Learning some things in life is relatively straightforward. Take knitting, for example -- that's typically as simple as procuring some yarn and needles and searching for a how-to video on getting started. Sure, your work might look a little haphazard at first, but the steps are fairly intuitive.
Learning to lead others, on the other hand, isn't so linear.
There's always the option to pick up a leadership book or turn to articles on the topic to get started, but a start is all it will be. You've got to read, listen, ask questions, put things into practice, make mistakes, and course-correct -- only then, you might be at a "good enough" level. 
But everyone has to start somewhere, and if you're looking to embark on a leadership development path, you might also be looking for some of the best materials to help you along the journey. We've got you covered -- below are some of our favorite podcasts, tools, tips, and resources to become a better leader.
7 Leadership Resources for Marketers
1) Podcasts
Source: NPR
Depending on the day, one method of consuming information might be better than another. If you take the train into work and the ride is quieter than usual one morning, for example, it might be a great day to catch up on a leadership book. But if you drive, and traffic is particularly bad, it's probably better (not to mention, safer) to listen to a podcast episode about leadership than to read a book about it.
That's one of the reasons why we consistently keep a few leadership podcasts downloaded and ready to listen to. Here are three of our favorites:
TED Radio Hour
Around here, we love a good TED talk. But trying to pick just one out of volumes of valuable presentations is as tricky as trying to pick one thing to watch on Netflix, am I right? That's what makes the TED Radio Hour podcast so valuable. It takes some of the most intriguing TED talk topics -- like big data, making our work more meaningful, or even forgiveness -- and builds episodes based on them.
The Growth Show
Hosted by HubSpot’s VP of Marketing Meghan Keaney Anderson and CMO Kipp Bodnar, The Growth Show is an exploration of all things relating to business growth. Anderson and Bodnar take turns at the helm, welcoming guests to talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of growth. From stories of epic failure to the even better recovery that followed it, Anderson and Bodnar interview guests who share some of the most intriguing organizational, cultural, conceptual, and team insights.
StartUp
As the name suggests, this product is a self-described "podcast about what it’s really like to get a business off the ground." And no matter where you are in your career, there are still leadership lessons to be learned from entrepreneurs or beginners, especially if you need a back-to-basics reminder of how to get started. Plus, the topics -- like balancing business and family life, or stories about inventors -- are just plain interesting and provide solid fodder to get your wheels turning in the morning.
2) Public Speaking Help
Public speaking isn't exactly a requirement for being a strong leader, but as you progress in your career, it might become part of your job (think: presenting at large team meetings or to a board), and it's a skill that can help set you apart from the pack.
But if public speaking sounds like a worse experience than undergoing a root canal, then there's a chance you've wished for a formula to make it as simple as possible. That's why we love speaking.io -- it's a near one-stop-shop for public speaking tips. Upon arriving at the site, it appears to be an unconventional resource collection for the five major steps of presenting:
- Plan out your talk.
- Design and build your slides.
- Prep for the big day.
- Deliver and do your thing.
- React and reflect on what just happened.
Plus, if you want newer, more detailed tips and information, the site also contains a blog with advice on things like using images, sharing presentations online, and dealing with nervousness.
3) Books (On the Stuff They Don't Teach You in Business School)
Source: brenebrown.com
Sometimes, it feels like we have to master everything to be a leader. We have to learn how to manage projects, delegate tasks, and analyze outcomes. But then, there are the leadership lessons that don't always get the biggest headlines, like learning to be empathetic, accountable, and how to embrace vulnerability.
That last one, while a scary word, is something that we've found some of the most exceptional leaders do. That's why we love Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brené Brown. "When we shut ourselves off from vulnerability," she writes, "we distance ourselves from the experiences that bring purpose and meaning to our lives."
This book, in particular, dives into years of research on why vulnerability can be an asset to leaders. After all, taking risks requires some degree of becoming vulnerable, and strong leaders know when to take calculated risks. But that doesn't just apply to work -- Brown's work also explores how that vulnerability can be an advantage in other areas of life.
4) The Radical Candor Framework
Think about the hardest piece of feedback you've ever gotten. Chances are, it was tough to hear, but you were ultimately better off because of it.
That's exactly what happened to Kim Scott. After an important presentation, Scott's boss, Sheryl Sandberg -- yes, the one who wrote Lean In -- had some feedback. Harsh feedback. The kind of feedback that stings. But because Scott knew that Sandberg was coming from a compassionate place when giving the feedback, Scott accepted it, moved on, and became better.
