As the holiday period approaches we can finally turn our attention away from the desk and toward the pile of books slowly growing higher and higher on the bedside table. For many, it’s time to indulge in some well-deserved escapism via page-turning fiction. For others, it’s a time for education – a chance to fire up those neurons and brush up on existing skills or learn something new.
Perhaps it’s time to reignite your passion for your job, discover a skill you would like to improve on or get inspired by high achievers. Whatever your goal might be, these are the best career-advancing books to pack in the beach bag this summer.
For the Perfectionist
Too often women avoid putting their hands up for tasks, promotions, and leadership positions if they think they don’t have 100 per cent of the skills involved. Reshma Saujani, the founder of Girls Who Code, wants you to embrace a new formula for success: flex your bravery muscle, work to quash your self-doubt and turn away from perfectionist tendencies.
For the Curious Creative
As far as creativity goes, listening to the best-selling author of five books is not a bad place to start. Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic is as readable as favourite Eat, Pray, Love but with real and lived advice on how to face what you fear and embrace your curiosities. For the everyday to the big projects, you will finish this book knowing which habits to keep or kick, and feeling ever more capable.
For the Ambitious Goal Setter
You don’t have to be career-focused to benefit from reading James Clear’s bestseller, Atomic Habits. Whether it’s waving goodbye to bad habits or forming great ones that will set you up for life, this book is packed with research-backed insights and easy-to-follow advice that will help you kickstart 2021.
For the Aspiring Entrepreneur
Without knowing it, we often form bad habits or restricted views on how to approach a problem which ends up standing in the way of a solution. If that sounds like you, you need a cheerleader and that cheerleader is Marie Forleo who helps you break down any goal into manageable steps. Cheryl Strayed and Oprah both agree that this book is the first step to getting out of the way of yourself which is really all we need to hear.
For the Leader
Have you ever found yourself managing a team and realised it’s a lot more challenging than you anticipated it would be? It’s a common feeling that can quickly become overwhelming if management is new to you. Kim Scott tells us how to be a boss that gets the most out your team while helping them be the best they can be in their own pursuits.
