leadership, lessons learned, and mistakes made. Think Shoe Dog by Phil Knight.
Frameworks and Models – Sharing a system you’ve developed that others can adopt. Think Jim Collins’s Good to Great.
Research-Driven Analysis – Leaning on data and studies to reveal patterns. Think Daniel Goleman’s work on emotional intelligence.
Values-Based Inspiration – Writing about ethics, purpose, and vision. Think Howard Schultz’s Onward.

Leadership shelves are crowded, so your challenge is to stand out. What makes your perspective distinct? It may be your industry experience, your cultural lens, or a contrarian insight.

Case Example: Simon Sinek didn’t just talk about leadership: he reframed it around the simple question of “why.” That single twist turned him from a consultant into a global speaker.

6. How Do I Build a Strong Foundation?

Don’t start by diving into Chapter One. Instead, start with a blueprint. Do that by:

Outlining your key message. What’s the one big idea your book will introduce?
Breaking it into chapters. Each chapter should explore a piece of the larger argument.
Weaving in stories. Readers remember people, not principles. Case histories of leaders, colleagues, or even your own missteps make the ideas stick.

Think of your leadership book as both a mirror and a map. The mirror reflects your experience; the map shows your readers how to apply it.

6. How Do I Build a Strong Foundation?

Don’t start by diving into Chapter One. Instead, start with a blueprint. Do that by:

Outlining your key message. What’s the one big idea your book will introduce?
Breaking it into chapters. Each chapter should explore a piece of the larger argument.
Weaving in stories. Readers remember people, not principles. Case histories of leaders, colleagues, or even your own missteps make the ideas stick.

Think of your leadership book as both a mirror and a map. The mirror reflects your experience; the map shows your readers how to apply it.

7. What Should My Voice Be?

A leadership book should sound confident without being arrogant, inspiring without being vague. This balance comes from:

Authority. Draw from your experience, interviews, research, and results.
Authenticity. Admit to your challenges and failures. Vulnerability makes your voice stronger.
Accessibility. Use stories and metaphors. Don’t just explain a principle: show it.

For example, instead of saying, “Resilience is critical for leaders,” tell the story of how your team navigated a crisis, the doubts you faced, and the moment you found your footing again.

(For more, see our articles on using your author voice to strengthen your brand and “The Language Of Leadership Writing.”)

chatgpt-image-oct-2-2025-02_02_23-pm-copy

7. What Should My Voice Be?

A leadership book should sound confident without being arrogant, inspiring without being vague. This balance comes from:

Authority. Draw from your experience, interviews, research, and results.
Authenticity. Admit to your challenges and failures. Vulnerability makes your voice stronger.
Accessibility. Use stories and metaphors. Don’t just explain a principle: show it.

For example, instead of saying, “Resilience is critical for leaders,” tell the story of how your team navigated a crisis, the doubts you faced, and the moment you found your footing again.

(For more, see our articles on using your author voice to strengthen your brand and “The Language Of Leadership Writing.”)

8. Is My Voice My Brand?

A leadership book is rarely the end of the journey—it’s the anchor of your platform.

Your voice should therefore extend beyond the page to your talks, interviews, and social media presence. Readers should recognize you anywhere they hear you.

Simon Sinek’s optimism, Brené Brown’s candor, and Adam Grant’s curiosity don’t stop at their books—they define their entire brands. That’s the power of a cohesive voice: it becomes your signature.

Ask yourself questions such as:

Does my website copy sound like my book?
Do my speaking engagements echo my written tone?
Would someone recognize my philosophy from a single paragraph?

If the answer is yes, your voice has become your brand.

8. Is My Voice My Brand?

A leadership book is rarely the end of the journey—it’s the anchor of your platform.

Your voice should therefore extend beyond the page to your talks, interviews, and social media presence. Readers should recognize you anywhere they hear you.

Simon Sinek’s optimism, Brené Brown’s candor, and Adam Grant’s curiosity don’t stop at their books—they define their entire brands. That’s the power of a cohesive voice: it becomes your signature.

Ask yourself questions such as:

Does my website copy sound like my book?
Do my speaking engagements echo my written tone?
Would someone recognize my philosophy from a single paragraph?

If the answer is yes, your voice has become your brand.

9. Can I Leverage Collaboration?

You don’t have to write alone. Several writing professionals can help:

Ghostwriter, who can write the manuscript from scratch based on your ideas and experiences; closely collaborate with you in writing the book; or anything in between.
Book coach, who helps you turn your ideas into writing, and keeps you accountable.
Beta readers, who provide target audience reactions. Their reactions are golden feedback before the book hits the public.

9. Can I Leverage Collaboration?

You don’t have to write alone. Several writing professionals can help:

Ghostwriter, who can write the manuscript from scratch based on your ideas and experiences; closely collaborate with you in writing the book; or anything in between.
Book coach, who helps you turn your ideas into writing, and keeps you accountable.
Beta readers, who provide target audience reactions. Their reactions are golden feedback before the book hits the public.

