How Leaders Learn: Master the Habits of the World's Most Successful People

The differentiating mindset and habits that help you turn insight into action.

When you put learning at the center of everything you do, you grow your career, your leadership, your relationships, and your joy and fulfillment in life. But even for people who are naturally curious and interested in solving problems, being an effective learner who can turn their learning into action takes insight and practice.

With infectious enthusiasm and optimism, David Novak shows you how to master active learning. A trailer-park kid who lived in twenty-three states before entering high school, Novak rapidly ascended the ranks at PepsiCo to become cofounder and CEO of one of the largest corporations in the world, the global restaurant icon Yum! Brands (KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and the Habit Burger Grill). And he credits active learning with getting him there. This compilation of wisdom and practical habits from Novak's life and from some of the most successful leaders in the world—CEOs from many industries, military and political leaders, sports greats, experts, and coaches—is your active-learning practice manual. Chapter by chapter, Novak and his all-star roster of leaders share how they've climbed to the highest levels in their fields.

Through stories of wins and losses, missteps and miracle saves, challenges tackled, and problems solved, Novak shows you all the ways, big and small, that you can become an active learner. A leadership devotional for the modern age, How Leaders Learn will inspire you to reach new levels of success in your own life and work.

About the Authors

David Novak is the cofounder and former Chairman and CEO of Yum! Brands, one of the world’s largest restaurant companies, with over 1.5 million team members working in more than 135 countries. He is also the founder of a leadership-development organisation and platform, David Novak Leadership, and the host of the top-ranked podcast, How Leaders Lead. Novak is also the author of four leadership and personal-development books, including the New York Times bestseller Taking People with You.

Lari Bishop is a writer and editor who has collaborated on more than thirty books, including New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestsellers.

Advance Praise for How Leaders Learn

"How Leaders Learn is a playbook for success in leadership and life. Novak's insights are as sharp as my passes were on a Sunday afternoon. Actually sharper. If learning about leadership were a sport, Novak would be my first-round draft pick without a doubt!" —Tom Brady, former NFL quarterback; seven-time Super Bowl champion

"The most critical skill to success in today's world is a propensity to learn. No one can teach you to be curious, but you can become a better learner from the rich assortment of voices and wisdom David Novak has collected in these pages. How Leaders Learn is a wonderful tool for anyone who wants to build a meaningful career." —Ginni Rometty, former Chairman, President, and CEO, IBM; author, Good Power

"David Novak not only delivers wisdom on learning that readers can put to work right away, he does it with an infectious enthusiasm that makes reading his book a pleasure. How Leaders Learn is necessary wisdom for anyone who seeks success." —Jerry Yang, cofounder and former CEO, Yahoo!; founding partner, AME Cloud Ventures; and Chair, Stanford University Board of Trustees

"Legendary CEO and author David Novak has done it again! How Leaders Learn is a must-read! Novak takes readers on a journey of personal reflection over his storied life and career, combined with insights and practical wisdom from some of the most accomplished leaders in the world of business, government, and sports. Novak's passion and desire to help everyone become better active learners is inspiring. But the real substantive power of active learning is the positive long-term impact it has on others!" —Thomas J. Baltimore Jr., Chairman and CEO, Park Hotels & Resorts

Dimensions: 15.88 x 2.54 x 24.13 cm