There are countless ways to invest in your professional growth – mentorships, online courses, and conferences, just to name a few.
But if you’re looking for a simple, affordable way to boost your career growth, don't underestimate the power of a good book!
Professional development books give insight on how to grow in our careers and better approach work-related conflict through self-improvement, education, and mindset shifts. They also strengthen how we respond to challenges and how well we adapt to shifting work environments.
We asked the team at PowerToFly to share their favorite reads for career growth. Keep reading to see our top 17 professional development books for 2024!
"Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World" by Cal Newport
What it’s about:
What Cal Newport calls a “valuable” and “increasingly rare” skill, having the ability to deep work will not only allow you to feel truly fulfilled, but to be better at your job and to be more successful in both work and life. With practical and actionable advice, Newport teaches you how to transform your mind and your daily habits so that you can learn the life-changing art of deep work and become the professional you have always wanted to be.
Why it’s a recommended professional development book:
- It provides rules and strategies for navigating a distracted world, empowering professionals to maintain focus and achieve meaningful results.
- It can help readers learn to achieve professional excellence through concentrated, focused efforts, promoting sustained success in the workplace.
"Lead From the Outside: How to Build Your Future and Make Real Change" by Stacey Abrams
What it’s about:
As one of the most prominent Black woman politicians in the U.S. today, Stacey Abrams knows a thing or two about besting adversity, resilience, and leadership. Her book is touted as "the handbook for outsiders, written with the awareness of the experiences and challenges that hinder anyone who exists beyond the structure of traditional white male power―women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ community, and millennials ready to make a difference." It's a treatise on owning your passion, finding self-belief, and creating change — in your personal and professional life as well as the world at large.
Why it’s a recommended professional development book:
- If you're someone who has a hard time not rolling their eyes at "motivational" books, consider this book the exception. It's direct, honest, and practical, with lessons that anyone who's struggled with their self-worth at work or in life would do well to hear.
- True to its billing as a "handbook," it includes questions and workbook activities to help readers get specific about their own goals (and how to reach them).
"Awaken the Giant Within: How to Take Immediate Control of Your Mental, Emotional, Physical and Financial Destiny" by Anthony Robbins
What it’s about:
Renowned expert Tony Robbins teaches you how to master your mind, body, relationships, and money so you can take control of your life and find your purpose. Through practical steps, you can learn how to propel your career forward and reach your true potential in your professional life through the power of self-mastery, goal setting, and perseverance.
Why it’s a recommended professional development book:
- It can empower individuals to set and achieve personal and professional goals, laying the foundation for long-term success.
- It offers insights into financial destiny, guiding readers on achieving financial goals and fostering a holistic approach to professional development.
"DEI Deconstructed: Your No-Nonsense Guide to Doing the Work and Doing It Right" by Lily Zheng
What it’s about:
Trans femme DEI strategist and thought leader Lily Zheng brings us "DEI Deconstructed," a guidebook informed by the ways that corporate diversity and inclusion work can inadvertently leave underrepresented folks feeling unseen and distrustful of their leaders' intentions. Here, Zheng offers a roadmap for real, authentic workplace DEI efforts that scale and work. It's a great introductory text for anyone interested in growing and developing as an inclusive leader in 2024.
Why it’s a recommended professional development book:
- Inclusive leadership skills are foundational to professional development today, and Zheng's book is a useful guide no matter whether you're just starting out in your journey as a DEI-informed leader or already farther along the path.
- It focuses on outcomes and measurable impact, with plenty of recommended actions to help steer you toward progress and away from performative action in 2024.
"The Untethered Soul at Work: Teachings to Transform Your Work Life" by Michael A. Singer
What it’s about:
A spiritual leader, founder of the Medical Manager Corporation, and software architect, Michael A. Singer delivers a powerful program that focuses on building a healthy relationship with the mind to transform how we approach our work. By properly equipping our minds, Singer teaches us how to handle the 10 most common workplace issues, win success, and find fulfillment in our professional careers.
Why it’s a recommended professional development book:
- It applies teachings to cultivate mindfulness and transform the work experience, contributing to professional well-being and development.
- It offers tools for managing stress and building emotional resilience in the professional realm.
"The Culture Map: Breaking Through the Invisible Boundaries of Global Business" by Erin Meyer
What it’s about:
We live in a very connected world, and the more virtual we become, the more connected we get. With such a culture clash happening in the workplace, Erin Meyer expertly guides us through the sometimes funny, sometimes messy issues that can arise in a culturally diverse environment by providing a model of how these differences can affect international business, along with some practical advice for overcoming them.
Why it’s a recommended professional development book:
- It provides a framework for understanding and navigating cultural differences, promoting successful collaboration in diverse professional environments.
