Working in HR is not a very easy job to do, and many people tend to take it lightly The position is important for the well-being and the well-functioning of the employees, and thus, by extension, the company. Here are 10 books HR professionals should read to gain insight into the industry, and understand human relations better.
10 Books HR Professionals Should Read
First, Break All The Rules by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman
Marcus Buckingham is the author or the co-author of four best-selling books. He writes books that are mainly connected with business, management, and HR. Curt Coffman has also contributed to, or written several books related to management and running a smooth business. First, Break All The Rules is a 1999 management research book. Buckingham and Coffman’s studies, surveyed and interviewed over 80,000 managers from across various fields. They studied their behaviour and compiled a list of Ideal management behaviour. This book is a guide to that.
Games People Play: The Psychology of Human Relationships by Eric Berne
Eric Berne was a psychiatrist best known for his creation, transactional analysis. He was born in 1910 and served in the army as a Medical Corp, and was then promoted to a General. The book games people play, although written long back, still stay relevant to the current human behaviour and actions. It gives details about what goes on in someone’s mind when they are conversing with others, etc.
Why Work Sucks and How to Fix It: The Results-Only Revolution by Cali Ressler
Cali Ressler is a writer of the books Managing Sucks and Work Sucks. Her books consist of in-depth industrial experience and research on various topics, mainly on why people end up hating their jobs and the job culture and environment. Cali Ressler talks about setting up a workspace where employees have the freedom of doing whatever they want, as long as they get the work done.
Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg and Nell Scovell
Sheryl Sandberg works as the Global Online Sales and Operations at Google and also has served on the boards of the Walt Disney Company, ONE, SurveyMonkey, Women for Women International and Facebook. Nell Scovell is the co-writer of this book, and a popular television writer, who is mainly known for being the creator of Sabrina The Teenage Witch. Lean In is an empowering book for women in the corporate world, and their struggles in the industry. The book was praised by many magazines and websites, including Forbes, Time Magazine and many more.
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg
Charles Duhigg has worked as a reporter for The New York Times and currently writes for The New York Times Magazine. He has studied and done intensive research in the area of the science of productivity. The book, The Power of Habit is one of the results of that. The book covers and talks about people from various areas of life, and how having a habit makes or shapes their day. It will help and encourage the team to find out a fun and interesting habit or hobby of theirs and practice it.
Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler, Stephen R. Covey (Foreword)
Kerry Patterson is a graduate of a management school, and Joseph Grenny is known for co-authoring many professional self-help books. Ron McMillan forms a trio with Grenny and Patterson to co-authoring the book, and Stephen R. Covey is a best-selling author of many self-help books. Together, by forming a team they have written Crucial Conversations through their joint efforts and communication. The book gives a deep insight into professional conversations and can act as a guide on how to tackle those.
Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes Into Stepping Stones for Success by John C. Maxwell
John C. Maxwell is a #1 New York Times best-selling author. He has written many books, most of which are focused on leadership and its principles. He has been titled ‘America’s most trusted leadership expert’ as well. The book covers many topics, mainly about success through constant failures, luck, etc.
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: The Leadership Fable by Patrick Lencioni
Patrick Lencioni is the founder and the president of The Table Group, a firm that helps organizations go healthy. He is also a speaker, writer, and mainly a New York Times best-selling author of three books. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team is about leadership, and how to work in a team. Similar to his other books, Lencioni explains the concepts in this book with stories and examples, which makes it easier for the reader to understand.
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain
Susan Cain is a British writer. She has been named the 6th Top Influencer by LinkedIn. She has written many books about introverts and their experiences, and this is one of them. The book uncovers the benefits of being an introvert in a room, or even having the presence of one.
Work Rules!: Insights from Inside Google That Will Transform How You Live and Lead by Laszlo Bock
Laszlo Bock works in and leads Google’s people function team. This team handles keeping people on Google and pertaining to them. Considering Google is the top browsing service, you can say that Bock is good at his job. Work Rules! is written with his experience and the extra research he has done for the book on people’s psychology. It is a great read for anyone who is currently working in HR or plans on doing so.
