8 Best Books to Boost Productivity at Work & Grow Your Career
Building a career requires an element of inspiration along with practical advice. Are you looking for ways to boost your productivity at work? Is it the right time for a career boost? Whatever the case may be, it’s good to have a mentor to guide you in the right direction.
We asked our career coaches for their best recommendations to make sure these reads are well worth your time. GetLinks experts put together a handy list of the 8 best books that can help you get ahead at work and improve your career.
Here are 8 great books we think you should check out.
1. The Brain Book : How to Think and Work Smarter
This book is useful for those who want to:
- Boost productivity at work
- Enhance your creativity
- Improve memory
This book will be beneficial for anyone trying to get better at their job. The Brain Book provides a simple manual for boosting your performance and a guide to thinking and working smarter. It’s an easy read and it’s packed with practical tips. Complete simple exercises and apply scientifically-proven techniques to increase productivity and strengthen your focus. The Read “The Brain Book” if you want to manage stress, upskill and keep your brain young and adaptable.
2. ‘Get a Life, Not a Job’
Read this book if you want to:
- Design your career
- Leverage skills, talents, and interests
- Get a raise and value to life
Sometimes we can’t change what we do before we change who we are. A psychologist and CNN career expert, Paula Caligiuri tells readers that it’s time to take control of their own lives.
This book will help you identify what you want your career to look like and make your skills match up.
Whether you’re an employee, a student or an entrepreneur, you’ll find “Get a Life, Not a Job” useful when it comes to strategic career and life choices.
3. Best Less Is More: The ONE Thing
This book will help you:
- Boost your productivity at work
- Set clear goals
Not everything deserves equal time. If you feel like you’ve got too many tasks to take care of, this book is here to help you prioritize. Do fewer things for more effect instead of doing more things with side effects is one of the key outtakes, and there’s much more to “The One Thing” by Gary Keller.
Regardless of your occupation, this book will help you lower your stress level and set career or life goals that matter to you.
4. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck.
This book will help you:
- Overcome difficulties at work
- Deal with stress
- Re-adjust your life goals
We all encounter problems at work. If you are stressed, overloaded or overwhelmed at the workplace, it may be the right book for you. A lot of people assume that positive thinking is the key to a happy life. Mark Manson begs to differ: In his wildly popular blog article he tells the honest truth that is sorely lacking today: positive thinking is not a productive way of dealing with problems.
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k is the antidote to the “let’s-all-feel-good” mindset a lot of people have developed. It’s a sobering read that can help you deal with conflict, manage stress and plan your career.
Disclaimer: strong language, not suitable for young readers.
5. The One Minute Manager
This book will help you:
- Boost your productivity at work
- Learn new management techniques
The One Minute Manager is a book on extremely practical management techniques. Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson share three powerful tools that can be applied in 60 seconds only.
If applied correctly, these techniques can change your management style for the better and increase the productivity level of your team.
This book is great for busy people who don’t have time long reads. If you are a manager or a part of a team, you’d like “One Minute Manager”. Note that it has just been updated and is now called “The New One Minute Manager”.
6. So Good They Can’t Ignore You
Read this book if you want to:
- Design your career path
- Acquire new skills
Don’t follow your passions. Yes, that’s what Cal Newport would advise you if you are trying to find a fulfilling career.
In his counterintuitive book, Cal Newport states that whether you love your work or not is mostly based on expertise and experience. Developing skills rather than focusing on the desires and passions is the key to successful job experience.
You will learn how to create value instead of focusing on a passion mindset where you look for the value in what the world is offering you. We recommend it to those who want to focus on developing new skills while staying motivated.
7. The Third Door
Read this book if you want to:
- Make smart career choices
- Think outside of the box
- Grow your network
Alex Banayan tracked down famous businessmen and superstars to figure out how they successfully launched their careers. He realized that the one thing these people had in common is that they took the “third door” – a different way in to the “nightclub” of success.
This book will help you build a network to get your dream job or fit right at the new workplace. If you are thinking of switching jobs or launching a new project, “The Third Door” can be a good starting point.
8. ‘Reinventing You’ by Dorie Clark
This book can help you:
- Build your personal brand
- Get your dream job
- Get promoted
“Think of how you’d like to be seen in the world and then work strategically to accomplish that, rather than waiting for life to happen to you”
Marketing guru Dorie Clark shares valuable insight on the most important brand: yours. She addresses those who want a change in their careers, whether they want to get a raise, switch to a new field, or start a business.
Use her step-by-step method to figure out your strengths and communicate your unique values. A must-read for job seekers, entrepreneurs and those trying to grow professionally.
Looking for exciting career opportunities? Join GetLinks to upskill, network and explore tech jobs.
About the Author: Nat Poltavets
