Enhance Your Career Journey: 5 Book Recommendations for Professional Growth
If you’re anything like me, you love reading career-focused books. In fact, for years, I refused to read anything except for business or self-help books. (Hi, recovering career-obsessed workaholic here.)
While you’ll catch me reaching for business books less frequently than before, we all know there’s value in leveling up our knowledge to boost our careers. To help inspire your professional growth, I compiled this list of five career-focused books recommend by folks in the Each is Every Membership.
The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever by Michael Bungay Stanier
Stanier draws on years of experience training more than 10,000 busy managers from across the globe on how to become better coaches and unlock potential. In the book, he presents a concise and practical framework to help individuals become more effective coaches. The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever offers actionable insights and tools for creating a coaching culture that fosters continuous learning and development personally and professionally.
Who should read it: Kim J. recommends this book for professionals moving from being individual contributors to a manager of any number of people.
A brief review: Kim said, “This book changed my philosophy on people management. It helped me empower my team to find solutions and build confidence in their ability to find solutions through coaching instead of learning from advice. Teaching people how to think through problems is the management equivalent of ‘if you teach a man to fish.’ And this book taught me that! It allowed me to build a more autonomous team and have the confidence to mentor newer folks on the team to get to autonomy.”
The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company by Robert Iger
In his captivating memoir, Iger takes readers on a journey through his career at one of the world’s most influential companies: The Walt Disney Company. Iger shares insights into key decisions and challenges while offering valuable lessons on leadership, innovation, and the ever-evolving media and entertainment world.
Who should read it: Olivia C. recommends this book for early and mid-career professionals and noted it contains applicable insights for personal and professional situations.
A brief review: Olivia said, “I work for Disney, so this book was certainly insightful in how the company came to be what it is today. But reading about the principles that guided Iger throughout his career was impactful to my own. His core philosophy stands on remaining optimistic, having courage, being decisive, and being fair. The last one really stuck with me: you don’t have to like someone to know they deserve to be treated fairly—but they were all so clearly relevant in any career.”
Problem Solving 101: A Simple Book for Smart People
by Ken Watanabe
Watanabe’s book breaks down problem solving and targets readers of all ages and backgrounds. He uses relatable examples and straightforward explanations to equip readers with essential problem-solving techniques and strategies.
Who should read it: Elizabeth V. recommends this book to anyone at any point in their career!
A brief review: Elizabeth said, “I read this book in January 2023, and I keep thinking of ways to apply it to my life. It was written for children and is very straightforward and brief (only about 100 pages). The examples they give are silly and easy to understand, but it’s made me think about how the principles of solving problems can apply to my scenarios.”
The Art of Gathering
by Priya Parker
Parker, an expert facilitator, delves into the dynamics of meetings, events, and social gatherings, offering insights and practical advice on transforming them into meaningful and memorable experiences. This book challenges conventional notions of gathering and encourages readers to consider the deeper purpose behind events.
Who should read it: Molly P. recommends it to anyone working with people, especially those in leadership, event planning, or HR-related roles.
A brief review: Molly said, “I first read this book when planning my wedding and wanted to be thoughtful about my choices. I found so much insight from it that I went on to consider all aspects of my life. Career-wise, it helped me to be more intentional in how/why I gather and lead others. You know the old ‘this meeting should've been an email’ joke? This book helps ensure you're not wasting people's time with that mess and instead creating meaningful meetings and memorable experiences.”
Hello, Fears: Crush Your Comfort Zone & Become Who You're Meant to Be by Michelle Poler
Technically, this book falls in more of the self-help category, but it’s a great read for professional development, too. Drawing from her own experiences, Poler shares how she confronted and conquered 100 fears in 100 days, challenging readers to break free from their comfort zones and embrace the unknown. The book encourages readers to transform fear into a powerful catalyst for change through motivational storytelling and practical advice.
Who should read it: This book is excellent for everyone, but it will particularly speak to those feeling stuck, uninspired, or unmotivated in their career.
A brief review: I read this book for the first time when it was released in 2020, and I couldn’t stop thinking about how I wished it had been published when I first entered the working world. Our early career days can be filled with self doubt, imposter syndrome, and soul-sucking entry level jobs. Poler’s story is a beautiful reminder that YOU are in charge of your destiny and can unlock your potential. She writes about overcoming the fear of failure, embracing vulnerability, cultivating resilience, and so much more.