10. Who Can Edit, Polish, and Refine My Writing?

A book is not finished when you type the last word. Editing can turn a so-so manuscript into a great book.

Four types of editing can help your manuscript shine:

Developmental editing can ensure that the structure and idea flow are sound.
Line editing can refine the way you use language to convey your ideas.
Copyediting can correct spelling, grammar, syntax, and punctuation, and find factual errors.
Proofreading can find all those annoying typos and other little “oops!” that creep into even the most professionally written manuscript.

For more on writing helpers, see our article on book writing helpers.

10. Who Can Edit, Polish, and Refine My Writing?

A book is not finished when you type the last word. Editing can turn a so-so manuscript into a great book.

Four types of editing can help your manuscript shine:

Developmental editing can ensure that the structure and idea flow are sound.
Line editing can refine the way you use language to convey your ideas.
Copyediting can correct spelling, grammar, syntax, and punctuation, and find factual errors.
Proofreading can find all those annoying typos and other little “oops!” that creep into even the most professionally written manuscript.

For more on writing helpers, see our article on book writing helpers.

11. What Are My Publishing Options?

Once your manuscript is polished, you face the big question: How do I publish?

There are three main choices:

Traditional Publishing: Ideal if you want prestige, distribution in major bookstores, and potential media attention. But it requires patience and a literary agent.
Hybrid Publishing: A middle ground in which you invest some money, and they provide services and distribution.
Self-Publishing: Fast, high-control, and potentially high-profit. Platforms like Amazon KDP let you publish within weeks of completing your manuscript.

Your choice of publishing option depends on your goals. For example, if credibility is most important, traditional may be best. If speed and ownership matter more, self-publishing is for you.

11. What Are My Publishing Options?

Once your manuscript is polished, you face the big question: How do I publish?

There are three main choices:

Traditional Publishing: Ideal if you want prestige, distribution in major bookstores, and potential media attention. But it requires patience and a literary agent.
Hybrid Publishing: A middle ground in which you invest some money, and they provide services and distribution.
Self-Publishing: Fast, high-control, and potentially high-profit. Platforms like Amazon KDP let you publish within weeks of completing your manuscript.

Your choice of publishing option depends on your goals. For example, if credibility is most important, traditional may be best. If speed and ownership matter more, self-publishing is for you.

12. Do I Need An Author Platform?

Your author platform, also known as the media platform, consists of all the ways in which you can reach your intended audience. This can include:

Social media presence, especially on LinkedIn for leadership audiences.
Podcasts and speaking engagements
Thought leadership articles in outlets like Forbes or Harvard Business Review.
Email list, which allows you to build relationships with your readers directly.

Think of your author platform as the stage from which your book performs. Without it, even the best manuscript may go unheard.

Build your author platform early, even before you begin writing. Doing so will ensure that you have eager readers ready to purchase your book once it is launched.

Equally important, the process of building your platform will help you refine your thoughts about your book, readers, and message. The feedback you receive from podcast appearances, social media posts, and more will give you insights into the minds and concerns of your potential readers.

chatgpt-image-oct-2-2025-01_54_50-pm-copy

12. Do I Need An Author Platform?

Your author platform, also known as the media platform, consists of all the ways in which you can reach your intended audience. This can include:

Social media presence, especially on LinkedIn for leadership audiences.
Podcasts and speaking engagements
Thought leadership articles in outlets like Forbes or Harvard Business Review.
Email list, which allows you to build relationships with your readers directly.

Think of your author platform as the stage from which your book performs. Without it, even the best manuscript may go unheard.

Build your author platform early, even before you begin writing. Doing so will ensure that you have eager readers ready to purchase your book once it is launched.

Equally important, the process of building your platform will help you refine your thoughts about your book, readers, and message. The feedback you receive from podcast appearances, social media posts, and more will give you insights into the minds and concerns of your potential readers.

13. How Do I Launch and Promote My Leadership Book?

A successful book launch is a campaign, not a single event.

Pre-launch: Tease content, share quotes, build anticipation.
Launch week: Host virtual events, release podcast interviews, rally endorsements.
Post-launch: Keep talking about the book, tie it to current events, and revisit themes in articles or keynotes.

Case Example: When Brené Brown released Dare to Lead, she paired the book with workshops, an online course, and podcast appearances. The book became a multi-platform experience.

chatgpt-image-oct-2-2025-02_34_31-pm-copy

13. How Do I Launch and Promote My Leadership Book?

A successful book launch is a campaign, not a single event.

Pre-launch: Tease content, share quotes, build anticipation.
Launch week: Host virtual events, release podcast interviews, rally endorsements.
Post-launch: Keep talking about the book, tie it to current events, and revisit themes in articles or keynotes.

