Leadership Development Resources

Who This Is For
Members focused on strengthening professional and leadership skills, regardless of title or supervisory responsibility.

Skills You’ll Build

• Self-awareness and self-management

• Managing time, attention, and energy

• Making meaningful contributions as part of a team

• Taking responsibility for work and outcomes

• Collaborating effectively with others

• Understanding how your role supports organizational goals

How You Engage with AAAE

• Attend state and regional conferences and events

• Build a peer network •Become a chapter member

• Obtain an Airport Certified Employee (ACE) credential
  

Ways to Learn & Grow

• Free leadership development training library

• Airport Certified Employee (ACE) certifications 

Who This Is For

Members who supervise others, lead teams, or influence outcomes through people and projects.

Skills You’ll Build

• Managing professional image, reputation, and influence

• Transitioning from individual contributor to people manager

• Communicating effectively up and down the organization

• Building, leading, and sustaining inclusive teams

• Planning, prioritizing, delegating, and continuously improving work

• Resolving first-level conflict and troubleshooting operational issues

• Leading meetings, committees, and governance-related work
  

How You Engage with AAAE

• Participate in regional conferences and events

• Serve as a chapter committee leader

• Earn Certified Member (C.M.) status

• Find and engage with a mentor

Ways to Learn & Grow

• Airport 101

• Certified Member (C.M.) certification

• Influential Leadership Workshop

• Applied Leadership Workshop

• Introduction to Board Governance (coming soon!) 

Who This Is For

Members who manage managers, lead complex teams, or guide organizations through change.

Skills You’ll Build

• Developing business justifications, financial analysis, and productivity measures

• Solving complex problems through root cause analysis and second-level conflict resolution

• Managing performance, staffing decisions, and cross-training for continuity

• Thinking systemically across departments and organizational interdependencies

• Identifying and addressing risk, including unintentional exclusion

• Understanding business structure, revenue management, and contracts

• Applying board roles and governance principles

How You Engage with AAAE

• Attend national conferences and events

• Serve on a Chapter Executive Committee

• Obtain the Accredited Airport Executive (A.A.E.) designation

• Serve as a mentor to others

Ways to Learn & Grow

• Accredited Airport Executive (A.A.E.) designation

• ACE Airport Finance

• Situational Leadership Workshop

• Board Governance Training (Governing a Chapter - coming soon!)

Who This Is For

Senior leaders and executives responsible for strategy, governance, and organizational performance.

Skills You’ll Build

• Shifting focus from operations to strategy and long-term vision

• Leading organizational change and enterprise-wide initiatives

• Developing and using business models, analytics, and KPIs

• Building succession, continuity, and future leadership capacity

• Fostering a strong, inclusive organizational culture

• Making risk-based decisions with political awareness and external visibility

• Engaging in executive-level governance and legislative advocacy

How You Engage with AAAE

• Serve as an AAAE leader at the national level

• Mentor and develop future leaders

Ways to Learn & Grow

• Airport Board of Directors Training

• Enterprising Leadership Workshop

• Executive Board Governance Training

• Leaders: Strategies for Taking Charge
  Warren Bennis & Burt Nanus (2003)
  Bennis and Nanus provide a blueprint for effective leadership, combining theoretical insights with practical strategies for navigating complex leadership challenges.

• On Becoming a Leader
  Warren Bennis (1989)
  Bennis is widely regarded as a pioneer in the field of leadership studies. This book focuses on the personal growth and introspection necessary for leadership.

• The New One Minute Manager
  Ken Blanchard & Spencer Johnson (2015)
  A revision of the classic book, this work outlines simple yet effective leadership techniques for motivating people and improving team performance.

• Emotional Intelligence 2.0
  Travis Bradberry & Jean Greaves (2009)
  This book focuses on the importance of emotional intelligence in leadership, offering practical advice on how to improve emotional awareness and self-regulation.

• Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts.
  Brené Brown (2018)
  Brown focuses on vulnerability, courage, and empathy in leadership, urging leaders to embrace their authentic selves and build trust with their teams.

• Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't
  Jim Collins (2001)
  Collins explores the concept of "level 5 leadership" and the role it plays in turning a good company into a great one, focusing on disciplined people, thought, and action.

• The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
  Stephen R. Covey (1989)
  Covey’s classic work covers personal and professional effectiveness, offering a principle-centered approach to leadership and life.

• The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups
  Daniel Coyle (2018)
  Coyle examines the cultures of successful teams and organizations, exploring the behaviors, attitudes, and values that make them effective.

• Principles: Life and Work
  Ray Dalio (2017)
  Dalio offers insights from his career, focusing on the principles he used to build Bridgewater Associates and how they can apply to leadership and decision-making.

• Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
  Angela Duckworth (2016)
  Duckworth’s research emphasizes the role of grit (a combination of passion and perseverance) in achieving long-term success, and how leaders can foster this trait in themselves and their teams.

• Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
  Doris Kearns Goodwin (2005)
  While not a traditional leadership book, this biography of Abraham Lincoln highlights his ability to unite a divided country and lead with empathy and moral integrity.

• The Power of Positive Leadership: How and Why Positive Leaders Change the World
  Jon Gordon (2017)
  Gordon advocates for the importance of positivity in leadership, showing how a positive attitude can impact team morale and productivity.

• HBR's 10 Must Reads on Leadership
  Harvard Business Review (2011)
  A collection of the best leadership articles from Harvard Business Review, offering timeless insights on leadership theory and practice.

• The One Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results
  Gary Keller & Jay Papasan (2013)
  This book encourages leaders to focus on what matters most and eliminate distractions, helping to achieve extraordinary results through clarity and simplicity.

• The Leadership Challenge
  James M. Kouzes & Barry Z. Posner (2017)
  This book offers a comprehensive look at what effective leadership looks like, based on research and real-world examples. It highlights five practices of exemplary leadership.

• The 5 Levels of Leadership: Proven Steps to Maximize Your Potential
  John C. Maxwell (2011)
  Maxwell outlines a framework for growing and evolving as a leader, from position-based leadership to the pinnacle of leadership, where one influences others to lead.

• The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership
  John C. Maxwell (1998)
  A cornerstone book on leadership, Maxwell outlines 21 laws or principles that every leader should follow in order to be effective.

• Leadershift: The 11 Essential Changes Every Leader Must Embrace
  John C. Maxwell (2019)
  Maxwell delves into the necessity of flexibility and adaptability in leadership, offering actionable shifts to help leaders adjust to changing environments and challenges.

• The Art of Leadership
  George Manning & Kent Curtis (2020)
  This book focuses on practical leadership strategies that can be applied in any organization, with a strong emphasis on the emotional aspects of leading people.

• Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us
  Daniel H. Pink (2009)
  Pink argues that autonomy, mastery, and purpose are the key drivers of motivation and provides insights for leaders on how to create environments where people thrive.

• The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses
  Eric Ries (2011)
  Ries introduces the concept of lean management and its application to leadership, particularly in startups, where adaptability and quick decision-making are key.

• Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity
  Kim Scott (2017)
  Scott introduces the concept of Radical Candor, which emphasizes direct, honest feedback while still showing care and respect for employees.

• Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t
  Simon Sinek (2014)
  Sinek explores the role of trust in leadership and the biological instincts that drive human behavior in teams. The idea that leaders should serve their teams is central to the book.

• Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action
  Simon Sinek (2009)
  Sinek examines how successful leaders and organizations focus on the “why” behind their actions, which drives passion and purpose within teams.

• The First 90 Days: Critical Success Strategies for New Leaders at All Levels
  Michael D. Watkins (2003)
  Watkins focuses on the transition period for leaders entering new roles, offering a strategic approach to navigating the first 90 days and setting up long-term success.

• "How Great Leaders Inspire Action"
  Simon Sinek (2009)
  This is the TED Talk that made Simon Sinek famous. He introduces his powerful concept of the "Golden Circle," explaining how great leaders and organizations inspire action by starting with "Why" rather than focusing on "What" or "How."

• "The Power of Vulnerability"
  Brené Brown (2010)
  Brown explores how vulnerability is a core strength for leaders, helping to build trust, create authentic connections, and foster resilience. Her talk has become a cornerstone for understanding the emotional side of leadership.

• "Dare to Disagree"
  Margaret Heffernan (2012)
  Heffernan argues that disagreement and conflict can be key to great leadership. She shows how leaders can use healthy conflict to create better outcomes and spark innovation in organizations.

• "The Puzzle of Motivation"
  Dan Pink (2009)
  Pink examines what really motivates people and how leaders can apply this knowledge to drive performance. He challenges traditional incentive models and offers a new understanding of intrinsic motivation.

• "Everyday Leadership"
  Drew Dudley (2010)
  Dudley’s talk revolves around the idea that leadership isn’t about grand moments of greatness but rather about the everyday actions we take to positively influence others. He uses his own experience with "lollipop moments" to illustrate the power of simple acts of leadership.

   

• "Why Good Leaders Make You Feel Safe"
  Simon Sinek (2014)
  In this follow-up talk, Sinek expands on the concept of leadership by discussing how great leaders create environments of safety, where people can thrive and take risks without fear of negative consequences.

   

• "How to Lead in a Crisis"
  Amy C. Edmondson (2020)
  Edmondson discusses how leaders can guide teams through crises, focusing on the importance of psychological safety and open communication. She emphasizes that great leadership in tough times requires humility and listening.

• "The Power of Introverts"
  Susan Cain (2012)
  Cain discusses how introverts can be powerful leaders, despite the common preference for extroversion in traditional leadership models. She emphasizes the value of quiet, reflective leadership in making thoughtful decisions and fostering creativity.