- It helps equip professionals with communication strategies that transcend cultural boundaries, facilitating effective interactions and career advancement.
"How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie
What it’s about:
In this insightful book, Dale Carnegie teaches you how to succeed in your personal and professional life by transforming the way you interact with the people around you. By improving your communication skills, you can boost your confidence, grow your social circle, strengthen your public speaking, and ultimately strengthen your professional life.
Why it’s a recommended professional development book:
- It includes timeless principles for building meaningful relationships and effective communication in personal and professional spheres.
- It can help readers learn practical communication techniques that enhance professional relationships, making it a valuable resource for both personal and career development.
"Set Boundaries, Find Peace" by Nedra Glover Tawwab
What it’s about:
If improving your sense of work-life balance (or work-life integration — what matters more than semantics, though, is that you achieve it!) is a goal for you in 2024, licensed counselor Nedra Glover Tawwab's book will be a welcome addition to your bookshelf. Maintaining healthy boundaries at work isn't just a way to grow and develop as a leader; it's something that, really, you can't succeed at work — in a sustained way — without.
Why it’s a recommended professional development book:
- Our world is an increasingly chaotic one, with multiple things vying for our attention at any given time. Tawwab draws on research and CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) techniques to spell out practical ways for setting and maintaining boundaries, in and out of the workplace.
- If you struggle with people-pleasing at work, Tawwab's book can help you replace those tendencies with the mindset and kind of peace that will actually get you ahead professionally.
"The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company" by Robert Iger and Joel Lovell
What it’s about:
Bob Iger, CEO of the Walt Disney Company and one of the most successful CEOs of our time, shares the lessons he learned and the ideas and values he gained while leading Disney, a company of 200,000 employees, from a position of increased competition and rapidly changing technology to the internationally beloved name we all know today.
Why it’s a recommended professional development book:
- It includes valuable insights from Bob Iger's tenure as CEO of Disney, offering practical leadership lessons for professional development.
- It highlights strategic decision-making processes, providing a blueprint for navigating challenges and driving success in corporate leadership.
- It explores the role of innovation and creativity in business, inspiring professionals to foster a culture of innovation for sustained career growth.
"Nine Lies About Work: A Freethinking Leader’s Guide to the Real World" by Ashley Goodall and Marcus Buckingham
What it’s about:
There are nine lies pervading the workplace, and as well-intentioned as they may be, they are wreaking havoc. According to Buckingham and Goodall, the only way to overcome these destructive lies is through freethinking leadership. By digging deeper, breaking some outdated patterns, and embracing uniqueness, freethinking leaders are paving the way for a workplace that is real, functional, and displays its success down to its very core.
Why it’s a recommended professional development book:
- It challenges common misconceptions about work, providing a freethinking perspective for more informed professional decisions.
- It encourages leaders to embrace individuality, fostering an environment where personal strengths contribute to professional success.
- It can guide leaders in adopting authentic and effective leadership practices, enhancing professional development for both individuals and teams.
"Radical Candor: Be a Kickass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity" by Kim Malone Scott
What it’s about:
Expert CEO Coach Kim Scott understands that being a good boss is tough, which is why she created a radical, new method to approach management. By finding the middle ground between what Scott calls “obnoxious aggression” and “ruinous empathy,” she teaches bosses about the power of radical candor and how they can use it to create success as a leader – and maintain their humanity while they’re at it. Written for bosses by a boss, this practical guide to leadership is certain to change the professional environment for the better.
Why it’s a recommended professional development book:
- It provides guidance on delivering candid feedback and fostering open communication, a crucial aspect of professional development.
- It encourages a leadership approach that combines honesty and empathy, creating a supportive environment for professional growth.
"What Color Is Your Parachute? A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers" by Richard Nelson Bolles
What it’s about:
With timeless advice, up-to-the-minute insights, and more than ten million copies sold over fifty years, the advice in this book still rings true in today’s challenging job market. As recent grads face a shifting economic landscape and seek work that pays and inspires, as workers are laid off mid-career, and as people search for an inspiring work-life change, the insights in this book are incredibly relevant. In this highly regarded career advice book, Richard Nelson Bolles offers unique and authoritative guidance so that job seekers and pivoters can have the tools to discover and land their dream job.
Why it’s a recommended professional development book:
- It can serve as a practical manual for job hunters and career changers, aiding in strategic career planning and transitions.
- It can help you create a personalized strategy for effective job hunting and successful career changes.
- It provides guidance on developing skills and making strategic choices for ongoing professional development and advancement.