Scott took this pivotal interaction and used it to develop a framework for giving better feedback at work -- the kind that embraces brutal honesty delivered with profound empathy. It's worthy advice for leaders at any point in their respective careers.
Fun fact: We once had the pleasure of hosting Kim Scott on The Growth Show. If you're interested in hearing more about her perspective on leadership, check out her episode below.
5) Real-time Feedback
Speaking of feedback, did that last resource make you crave receiving some yourself? After all, authentic, constructive criticism is an excellent supplement to the advice doled out by books, blogs, podcasts, and frameworks. Enter CareerLark: a Slack bot that helps you seek out on-the-fly "micro-feedback" on the skills you want to improve.
Here's how it works. In the example provided by CareerLark's product explanation, an employee wants to get feedback on his weekly analytics updates. Using the Slack bot, he can ping his boss to get real-time feedback on how he's doing. She'll then receive a message like this one:
From there, Monica can either answer using one of the emojis provided, or send a more detailed response, as per below:
Micro-feedback in real-time? Great for your skill development -- and, it can provide your boss with good practice in providing concise commentary.
6) Advice From Real People
Sometimes, using a Slack bot to get advice just doesn't cut it. We all need feedback from a real human being, and on occasion, it can be the most enlightening to get it from someone outside your company or industry.
So when you're looking to step outside your "bubble" for input, here are a few apps that can help.
Real Talk
By The Learning Partnership, a Canadian advocacy organization for public education, the Real Talk App (available on iOS and Android) provides "unfiltered" advice from a broad range of professionals at various career stages -- everyone from sound designers to freelance creatives. These individuals answer questions that many of us have as we begin to explore different work options, like whether or not advanced education is worth the money, or how you can make a career change.
Officehours
Sometimes, it can be tough to figure out who to turn to for advice. That's what makes apps like Officehours so valuable -- this one, in particular, helps you find an expert (or "advisor") for 10 minutes of free one-on-one advice.
The advisors appear to hold a broad range of expertise, from design to entrepreneurship, data science and more. Check out the video below to learn more:
Mara Mentor
If you're a budding entrepreneur struggling to find a mentor in your industry, check out this tool -- it was designed to provide an "exchange of ideas, guidance, learning and connecting with like-minded people."
Not only does Mara Mentor (available for iOS and Android) offer a platform for connecting professionals and entrepreneurs with mentors, but also, it provides industry news and a digital networking platform that connects you with other entrepreneurs to share knowledge and experiences. Plus, it's global -- so no matter where you are, you can connect with others for professional support.
7) Online Courses
We'll admit that many of the sources on this list largely pertain to management, communication, and finding a mentor. But that's not that only way to advance or make changes in your career. Sometimes, it's about becoming really, really good at a certain thing that your job requires -- or something that the job you want requires. And for that to happen, you just need to hunker down and learn it.
An online course can be a great way to do that. Finding the right class depends on the skill you want to develop, but here are a few places we recommend for getting started, especially when it comes to marketing-related skills.
HubSpot Academy
If you want a deep dive into some of the most important aspects of marketing today, check out the HubSpot Academy. One of the most popular resources available there is our free Inbound Certification.
Designlab
Want to improve or sharpen your design skills? Check out Designlab. You'll be given real assignments to build your knowledge -- and a mentor to help you through each one.
Codeacademy
More free stuff? You bet. In fact, you can learn to code for free with Codecademy, which is a particularly helpful resource if you learn best by doing -- lessons are taught by way of both instruction and hands-on experience.
Lynda
Okay, so this one isn't free -- subscriptions start at $19.99/month -- but if there's a professional skill you want to advance, chances are, Lynda has a course for it. Created by LinkedIn, it offers classes in everything from Excel, to audio production, to software development.
What's Next?
So, let's say you've taken full advantage of the resources above. You've learned a lot and even gained some introspection. But if you're still stuck, fear not -- we've all been there.
If you're at a loss for what kinds of skills you want to develop, or if you've realized that you're not sure you even want to be a leader in your particular field, then there's a chance you just might not be sure what to do next. That's why we created The Next Five: a free assessment that can help you identify the next step in your career.
And because many of us dread the question, "Where do you see yourself in five years?" -- or simply can't answer it -- this resource comes with even more processes to come up with a response on your own time. Because the only thing better than general, yet valuable leadership resources, are those tailored to your specific situation.
What are some of the most helpful leadership resources you've found? Let us know in the comments.
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