Today is World Book Day and itâs the perfect opportunity to make some time in your life to read. Whether youâre a sci-fi fanatic, a lover of the classics, or a non-fiction buff, thereâs a book out there just for you.
Here at Incendo HQ, we totally love good quality, non-fiction books about people development â so, to mark World Book Day Iâm recommending 10 well-thumbed titles from the office bookshelf and Iâve grouped them into 10 different themes as follows:
- Organisational Development
- Mindfulness
- Motivation
- Coaching Skills
- Team Development
- Leadership
- Learning & Development Practice
- Change Management
- Employee Engagement
- Workplace Wellbeing
One of my favourite Organisational Development books isâŠ
âOrganization Development â A Practitionerâs Guide for OD & HRâ by Dr Mee-Yan Cheung Judge & Linda Holbeche
Ideal for: People working as internal and external OD consultants who would benefit from a thorough overview of the field, with links to related topics such as change management, culture and organisation design.
Main takeaway: Thereâs plenty of practical advice on everything from identifying needs, data gathering and analysis, and presenting findings. The importance of effective contracting was a key takeaway for us.
On this list because: The authors have made a complex area very accessible, with practical guidance and approaches. PLUS⊠Incendoâs gorgeous office dog, Lucy, used to belong to Mee-Yan!
We also like: âOrganization Development: A Jossey-Bass Readerâ by Joan V Gallos
One of my favourite Mindfulness books isâŠ
âFull Catastrophe Livingâ by Jon Kabat-Zinn
Ideal for: Great for current and aspiring mindfulness teachers.
Main takeaway: We have just moments to live! This oneâŠand the next one.
On this list because: Itâs structured around all elements of the classic 8-week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) programme; Jon Kabat-Zinnâs genuine passion about improving mental and physical health shines through every chapter.
We also like: âMindfulness in Plain Englishâ by Bhante Henepola Gunaratana
One of my favourite Motivation books isâŠ
âDrive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Usâ by Daniel Pink
Ideal for: Anyone who wants to understand what motivates themselves and others.
Main takeaway: All humans seek autonomy, mastery and purpose â these are natural drivers that we can understand and capitalise on.
On this list because: It offers plenty of cross-cultural examples of research into motivation, and it goes beyond the traditional models (Maslow, McGregor, Herzberg et al) in making sense of what seems complex and mysterious.
We also like: âMindset: Changing the Way You Think to Fulfil Your Potentialâ by Carol Dweck
One of my favourite Coaching Skills books isâŠ
’50 Top Tools for Coachingâ by Gillian Jones & Ro Gorell
Ideal for: A relatively experienced coach who is adding to their toolkit.
Main takeaway: So many practical tools, itâs hard to name one! Instead, weâd say that the clarity of introduction for each tool lets the reader select an intervention appropriately for their clientsâ needs.
On this list because: The value from this one book pays dividends with coaching clients â the copy at Incendo HQ is stuffed with PostIts and folded corners due to regular use.
We also like: âThe Tao of Coachingâ by Max Landsberg
One of my favourite Team Development books isâŠ
‘Turning Team Performance Inside Outâ by Susan Nash
Ideal for: Facilitators who are qualified in the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) tool and want to add depth to their team development events.
Main takeaway: Opposite types donât automatically create tension, they can be an incredible source of collaboration, learning and complimentarity.
On this list because: No other publication on MBTI and teams offers this much versatility and depth.
We also like: âThe Five Dysfunctions of a Teamâ by Patrick Lencioni
One of my favourite Leadership books isâŠ
âThe Leadership Challengeâ by James Kouzes & Barry Posner
Ideal for: Anyone who is in a leadership role (or is aspiring to be).
Main takeaway: It has to be the Five Fundamental Practices of Exemplary Leaders â Model The Way, Challenge The Process, Encourage The Heart, Enable Others To Act, and Inspire A Shared Vision.
On this list because: The approach is backed up by research and yet translates into everyday actions that can be introduced to any working environment.
We also like: âDaring Greatlyâ by BrenĂ© Brown
One of my favourite Learning & Development Practice books isâŠ
âBeyond Traditional Trainingâ by Ken Marshall
Ideal for: L&D professionals who know thereâs more they could be doing in the training room and beyond.
Main takeaway: There are traditional trainers, nightmare trainers and smart trainers â aim to become the latter by adopting the approaches outlined in this book.
On this list because: The book shakes up some commonly-held assumptions about adult learning and training, then provides an alternative approach.
We also like: âBrain Rulesâ by John Medina
One of my favourite Change Management books isâŠ
âSwitchâ by Chip & Dan Heath
Ideal for: People who are responsible for proposing, leading or implementing change of any size.
Main takeaway: The metaphor of the elephant, the rider and the path. This is adapted from psychologist Jonathan Haidtâs work and  talks about directing the âriderâ (our rational brain: responsible for planning and direction, but can get paralysed by overthinking things) and motivating the âelephantâ (our emotional brain: prefers quick gratification over long term, but gets things done). The âpathâ is the environment in which change happens.
On this list because: Thereâs a variety of examples, stories and case studies that stimulate thinking and ideas.
We also like: âTransitions â Making Sense of Lifeâs Changesâ by William Bridges
One of my favourite Employee Engagement books isâŠ
âThe Three Signs of a Miserable Jobâ by Patrick Lencioni
Ideal for: Everyone who leads others, from frontline supervision to CEO.
Main takeaway: We need to help people to overcome immeasurement, anonymity and irrelevance â and the assorted ways to do this are simple, straightforward and require zero budget.
On this list because: The first 80% of the book is a leadership âfableâ that everyone can relate to, while the remaining 20% provides the theory.
We also like: âCarrots & Sticks Donât Workâ by Paul Marciano
One of my favourite Wellbeing books isâŠ
â50 Top Tools for Employee Wellbeingâ by Debbie Mitchell
Ideal for: HR professionals, anyone who manages others or who wants to improve peopleâs lives at work.
Main takeaway: Interventions that support employee wellness donât need to be expensive or especially time-consuming. As with the book â50 Top Tools for Coachingâ mentioned earlier, there are too many fantastic tools to highlight just one key takeaway.
On this list because: The book provides a range of approaches to a growing challenge for employers, whilst acknowledging that organisational culture varies and so one size doesnât fit all when it comes to effective wellbeing. PLUSâŠThereâs a great case study featuring Incendoâs work with an insurance sector client in the chapter on mindfulness!
We also like: âWellbeing at Workâ by Professor Sir Cary Cooper & Ian Hesketh
