In leadership, we often talk about strategy, execution. But at the heart of every breakthrough is a creative spark. Creativity is not reserved for the arts. Rather, innovation and breakthrough are essential for any organization and at any level of leadership.  

Whether you want to expand your personal creative capacity in healthy, sustainable ways or you are a seasoned leader looking to craft environments where you see people thrive and do world-class work, creativity and leadership are deeply intertwined.  

These five books (plus a must-read bonus) span the spectrum from personal artistic discipline to high-level organizational leadership. Which will you pick up next?

1. The Creative Act: A Way of Being — Rick Rubin

This book is a masterclass in the inner work of creativity. Rick Rubin is a record producer who has worked with some of the most well-known musicians in the world, including Johnny Cash, Tom Petty and The Red Hot Chili Peppers. In this practical and easy to digest book, Rubin reminds us that being an artist isn't about what you make but how you relate to the world — an essential perspective for any leader looking to stay attuned to new ideas.

2. The Artist’s Way — Julia Cameron

Many people — including leaders — do not consider themselves creative, but as multiple speakers at the Global Leadership Summit have illustrated, creativity is just combining existing ideas in a novel way. With that understanding,everyone can benefit from growing their creative self, and Julia Cameron’s renowned book is a foundational text for just that. Cameron gives leaders disciplines and tools to help break through mental clutter to find clarity and inspiration.

3. Where Good Ideas Come From: The Natural History of Innovation — Steven Johnson

Johnson examines different ideas and movements and explores the ecosystems that allow them to flourish, arguing that innovation rarely comes from a single "eureka" moment. Instead, he shows how leaders can create "liquid networks" where ideas can collide, dwell,and eventually evolve into breakthroughs.  

4. Herding Tigers: Be the Leader That Creative People Need — Todd Henry

A regular presence at the Global Leadership Summit, Todd Henry provides a tactical roadmap for leading creatives. He explores how to provide the two things they need most from their leaders: stability and challenge. If you lead people who want to do great work, this is is a great tool for your bookshelf.  

5. Organizing Genius: The Secrets of Creative Collaboration — Warren Bennis

Warren Bennis has been studying leadership for decades. In this book, he examines "Great Groups" — from the Manhattan Project to Disney — to show that leadership in a creative environment isn't about being the smartest person in the room but about creating the conditions where genius can thrive.  

BONUS: Creativity, Inc. — Ed Catmull

It’s difficult to craft a list of books on creativity and leadership without including this classic. Ed Catmull’s account of Pixar’s history and culture shows these principles applied at the highest level of global enterprise. It is perhaps the best manual ever written on how to protect a creative culture from the forces that naturally try to kill it.

Want to spark your leadership?

Reading books is a meaningful way to feed your leadership growth. But often our most dynamic growth happens together. Keep fueling your leadership by getting in the room with other curious, growth-minded leaders like you at the Global Leadership Summit, the world’s premier leadership event.  

You’ll be equipped and empowered to grow your influence and step into the kind of leadership this world needs.