• "What It Takes to Be a Great Leader"
  Roselinde Torres (2013)
  Torres looks at the qualities and behaviors that distinguish the best leaders of the future. She shares insights from her global research on leadership and offers practical advice on how to adapt to the rapidly changing world of business.

• "How to Manage for Collective Creativity"
  Linda Hill (2014)
  Hill talks about leadership in the context of fostering creativity within teams. She discusses how leaders can create the conditions for collaborative innovation, where teams work together to generate groundbreaking ideas.

• "The Secret to Great Leadership"
  Douglas Conant (2012)
  Conant, former CEO of Campbell Soup Company, shares his perspective on leadership, focusing on the importance of leading with emotional intelligence, kindness, and a genuine commitment to people.

• "Lead Like the Great Conductors"
  Itay Talgam (2010)
  Using the analogy of a conductor leading an orchestra, Talgam demonstrates the various leadership styles that can create harmony and success in a group. He shows how leaders can inspire and empower their teams by balancing authority and trust.

• "Why Some of Us Don't Have One True Calling"
  Emily Wapnick (2015)
  Wapnick talks about the concept of being a "multipotentialite" – someone who has multiple passions and pursuits. She explores how leaders with diverse skills and interests can leverage these qualities to lead in unconventional ways.

• "The Power of Believing That You Can Improve"
  Carol Dweck (2014)
  Dweck introduces her research on the "growth mindset" and explains how leaders can encourage a culture of learning, development, and resilience by believing in the potential for improvement.

• "How to Build a Company Where the Best Ideas Win"
  Ray Dalio (2019)
  Dalio, the founder of Bridgewater Associates, talks about his principles for creating a company culture where ideas are debated openly, mistakes are seen as opportunities for learning, and meritocracy is the key to success.

• "How Leaders Can Inspire Action with Purpose"
  Angela Ahrendts (2018)
  Ahrendts, former CEO of Burberry and Apple’s Senior Vice President of Retail, discusses how leaders can build strong cultures by aligning organizational purpose with their team’s passion and the company’s values.

• "The Danger of a Single Story"
  Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (2009)
  While not strictly a leadership talk, Adichie’s discussion on the importance of diverse perspectives is a powerful reminder for leaders to avoid narrow thinking and embrace a broader, more inclusive worldview.

• "Leadership Is a Choice"
  Edgar H. Schein (2016)
  Schein talks about the real essence of leadership as a series of choices rather than inherent traits. He highlights the importance of humility, culture, and understanding within leadership.

• "How to Speak so That People Want to Listen"
  Julian Treasure (2013)
  Treasure’s talk is all about the importance of effective communication in leadership. He provides practical tips for speaking with impact and ensuring that your message resonates with others.

• "The Power of Teamwork"
  Patrick Lencioni (2008)
  Lencioni, known for his work on organizational health and teamwork, talks about the critical components of building cohesive teams. He provides insights into how leaders can foster trust, resolve conflict, and ensure accountability in teams.

• Myers‑Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
  Categorizes you into one of 16 personality types based on 4 preference scales. Popular for team dynamics and work environment fit. Widely used in career counseling.
  MBTI® Career Test

• Big Five / Five‑Factor Model
  Measures Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism. Considered scientifically robust, and free versions are available.
  Big Five Test (Open-Source Psychometrics)

• Keirsey Temperament Sorter
  Based on MBTI, this free 70‑question assessment sorts you into one of four temperaments—Artisan, Guardian, Idealist, Rational.
  Keirsey Temperament Sorter

• DISC Assessment
  Measures Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness—useful for understanding work behavior. Paid (~$30+).
  Search “DISC assessment” for providers

• Birkman Method
  A personality‑plus‑needs assessment providing deep insight into stress triggers, communication style, and motivation. Costs around $25.
  Seek out “The Birkman Method” via its providers

• CliftonStrengths (formerly StrengthsFinder / StrengthsFinder 2.0)
  A strengths‑based assessment identifying your top 5 CliftonStrengths out of 34 themes. Widely validated by Gallup.
  Clifton Strengths

• Enneagram
  This assessment uses a construct to assess beliefs. The report identifies one style from the following, which is your dominant: Reformer, helper, achiever, individualist, investigator, loyalist, enthusiast, challenger, peacemaker. It plots your results on a nine-pointed diagram called an enneagram.

  Enneagram

• Personalysis
  Personalysis offers you a way to better understand your personality and to identify your dynamic pattern of strengths and needs, which may be very different at times. Three focus areas: Commitment, Connection, Contribution
  Personalysis
  

• Predictive Index
  The tool determines your style from the idea that people have drives that create needs and show up in behaviors. Assessment is based in four factors: Dominance- the drive to exert one's influence on people and events. Extraversion- The drive for social interaction with other people. Patience- The drive for consistency and stability. Formality- The drive to conform to rules and structure.
  Predictive Index