Deep Purpose: The Heart and Soul of High-Performance Companies

Ranjay Gulati

Harper Business, 288 pp., $29.99

A company's mission and purpose are often factors that job seekers consider when determining whether to apply for or accept a position with an organization. Deep Purpose is a guidebook for how to make companies more purpose driven. Gulati, a Harvard University business professor, interviewed more than 200 executives across 18 firms to identify what it takes to "empower your business to thrive financially and organizationally while unleashing its full potential as a force for good." He shares lessons from the leaders to illustrate the four levers for superior performance and present action steps for companies seeking to "create a spiral of performance inspired by purpose."

Amp It Up: Leading for Hypergrowth by Raising Expectations, Increasing Urgency, and Elevating Intensity

Frank Slootman

Wiley, 202 pp., $28

Slootman, CEO of data cloud company Snowflake, presents what it takes to transform an organization to maximize scale and growth. Based on a popular LinkedIn post he authored several years ago, Amp It Up examines the concepts, strategies, and tactics necessary to lead a mission-driven, high-performance company. Slootman leans on his experience as CEO of three companies to delve into the five key steps in his Amp It Up process: Raise your standards, align your people, sharpen your focus, pick up the pace, and transform your strategy. He dedicates a section of the book to each of those steps, plus a final section on becoming an amped-up leader.