"The Happiness Advantage: the 7 Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work" by Shawn Anchor
What it’s about:
Conventional wisdom ties success to happiness: the more successful we are, the happier we’ll be. In this book, Harvard lecturer Shawn Anchor explores the possibility that happiness fuels success. When we are positive, our brains become more engaged, creative, motivated, energetic, resilient, and productive at work. He outlines seven actionable principles that lead to success, backed by research in psychology, neuroscience, and management studies. He highlights how to reap the benefits of a happier and more positive mind-set to achieve the extraordinary in our work and in our lives.
Why it’s a recommended professional development book:
- It can help you apply positive psychology principles to enhance workplace success and professional development.
- It can help you integrate happiness strategies to enhance overall productivity, leading to improved performance and success.
"Surrounded by Idiots: The Four Types of Human Behavior and How to Effectively Communicate with Each in Business (and in Life)" by Thomas Erikson
What it’s about:
Erikson's book explores human behavior through the DISC model, categorizing personalities into Dominant, Influential, Steady, and Conscientious types. Erikson decodes communication styles, providing tools for understanding oneself and others. The book empowers professionals to navigate team dynamics, fostering effective communication and improving workplace relationships. "Surrounded by Idiots" becomes an essential resource for enhancing collaboration, leadership, and overall workplace success.
Why it’s a recommended professional development book:
- It can help you learn to communicate effectively with different personality types, enhancing workplace interactions.
- It can help you navigate team dynamics by understanding and leveraging the strengths of each personality type, fostering collaboration.
- It can help you develop leadership skills by applying insights into human behavior, inspiring motivation, and driving overall workplace success.
"The Art of Being Indispensable at Work" by Bruce Tulgan
What it’s about:
Bruce Tulgan's book is a guide to thriving in the modern workplace by becoming indispensable. Tulgan provides actionable insights on how individuals can contribute value, stay relevant, and stand out in their professional roles.
Why it’s a recommended professional development book:
- It can help you learn practical strategies for adding tangible value to your role, making yourself indispensable in the workplace.
- It can help you gain insights on staying agile and relevant in a rapidly changing work environment, enhancing your professional longevity and success.
"Steve Jobs" by Walter Isaacson
What it’s about:
An in-depth exploration of the visionary Apple co-founder Steve Jobs’ life, unraveling the intricacies of his leadership style, creative innovations, and the rollercoaster journey in building one of the most influential technology companies in the world. The biography provides readers with a front-row seat to Jobs' unyielding pursuit of excellence, the impact of his work on the tech industry, and the personal and professional challenges he faced.
Why it’s a recommended professional development book:
- There are valuable lessons from Jobs' innovative approach to leadership, product design, and business strategy.
- Jobs' entrepreneurial spirit, resilience in the face of challenges, and commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation can inspire and fuel your own career growth and creativity.
"The First 90 Days, Updated and Expanded: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter" by Michael D. Watkins
What it’s about:
Watkins presents a practical guide for professionals entering new leadership roles or navigating organizational changes. Focusing on the crucial initial phases, the book offers insights to help individuals not only survive but thrive during these transitions. Watkins advocates for proactive onboarding and provides a roadmap to accelerate learning, minimize risks, and establish a solid foundation for long-term success.
Why it’s a recommended professional development book:
- It provides proven strategies for effectively transitioning into new roles, accelerating your learning curve, and making a positive impact from day one.
- It can help you learn valuable skills for successfully leading through periods of organizational change.
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- "Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World" by Cal Newport
- "Lead From the Outside: How to Build Your Future and Make Real Change" by Stacey Abrams
- "Awaken the Giant Within: How to Take Immediate Control of Your Mental, Emotional, Physical and Financial Destiny" by Anthony Robbins
- "DEI Deconstructed: Your No-Nonsense Guide to Doing the Work and Doing It Right" by Lily Zheng
- "The Untethered Soul at Work: Teachings to Transform Your Work Life" by Michael A. Singer
- "The Culture Map: Breaking Through the Invisible Boundaries of Global Business" by Erin Meyer
- "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie
- "Set Boundaries, Find Peace" by Nedra Glover Tawwab
- "The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company" by Robert Iger and Joel Lovell
- "Nine Lies About Work: A Freethinking Leader’s Guide to the Real World" by Ashley Goodall and Marcus Buckingham
- "Radical Candor: Be a Kickass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity" by Kim Malone Scott
- "What Color Is Your Parachute? A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers" by Richard Nelson Bolles
- "The Happiness Advantage: the 7 Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work" by Shawn Anchor
- "Surrounded by Idiots: The Four Types of Human Behavior and How to Effectively Communicate with Each in Business (and in Life)" by Thomas Erikson
- "The Art of Being Indispensable at Work" by Bruce Tulgan
- "Steve Jobs" by Walter Isaacson
- "The First 90 Days, Updated and Expanded: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter" by Michael D. Watkins
