In 2026, leaders and teams will face a mix of challenges and opportunities. Evolving technologies, shifting employee expectations, and the demand for sustainable, people-centred performance mean the way we lead and work together must continue to evolve. The best organisations will be those that blend courage with clarity, balance empathy with accountability, and prepare their people to grow through change.
To help leaders, teams, and organisations start the new year with focus and purpose, we’ve selected five great reads that offer practical insight, proven frameworks, and inspiring ideas for building stronger, more resilient workplaces in 2026.
C.O.U.R.A.G.E.: 7 Choices for Living a Life Without Regret
Christopher O. H. Williams ( Lioncrest Publishing , 18/11/2025)
Best read for: Leading with authenticity and courage
At the heart of every good leader is the ability to make tough decisions, be honest, and stay true to what’s important. In C.O.U.R.A.G.E., transformation consultant and senior leader Christopher O. H. Williams shows that courage isn’t something only a few people have - it’s something anyone can build through everyday choices.
Only through exposing ourselves to the possibility of failure can we truly practice the skill of courage in 2026. By stepping into situations where success is not guaranteed, we expand the boundaries of our comfort zones and allow for personal growth.
Williams shares seven key principles to show how to overcome fear and self-doubt to lead with confidence and clarity. Drawing on his own life and career, he offers straightforward advice on how to live and lead without losing yourself. C.O.U.R.A.G.E. is an easy-to-read, motivating guide for anyone who wants to feel braver, take action, and make a real difference at work and beyond.
Stand Out Hospitality: How to Have a Business You Love - That Loves You Back
Cassie Davison, ( Rethink Press , 11/12/2025)
Best read for: Revitalising purpose and culture in hospitality
The heartbeat of every restaurant, café, and hotel is its people - those who pour their energy, ideas, and care into every detail. Yet in such a fast-moving industry, it doesn’t take long for the constant demands of the day-to-day to dull that original spark. In Stand Out Hospitality, award-winning business coach and industry veteran Cassie Davison offers a timely, hopeful roadmap for hospitality leaders who want to rebuild from a place of authenticity and purpose.
In 2026, hospitality leaders must clarify their vision, viewing it as a strategic anchor that shapes every decision. Your vision is the world you’re working towards - the future you want to create through your business. It should feel bold, emotional, expansive. It might never be fully attained, but it gives everything direction. It’s what keeps you focused when things get noisy. It’s what you’re building towards, even if the path changes.
Centred on Davison’s “Five Pillars of Stand Out Hospitality” - Set High Standards, Stand Out, Define Your Identity, Build Belonging, and Tell a Great Story - this book helps business owners realign their operations with their values and their teams with their vision. Full of real stories and useful advice, it’s a great read for anyone who cares about keeping the human touch at the heart of hospitality.
Unleash the Inner CEO: Make Distributed Leadership a Reality
Jeremy Blain ( Rethink Press , 04/04/2024)
Best read for: Building leadership at every level
In today’s complex and fast-changing world, leadership can no longer sit with one person at the top. Unleash the Inner CEO challenges the traditional hierarchy and provides a clear, actionable blueprint for creating truly distributed leadership, where responsibility, innovation, and ownership are shared across the organisation.
Jeremy Blain outlines a five-point plan to embed this mindset into company culture, complete with models, tools, and a practical 90-day implementation roadmap. If you’re a leader who wants to unlock your organisation’s full potential or a manager focused on helping your team thrive, this updated edition provides clear guidance to turn the idea of shared leadership into everyday practice.
12 Tools for Managing a Selfish Leader: Unlocking Authenticity for Resilience
Josefine Campbell
Josefine Campbell, ( Armin Lear Press , 05/11/2024)
Best read for: Navigating difficult work dynamics
What happens when the biggest challenge in your workplace isn’t the workload, but your boss? In 12 Tools for Managing a Selfish Leader, executive coach Josefine Campbell uses storytelling and practical coaching insight to explore how to thrive under challenging leadership.
Told through the story of Marie, a manager who learns to navigate selfish leadership while rediscovering her own authenticity, the book reveals 12 important tools to regain self-trust, manage workplace energy, and build emotional resilience. With deep empathy and hard-earned wisdom, Campbell offers both a survival guide and a path to personal growth, showing that even in difficult circumstances, you can lead yourself well.
The Exit Roadmap: The Insider’s Guide to Selling Your Business Profitably
Chris Spratling (Rethink Press, 03/11/2025)
Best read for: Planning your next big transition
For founders and business owners, selling a company is one of the most significant decisions of their careers, requiring preparation, strategy, and foresight. In The Exit Roadmap, entrepreneur and business advisor Chris Spratling draws on years of hands-on experience to provide an excellent guide to selling successfully.
You can only sell your company once, so getting it right from the ‘get go’ is essential. That means there’s a lot more to do up front than you might assume. You may need to make some fundamental changes to your operations, the way you lead and manage your teams, and even to your underlying business model before you put your company up for sale. Starting exit planning early helps leaders drive growth, prepare their teams, and position the business strongly for 2026.
He shows readers what truly adds value, how to sidestep common pitfalls, and how to identify and negotiate confidently with the right buyers. Filled with step-by-step guidance, practical tips, and real-world examples, this insightful read is brilliant for any leader preparing for their next chapter or shaping the legacy they want to leave.
