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5 recommended reads for the HR and people technology professional
Summer breaks come in all guises. Returning from a rest enforced by a hospital bed, I concluded that it is marginal as to which is the more depressing feature of rehabilitation:
Coffee table literature is redefined to mean a stack of ‘how to’ guides which correspond to an associated stack of pills. The academic level of my reading appetite descends to the women’s weeklies (and below!). I might as well have placed a standing order for grapes.
But since the summer, life has returned, as has the Phase 3 Insights blog!
One thing I did learn from the pages of Prima and pals is that it is compulsory to offer a round-up of summer reading. Of necessity, mine comes after the fact, but perhaps these choices will warm up the brains for business when the sun goes down.
This suggestion list offers a semblance of an excuse for an HR technology consultant, professional or business leader to join in with my HR book-worming. Read on for my five recommended reads for all you HR professionals out there.
5 recommended reads for the HR professional
1. The Sleep Revolution: Transforming your Life, One Night at a Time
Author: Arianna Huffington
Read Arianna Huffington’s ‘The Sleep Revolution: Transforming your Life, One Night at a Time’.
Any professional sleeping less than a consistent seven hours a night, I urge to stay up further to get through these pages. The book offers life-changing perspective on the value of sleep and its potential to turn around your business, family and personal life. Sleep is a hot topic in all walks of life and this book shows you why.
The themes behind Geoff Colvin’s best-seller ‘Humans are Under-rated’ shout less loudly off the 2018 bookshelves but remain highly relevant if you have concern for talent and humanity within a technologically targeted world.
Colvin tackles the question of the value of being human in a world of tech. No easy answers but a compelling and intriguing case.
I’d heard Daniel Susskind speak impressively at the CIPD’s Learning and Development Show. Our then-editor and I at once bought an accompanying book, promising to reveal the impact of accelerating tech advancement on the purist of the professions. I was disappointed by the book’s weight (too much).
That said, ‘The Future of the Professions: How Technology will Transform the Work of Human Experts’ is a mind-bending intellectual journey of understanding of the meaning of a profession and the threat of digital advancement.
Author: Jonathan Ferrar, Nigel Guenole, and Sheri Feinzig
For people data and how to use it, this one is essential. Not only will the authors set you straight on what and analytics are all about, but they will provide you with the toolkit necessary to do it.
‘The Power of People: Learn How Successful Organizations Use Workforce Analytics To Improve Business Performance’by Jonathan Ferrar, Nigel Guenole and Sheri Feinzig I suspected would be good on this topic, but not this good.
Enjoy, but don’t be surprised by the warm and human message of Kim Scott in ‘Radical Candor: How to be a great boss without losing your humanity’.
Scott’s message is ironic in that it’s not a radical one, being that the best bosses combine direct challenge with personal care, rather than setting those values at odds with one another. You will like the format if you like a clear and simple model. You will enjoy a good read if this is a message that appeals to you, as it does with me.
I plan more book-worming, now that I’m happily restored to a fine balance between the ladies’ magazines (note: glossy ones now – in better health, we have upgraded!) and reading for my continued learning. Keep reading for five volumes that are next on my reading list.
The next 5 on my bookshelf…
1. Measure What Matters
Author:John Doerr
I’m intrigued by the concept of OKRs (objectives and key results) as a way to set business goals.
2. Creative Superpowers
Author: Various
Sorry to miss a launch event, I must catch up on the book which shouts out with a bright yellow business energy.
3. Better than Before
Author: Gretchen Rubin
Because I can never resist the narrow deviation from achieving at work to self-help, I’m overdue to enjoy Gretchen Rubin’s ‘Better than Before’about habit-forming and habit-breaking.
4. Thinking Fast and Slow
Author: Daniel Kahneman
‘Thinking Fast and Slow’ by Daniel Kahneman is owed a re-read. It was brilliant before and my slow thinking needs a reminder.
5. Grit: Why Passion and Resilience are the secrets to success
Author: Angela Duckworth
Please buy me Angela Duckworth’s ‘Grit: why Passion and Resilience are the secrets to success’. Because I want grit to be true.
Professional book-worming has a place when on a break and it has an important spot on a work agenda too. A common thread amongst many of the authors I cite here is that we learn, we operate, we create at our best if we keep space for ‘content’ that is richer than the rapid regurgitation of a retweet. That content could be of our own thoughts’ creation.
To learn more about the opportunities to develop talent and capabilities with HR technology for you, your team and your future teams, then please contact Kate and colleagues here: info@phase3.co.uk
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