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10 Books To Add To Your Spring Reading List To Elevate In Your Career

Spring has officially sprung! As of March 20, the official Spring Equinox, we enter a season synonymous with embracing new opportunities, shedding old habits, and hopefully warmer weather! This exciting period is also an invitation to “evaluate”, and set new goals in both our personal and professional lives.

Whether you’re looking for advice on crafting your career journey, need ideas on negotiating a job offer, or want to better leverage your existing strengths at work, these 10 unforgettable books are a must-read to elevate your career at all stages.

1. The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter — And How to Make the Most of Them Now by Meg Jay

In this no-nonsense 20s survival book, author Meg Ray highlights exactly how to not squander what she defines as the most pivotal decade of our lives. Each chapter highlights different dilemmas in life, with real examples from her young clients followed by her professional advice. It is equal parts realistic and reflective, providing a framework for those who feel lost to take action and implement effective steps in building their career. This book is especially encouraging in the midst of an unstable job market and economy as it highlights tactics completely within the reader’s control.

*2. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones* by James Clear

It is very easy to dream big and set lofty goals for yourself, the much harder part is in the details of creating a feasible plan to achieve them. Atomic Habits is the perfect antidote to the inevitable feelings of frustration, self-doubt, and overwhelmedness for ambitious young professionals. This book offers dozens of tips and tricks on positive behaviors to incorporate in daily living. From habit stacking to the “1% rule,” readers have an array of practices to support career success and aspirations.

3. Influence is Your Superpower: The Science of Winning Hearts, Sparking Change, and Making Good Things Happen by Zoe Chance

In this inspiring and interactive book, Dr. Zoe Chance asserts that every individual is not only influential but has the power to transform their life through discovering how to utilize and leverage their unique charismatic superpowers. With dozens of interesting stories revolving around skydivers, Jennifer Lawrence, alligators, and even Genghis Khan, she weaves in important psychological tools that debunk common workplace misconceptions and help readers navigate difficult career situations. This book will help you become a better negotiator, team-player, and influential leader…while providing some laughs along the way!

*4. I Know I’m in There Somewhere: A Woman’s Guide to Finding Her Inner Voice and Living a Life of Authenticity *by Helene G. Brenner.

One of the most difficult challenges in life is discerning the most fulfilling career for yourself as opposed to the ideas of what it should look like from others. Psychologist Helene G. Brenner outlines a new approach to validating our lived experiences and listening to our “Inner Voice.” This book is an excellent guide, for all individuals, in embracing their intuition, honoring their identity, and advocating for themselves. Whether you identify as a true people-pleaser or incredibly assertive leader, this book will bolster your confidence and autonomy in all facets of life, but especially in your career as well.

5. Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein

Have you ever felt as though it was impossible to distill your multi-varied interests, hobbies, or skills into one singular “dream job?” If so, this book is for you! In it, Dr. Epstein discusses the benefits of being a generalist, and how you can use it to your advantage in your career. By embracing your diverse perspective, you can ultimately be a more creative, agile, and interesting person as opposed to those that choose one singular path in life. In fact, one of the best things you can do early in your career is explore as many interests as possible and gain an invaluable toolbox of transferable skills.

6. The Happiness Track: How to Apply the Science of Happiness to Accelerate Your Success by Emma Seppälä

To be successful and productive in life, the commonly held belief is that it requires a ludicrous level of stress, juggling an unsustainable number of responsibilities, and a steady IV drip of caffeine, at the expense of both your wellbeing and happiness. Dr. Emma Seppälä debunks this antiquated idea and contends that these counter-productive theories are actually getting in the way of true success. This book proposes six key ways to foster happiness, promote self compassion, and enjoy the process, backed by research and scientific evidence on why it is imperative to your success.

7. Ikigai by Héctor García

Ikigai is a Japanese concept meaning “reason for being.” It represents the belief that we all have a unique passion that not only fills our own personal cups, but provides a useful service to give back to the world. In this book, author García interviews individuals on the island of Okinawa following their culture, lifestyle, and habits that subsequently lead to their longevity in lifespan. Through ten succinct rules, readers are offered both reflective questions in discovering their own ikigai but also helpful practices to best foster it in their daily life as well.

*8. Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It *by Chris Voss

Former FBI hostage negotiator, author Chris Voss, offers readers a comprehensive guide in the importance of effective negotiation in life. This book offers behavioral techniques such as mirroring, active listening, and “labeling emotions,” to utilize in achieving your goals. Negotiating everything from a raise, to additional PTO, to a new position can be incredibly stressful but through the tactics raised in this book, readers are given a blueprint to being more comfortable and creative in these situations.

*9. So Good They Can’t Ignore You *by Cal Newport

What if passion wasn’t the most defining issue in creating your career path? Author Newport argues that very premise and instead offers an inverse idea: Passion comes after you master a field. This book offers a new perspective on building or pivoting from a job role and can give comfort to readers who are unsure of defining their “passion.” Rather, a genuine interest and joy in your role can come through trial and error, despite what society would have you believe!

*10. Dare to Lead* by Brené Brown

For those that want to be daring leaders in their organization, you must choose courage over comfort. This book addresses the dire need for more empathetic and caring leaders at work and provides a guide on cultivating these characteristics. Researcher Brené Brown tactfully addresses concerns of vulnerability in the workplace while outlining actionable strategies on how to best implement these traits. It’s definitely not easy, but the inner work is doing to show up as your best self in the workplace.

This comprehensive career minded book list is worth adding to your “Goodreads”, and snagging from your local library or bookstore! Whether you’re an early career professional, established manager, currently job hunting, or looking to pivot into a new career, these books can kickstart reflection and provide helpful advice in elevating your career at any level. As you embrace this new season, these books will equip you with research backed strategies to become the best professional you can be — Happy reading!

For more articles like this, visit medium.com/emboldly.