Case Example: When Brené Brown released Dare to Lead, she paired the book with workshops, an online course, and podcast appearances. The book became a multi-platform experience.

14. Can I Expand My Influence Beyond the Book?

Publishing a leadership book is not the end. Instead, it’s the beginning. Successful books can lead to many spinoffs, including:

Courses and Workshops: Turn chapters into training programs.
Consulting: Offer services based on your framework.
Keynotes: Use your book to land speaking gigs at conferences.
Future Editions: Update your book as leadership evolves.

In other words, your book can become a platform. Strategies for making your book a platform include:

Designing chapters as keynote-ready topics.
Adding bonus content (courses, assessments).
Framing your voice as a consultant/advisor.
Repurposing chapters as articles or talks.
Inviting forewords by notable leaders.
Offering ways for readers to engage (workshops, webinars).

Pro Tip: Think of your book as a business card on steroids. It opens doors. Your job is to walk through.

14. Can I Expand My Influence Beyond the Book?

Publishing a leadership book is not the end. Instead, it’s the beginning. Successful books can lead to many spinoffs, including:

Courses and Workshops: Turn chapters into training programs.
Consulting: Offer services based on your framework.
Keynotes: Use your book to land speaking gigs at conferences.
Future Editions: Update your book as leadership evolves.

In other words, your book can become a platform. Strategies for making your book a platform include:

Designing chapters as keynote-ready topics.
Adding bonus content (courses, assessments).
Framing your voice as a consultant/advisor.
Repurposing chapters as articles or talks.
Inviting forewords by notable leaders.
Offering ways for readers to engage (workshops, webinars).

Pro Tip: Think of your book as a business card on steroids. It opens doors. Your job is to walk through.

15. What Are the Common Mistakes Leadership Authors Make?

Mistake #1: Writing Without a Defined Purpose

Authors sometimes chase the idea of “having a book” rather than a message. Lacking a defined “why write this book,” the writing meanders, and the reader disengages. The book may be full of insight, but with no central mission, it lacks cohesion and momentum.

Mistake #2: Writing for Peers Instead of Readers

Leadership authors often write to impress other experts in their field. The result? Dense, academic prose that alienates the very audience they hope to help. Remember: you’re writing for your reader’s growth, not your peer’s approval.

Mistake #3: Mixing Purposes

Trying to teach, inspire, and sell your consulting services all in one book leads to confusion. Choose one dominant goal; let the others serve as subtle undertones.

Mistake #4: Aiming Too Broad

The most successful leadership books are narrow by design. For example, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni isn’t about “all leadership.” Instead, it’s about the psychology of teams. That’s why it sells year after year.

15. What Are the Common Mistakes Leadership Authors Make?

Mistake #1: Writing Without a Defined Purpose

Authors sometimes chase the idea of “having a book” rather than a message. Lacking a defined “why write this book,” the writing meanders, and the reader disengages. The book may be full of insight, but with no central mission, it lacks cohesion and momentum.

Mistake #2: Writing for Peers Instead of Readers

Leadership authors often write to impress other experts in their field. The result? Dense, academic prose that alienates the very audience they hope to help. Remember: you’re writing for your reader’s growth, not your peer’s approval.

Mistake #3: Mixing Purposes

Trying to teach, inspire, and sell your consulting services all in one book leads to confusion. Choose one dominant goal; let the others serve as subtle undertones.

Mistake #4: Aiming Too Broad

The most successful leadership books are narrow by design. For example, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni isn’t about “all leadership.” Instead, it’s about the psychology of teams. That’s why it sells year after year.

Your Leadership Legacy

Writing and publishing a leadership book is a chance to crystallize your philosophy, reach hundreds of thousands of readers, and shape how leadership will be practiced tomorrow.

Your book is your leadership legacy. The process of writing and publishing takes effort, but the rewards last far longer than a quarterly report.

The world is hungry for guidance. Your ideas could be the ones that lead.

Your Leadership Legacy

Writing and publishing a leadership book is a chance to crystallize your philosophy, reach hundreds of thousands of readers, and shape how leadership will be practiced tomorrow.

Your book is your leadership legacy. The process of writing and publishing takes effort, but the rewards last far longer than a quarterly report.

The world is hungry for guidance. Your ideas could be the ones that lead.

If You’d Like Help Writing Your Leadership Book…

Barry Fox explains how to begin a business memoir or autobiography

Contact us!

We’re Barry Fox and Nadine Taylor, professional ghostwriters and authors with a long list of satisfied clients and editors at major publishing houses.

You can learn about our business book ghostwriting work and credentials on our Business Book Ghostwriter Page.

For more information, call us at 818-917-5362 or use our contact form to send us a message. We’d love to talk to you about your exciting idea for writing a leadership book!

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