Leadership Books vs. Authority Books: How to Know Which You Need (and When) Donna Dahl

Purpose of the Show

This show exists to inspire transformation in both life and business. Through candid conversations with authors, leaders, and change-makers, we uncover the wisdom and practical tools you need to thrive.

Introduction

What separates a leader from an authority? And what happens when your book becomes the bridge between the two?

Today’s guest, Donna Dahl, has spent the last two decades empowering executives, entrepreneurs, and high-impact professionals to do exactly that — to write, speak, and lead from a place of clarity, confidence, and authentic authority.

Her coaching doesn’t begin with buzzwords or quick wins. It begins with a question: Are you ready to dream more, do more, and become more?

Donna is known for transforming leaders into authors and authors into leaders. Through her signature “Dream, Dare, Do” framework, she helps clients translate experience into influence and wisdom into written form. Whether she’s guiding a CEO through a manuscript or mentoring a new entrepreneur through their first leadership challenge, her approach is both strategic and deeply human — focused on building confidence, clarity, and the kind of courage that lasts.

In this conversation, we explore the crucial difference between leadership books — written to inspire, develop, and serve others — and authority books, written to define your niche, elevate your expertise, and build a platform that extends far beyond the page.

Credibility + Background

Donna Dahl is an award-winning Master Empowerment Coach, speaker, and author of Lessons I Learned from the Tortoise, a book that has inspired thousands of readers and leaders around the world.

Based in Calgary, Donna has spent more than 20 years coaching executives and entrepreneurs to find their authentic voice, build brands that last, and create businesses — and books — with heart and impact. She has been recognized as a Global Women Leader, a Woman of Inspiration, and a Manuscript Coaching Award recipient by the International Association of Top Professionals.

Her 7-week program, Empowering the Leader Within You, has become a game-changer for clients who want to lead with integrity, communicate with precision, and step boldly into their influence.

As the Selection Committee Chair for the Women of Inspiration Awards and a frequent keynote speaker, Donna combines the insight of a master coach with the empathy of a mentor who has walked alongside hundreds of leaders in the making. Her clients — including CEOs, coaches, and creative professionals — often credit her with helping them reach record-breaking sales, unlock new levels of self-belief, and write the kind of books that build movements.

Episode Summary

In this episode, Donna helps us untangle one of the most important strategic questions in thought leadership:
 Do you need a leadership book, or an authority book?

A leadership book guides others through growth. It’s written for teams, for emerging leaders, for those who want to serve and inspire. It builds trust, teaches frameworks, and multiplies your influence through empathy and service.

An authority book, on the other hand, defines your space. It’s the book that says: This is my domain. This is my message. This is the body of work I stand behind. It elevates your expertise, sharpens your brand, and becomes a cornerstone of your professional legacy.

Donna shares the subtle — and powerful — distinctions between the two, offering examples from her own coaching experience of how executives, coaches, and entrepreneurs have used both types of books to accelerate credibility and expand their reach.

We’ll talk about:

* How to discern which kind of book your business or...