Book Recommendations
HR, Psychology, Self Development, Wellbeing (Amazon Affiliate Links)
I'm an avid bookworm and these are some of my favourite thought provoking reads that have helped influence, inspire, inform, and motivate me personally and professionally.
This book has to come first really because your 'Why' underpins everything else that you do in life and in business. It took me a while to make my way through the chapters, it's definitely a book to read in chunks and then take some time away to reflect and absorb what you've read fully. The Golden Circle tool has stayed with me and I've used it again and again in all sorts of situations in the workplace and in mentoring / coaching.
I heard Prof. Steve Peters speak at a conference years ago about this programme and I went online and bought the book straight afterwards. It's an incredibly readable (you don't need a psychology degree!!), engaging, and eye-opening book into how our minds work and what we can do to change and improve ourselves. When I worked in high performance sport we embraced the Mind Management methodology resulting in amazingly successful outcomes.
This is a brilliant book and a must read for all introverts, and all those who know or work with introverts (i.e. everyone!). In a world that values extroversion this book takes a refreshing and much needed look at how amazing, important, and essential those of us who prefer to be a little bit quieter really are. Backed by some interesting research findings and insights this is a beautifully intelligent and empowering read.
I love this book. It's simple, straightforward and entertaining to read with clear steps you can take and easy to use tools you can implement to help achieve and maintain balance in your work and life. It offers important reminders for some of the essential areas that are often overlooked when people become too overwhelmed and stressed. I've utilised the resources from this book multiple times both personally and with clients. This is a book I keep going back to.
If you haven't already read this book, it should go straight to the top of your 'To Read' list!! Brene Brown will change the way you think about vulnerability. Backed up by a wealth of research you will read about the courage and strength that it takes to be vulnerable along with the amazing rewards that can come from showing your vulnerability. It's sensitive, motivational, exposing, and enlightening in equal measure and it will change the way you show up in life.
You can read this book in one sitting (although you might want to take longer to really absorb what it's trying to tell you). It's a simple fable about problem solving with lessons which you can apply to all sorts of different situations. It's like The Alchemist for the workplace!
I read this a few years ago in a book club at the organisation I was working for. It was billed as great learning and motivation for the sales team and I wasn't sure it was going to be for me but I thought I'd give it a go. I'm so glad I did I learnt so much and my copy of this book is littered with post-it notes and scribbled notes highlighting key points. This is about so much more than sales, it's about culture, employee experience, employee voice, failure and success.
The Headspace app was where my mindfulness journey started about a decade ago. Andy Puddicombe is one of the co-founders of Headspace and this easily readable book provides a great overview of what mindfulness is, why it's important, and the impact it can have on our lives. If you don't know anything about mindfulness this is a good place to start.
My current read, so many people have recommended this to me and it has been on my ever growing 'To Read' pile for ages just waiting for me to have some headspace to get stuck into it. Looking forward to reading this over the next few weeks. I'll provide some feedback on here once I've finished but I'm expecting some great insights from this book! 🤓
This is a 'classic' for HR professionals! Whether you're new to the profession or a seasoned HR pro this book is relevant and relatable. Providing an honest, informative, and thought provoking view of HR in current times. Covering different areas of HR in some detail, there's advice, timely reminders, challenges to think differently, and ideas for approaching aspects of traditional HR in new ways along with embracing new trends and the future of the profession.
This is very much a beginners guide to HR although more experienced HR professionals might benefit from some reminders of the basics. It's a great practical guide to many aspects of HR with continual emphasis on the humans involved and the importance of skills such as empathy, listening, communication, feedback, and fairness along the way. Interspersed with anecdotes and examples this is a really useful guide to being an HR professional.
Prof. Amanda Kirby ran the Neurodiversity Champions course I attended and she really is a force of nature when it comes to understanding neurodiversity and championing best practices in the workplace. This book provides a wealth of knowledge on neurodiversity itself, great case studies from a range of workplaces, interviews with high profile neurodivergent individuals, and plenty of advice and tips for you to take away and implement in your own workplace.
