The American writer Ralph Waldo Emerson once stated, “If we encounter a man of rare intellect, we should ask him what books he reads.” Most people share the same interest in knowing who has influenced whom, particularly when it comes to considering their own influences. Leaders also recognize that their own mentors and teachers were influenced by their predecessors, and tracing that line of thinking can be fascinating.
Jurgen Appelo, a self-proclaimed creative networker, assembled a team to identify the most popular experts in the field of leadership and management. The survey took into account authorship (book and blog) ratings, social media statistics, and Google search hit totals, among other metrics. From this data, Appelo and his group presented a list of the top 100 leadership experts in recent years.
Here’s a look at the 14 individuals who topped the list:
1. John C. Maxwell
New York Times bestselling author John Maxwell has trained leaders from every country around the world. He speaks on a regular basis at conferences, workshops, and private meetings. His more than 70 publications include The 5 Levels of Leadership, Winning with People, and Leadership Gold.
2. Seth Godin
Seth Godin | Image courtesy Wikipedia
Seth Godin has reached a level of prominence that makes it possible to find his blog on Google by simply searching his first name. Along with his popular blog, he has published 18 international bestselling books on leadership, the “post-industrial” revolution, and how change occurs.
3. Jack Welch
The executive chairman of the Jack Welch Management Institute, Mr. Welch is most known for his accomplishments as the CEO of General Electric, where he streamlined and simplified operations to great success. He continues to train and educate leaders at his institute, through speaking engagements, and his best-selling business books.
4. Guy Kawasaki
A frequently sought-after keynote speaker, Guy Kawasaki is a thought leader on topics like innovation, social media, and entrepreneurship. He has trained leaders at Apple, Nike, and Google, and he advocates for the democratization of knowledge through his board membership at the Wikimedia Foundation.
5. Tim Ferriss
Tim Ferriss nurtures a passion for uncovering the ingredients of greatness. In addition to his widely popular 4-Hour book series, he maintains a top-ranked blog and an award-winning podcast, The Tim Ferriss Show. His major influences include Pulitzer Prize winner John McPhee and Nobel Prize winner Kenzaburo Oe.
6. Daniel Goleman
Emotional Intelligence author Daniel Goleman leverages his background in psychology to teach students, professionals, and leaders. He views emotional intelligence as an integral component to leadership and the success of a business, and he has published widely on this and other topics, such as attention and compassion.
7. Dale Carnegie
The influence of the late Dale Carnegie extends back to at least 1912, when the Dale Carnegie Training organization was formed. His book How to Win Friends and Influence People started the movement, which centers on strengthening relationships, developing the fundamentals of leadership, and eliminating stress.
8. Kenneth H. Blanchard
Ken Blanchard | Image courtesy Wikipedia
Kenneth H. Blanchard established The Ken Blanchard Companies in 1979 with his wife, Marjorie. He co-wrote The One Minute Manager the following year, and his vision for helping clients embrace the tenets of people-centered leadership continues today.
9. Michael E. Porter
An intellectual innovator, Michael E. Porter is the Bishop William Lawrence University Professor at Harvard Business School, where he leads the Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness. His wide-ranging publications, such as On Competition, collectively serve as the benchmark for thinkers in his field.
10. Marshall Goldsmith
For 40 years, Marshall Goldsmith has coached top CEOs and other leaders on how to become more effective at their jobs and create lasting change. He has been ranked as one of America’s top executive coaches by Inc. Magazine, Forbes, Wall Street Journal, and many other publications. His latest book is Triggers: Creating Behavior that Lasts – Becoming the Person You Want to Be.
11. Tom Peters
Tom Peters holds degrees in civil engineering and business from Cornell and Stanford, and he shares his knowledge with leaders and managers of all backgrounds. Ranked as one of the world’s most influential thinkers, he has written multiple volumes on leadership, including his most recent book, The Little BIG Things: 163 Ways to Pursue EXCELLENCE.
12. Stephen R. Covey
Best known for his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen R. Covey created a new paradigm for leadership. Time listed Covey as one of the 25 most influential Americans, and he also commands an international presence for his methods and ideas.
13. Robin Sharma
A global personality, Robin Sharma regularly addresses audiences on topics related to leadership and self-mastery. The insights he shares on social media reach more than 600 million people each year, and his books have succeeded on multiple bestseller lists. Sharma is the founder of Sharma Leadership International Inc.
14. Simon Sinek
Simon Sinek is an ethnographer, author, speaker, and TED Talk presenter. He concentrates on helping leaders improve their ability to inspire and motivate others. Sinek wrote the bestseller Start With Why, and the ideas from that publication also feature in his TED Talk, which has received more than 27 million views.