Image credit: Flynn Shore / Penguin
Figuring out how to get ahead in your career is, more often than not, an overwhelming prospect – not least because it’s difficult to know where to start.
Books are an invaluable tool for exploring the art of self-improvement, so if you’re ready to learn how to own the room, deploy failsafe negotiation tactics, or simply work smarter, we’ve got the perfect read for you. With this list, broken into sections on goal-setting, productivity, success, and confidence, prepare to unlock your potential and excel in the workplace.
Books about goal-setting
If you’re looking for the tools to help you build the right framework for any goal, then this is the book for you. In order to make changes, we need to think small with frequent, tiny tweaks to our daily lives, says behavioural science expert Grace Lordan . This is a rigorously researched and accessible guide to achieving big things, little by little.
Does working smarter, not harder sound like something you need in your life? This blueprint for living more and working less can be applied to everyday jobs, teaching you how to be more hands-off. The perfect read for those stuck in a work rut or not feeling enamoured with their 9-5.
Our obsession with overachievement is a trap, argues successful author and podcaster Emma Gannon. This book is the guide to breaking free. Traditional success is making us lonely, dispirited and unfulfilled, so learn how to efficiently set your own goals and move away from the disappointing trap of comparison.
If you’ve ever felt held back from wanting to learn something new, Josh Kaufman likely has the answers you need. In this book, his unique method will teach how to learn anything — and fast . Whether you want to master a new language, learn a musical instrument, or simply make progress on that big project, The First 20 Hours shows you how to do it.
Self-development coach and ‘Queen of Manifesting’ Roxie Nafousi has distilled the art of manifestation down into 7 easy steps to help you get what you want in life. A fascinating blend of science, philosophy, and self-belief, manifestation is a brilliant way to help you be clear in your vision and find your confidence.
If you’re serious about manifestation, Manifest: Dive Deeper
Books about productivity
By studying the behaviours of famously successful companies and individuals, Charles Duhigg started to work out why some of them began to thrive overnight while others struggled to make changes. The answer? Their habits. In this revolutionary and compelling book, learn how to use habitual change to transform our businesses, communities, and lives.
Entrepreneur Grace Beverley has two industry-leading businesses, a successful podcast, and a global digital reach of just over 1.5 million — all at the age of 26. With this accessible book, she addresses the pressure we face as a result of being told to both be a hustler and practice self-care. Creating your own Productivity Method, she argues, will help you focus on what works for you and allow you to prioritise your own wellbeing at the same time.
Do you self-sabotage? Is it hard for you to control your emotions or make sense of yourself? The Chimp Mind Management Model will help you understand the ways in which your mind struggles, and arm you with the tools to change it. Learn from this widely acclaimed and practical programme, based on scientific facts and principles that work with your brain rather than against it.
Bruce Daisley knows a thing or two about the workplace – he’s worked for Twitter, Google, and YouTube and runs the hugely successful podcast Eat, Sleep, Work, Repeat – and he’s got some ideas for how to fix it. His 30 simple tips encourage productivity and finding reward in your daily job. Read it first, then recommend it to your boss.
Everyone knows that time is precious, but what can you do when you feel like you’re not getting the best out of yours? Not to worry, two bestselling authors and ex-Google employees are here to help, with their guide to learning how to prioritise what matters to us and building smart habits that stick to create that happier, healthier, less time-poor life.
Books about success
Spawned from the chart-topping podcast of the same name, this book reveals the secrets of how high performance is made by speaking to big-name high achievers. Drawing from conversations with Tom Daley , Jo Malone, Steven Bartlett , Gareth Southgate and more, learn what made these people successful and how you can apply it to your life too.
The million-copy global bestseller based on a viral TED Talk has one very simple proposition at its heart: it’s not about what we do, but why we do it. Once we start asking why, Sinek argues, we get to the root of success and can uncover what makes a business – or an individual – thrive.
This success story from Sara Davies, one of Britain’s biggest names in business (and fan favourite on Dragon’s Den ) covers everything from how she runs an empire and still finds time for family, to how she started out running a business from her university bedroom, to what she looks for in a business proposal. A uniquely told story that will both entertain and answer important business questions along the way.
Alastair Campbell has always been fascinated by what it takes to win – it’s part of the reason he helped guide the Labour Party to three election victories – and whether it's innate or can be taught. Channelling that fascination, he talks to an astonishing array of influential people, finding out how they deal with setbacks, what makes them tick, and how we can adopt that same drive in our own lives.
There’s a very basic belief at the heart of this book from the authors of the number-one bestseller T he Squiggly Career
Don’t miss the brand-new book from the entrepreneur, podcaster, and Dragon’s Den star Steven Bartlett. Out later this year, The Diary of A CEO
Books about confidence
Whether you're recruiting spies, deliberating on a jury, or sitting at the table of a corporate boardroom, strong communication skills are key. Charles Duhigg, journalist and bestselling author of The Power of Habit
Full of easy-to-grasp practical tips and stories from inspirational women, this is a guide on what to do when you open your mouth and nothing actually comes out, or how to own the room as a woman when you’re being made to feel small. Brilliantly engaging and fantastically helpful.
An international phenomenon that's sold over 1.5 million copies worldwide, Surrounded by Idiots explores a simple yet groundbreaking method for assessing the personalities of certain types of people and how to deal with them. Hone your communication and social skills and learn how to handle conflict with confidence to help you understand and influence the people around you.
Counting Eat, Pray, Love author Elizabeth Gilbert among its legions of fans, Playing Big asks what you could achieve if you were confident enough to take risks, ignore other people’s perceptions of you, and forge your own path. An empowering and optimistic guide to mastering self-doubt and dealing with criticism.
This timeless classic has been helping people hear the word ‘yes’ for the 30-plus years it’s been in print. Bringing everything back to basics, Getting to Yes is made up of three key principles for simplifying the negotiation process and teaching readers how to bank on themselves.
What if charisma can be taught? With a scientific lens, leadership expert Olivia Fox Cabane uncovers what this elusive trait actually is, how it is learned, and how to replicate it. This book is both a self-esteem booster and a tool for learning how to show yourself more compassion in your work life.