If you want to learn more about what it's like to be neurodivergent this is a great choice. It's written in easily digestible bite size chunks and is a great insight into what it's like to live and work with ADHD and autism. It's very thought provoking and inspires great ideas for supporting people both in the workplace and wider society as an employer, ally, advocate, or friend.
This was a go-to book for me when I was writing my HR Management dissertation on employee wellbeing and employee engagement. It's a staple text for employee wellbeing and provides a good grounding in the fundamentals for a wellbeing strategy in the workplace. I would highly recommend it if you're looking to put a wellbeing strategy in place for the first time.
This book follows neatly on from the last one. With great practical advice on how to help and support employees with their mental health, how to look after and prioritise your own wellbeing, strategies for reducing the stigma around mental health in the workplace, along with information on different areas of mental ill health. If you're looking to improve mental health and wellbeing in your workplace or to learn more about the topic this book provides a helpful overview.
Highly relatable, relevant, and informative. This book should be provided on prescription. Different aspects of mental health are explained in easily digestible sections with useful tips and coping strategies for everyday life. It's a great read and useful for yourself and for supporting others.
I've read a few books that talk about the compound effect of small, almost insignificant actions that build up over time to produce significant changes and successful results. In high performance sport we'd call it marginal gains. This doesn't need to be about sport though, this can literally be applied to any aspect of your life. Of all the books I've read on the topic I think this one presents the theory in the most readable and enjoyable way.
Building on that compound effect from the previous book, Black Box Thinking focuses more on failures and the learnings you take from them to grow and improve. It applies to organisational culture, sports, and individuals. The importance of having a growth mindset is underpinned by interesting stories and case studies spanning airlines, sports, and business entrepreneurs. It's a really good reminder to actually put this into practice.
Adam Grant is one of my favourite organisational psychologists. This book is about letting go of ideas and views that are not helpful for you and is particularly relevant in our current world of fake news and awareness of unconscious bias. Curiosity and humility are encouraged along with a willingness to change your mind and accept that other's views may differ from your own but are equally valid. Such an important message in current times!
I know this is the second Adam Grant book in a row but really I could recommend all of his books here! This is his most recent work and it's an incredibly insightful exploration into how each of us can unlock our potential. There are actionable tips and strategies to aid self development along with wider recognition of the impact of our societies and culture which can undermine our potential and our ability to see it for ourselves.
What can I say...this works! It's simple, straightforward advice but putting it into practice does take some discipline and commitment. I use it myself and I'm not sure how else I would get out of bed some early mornings when it's dark, cold, wet, and I have a long training run to do! It's also been useful in avoiding some of the procrastination that has come with my university studies when I have a particularly challenging assignment to complete!
If you're looking to move into HR Consulting you could do a lot worse than to read this book. Sarah Hamilton-Gill is a great advocate and ally of HR professionals on this journey and her book provides plenty of hints, tips, pitfalls to be aware of, insights into the world of consulting, and generally helps to build your confidence that you're on the right track. I'd definitely recommend and if you can attend some of Sarah's webinars they are really useful too!
I'm onto my second one of these! I keep it by my bed and it really does only take a few minutes to complete at the beginning and end of each day. Part gratitude journal, part affirmation / goal setting, part reflection, part learning, part kindness and giving focussed, plus a whole load of positive psychology and mindfulness goes into this journaling experience. It's brilliant and a great resource to be able to look back on too.
The very talented Natalie Walker at Harmony HR Coaching has created this funny and stress relieving colouring book for HR Professionals. Full of brilliant illustrations showcasing the witty scenarios that those working in HR will find all too familiar. A must have if you work in HR and a great gift for an HR colleague!
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Katie HR Consulting
Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom
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Steps, Stillness & Skye: The Power of a Simple Walk
It doesn't have to be far. It doesn't have to be fast...
Just stepping outside, moving your body, & breathing fresh air can be one of the most powerful things you do all day.
To celebrate National Walking Month, I’ve written a blog about the benefits of walking, not just for our physical health, but for our mindset, creativity & wellbeing. I've also created a free resource:
🌿 Walk With Me: A Weekly Reflection Guide
Full of gentle themed prompts & a printable weekly log to help you get the most from your walks, whether you’re out for clarity, calm, inspiration or just a moment to breathe.