As the new year approaches, organizations are looking for ways to grow, empower their teams, and stay ahead in a world that’s constantly evolving. To help you get ahead, we’ve curated seven compelling books covering leadership, transformation, workplace culture, innovation, and effective communication. Full of practical tips, real-life examples, and actionable strategies, these reads are meant to spark fresh ideas, help teams adapt to change, and guide leaders toward sustainable success.
Best read for: Navigating organizational change
Maneuvering Monday: A Story of Driving Transformation When Your People Push Back and Your Leaders Look Away
Anne Katrine Carlsson Sejr & Ivanna Mikhailovna Rosendal
$24.99, Paperback, Rethink Press
Zebra Apps is losing talent fast, and Marie, Head of Development HR, must step in to address a culture crisis. Maneuvering Monday explores the challenges of leadership, hidden agendas, and organizational dysfunction, showing what it takes to transform a workplace while keeping teams engaged. Using practical, real-world examples, this guide shows leaders how to create workplaces where employees feel valued and can truly thrive – an essential resource for anyone tackling complex organizational challenges.
Best read for: Turning workplace pressure into growth
Brave New Leader: How to Transform Workplace Pressure into Sustainable Performance and Growth
Vicky Smith & Lesley Cooper
$25.99, Paperback, Right Book Press
Workplace pressure is unavoidable, but it doesn’t have to lead to chronic stress and burnout. Brave New Leader by Vicky Smith and Lesley Cooper explains how to channel that pressure in a positive way, boosting performance and fueling lasting growth. Through practical tools and scalable approaches, this book teaches leaders how to challenge fear and silence that stops teams from speaking up, encourage openness, and foster cultures where employees can contribute fully, confidently, and safely.
Best read for: Building happy, high-performing teams
Happiness Is a Serious Business: Why Happy Teams Are More Successful and How to Build Them
Nic Marks
$20.96, Paperback, Rethink Press
Happiness at work is essential as it drives results. Nic Marks mixes research and practical strategies to help leaders create motivated, trusting, and high-performing teams. From understanding the true drivers of workplace happiness to actionable techniques for boosting engagement, Happiness is a Serious Business equips leaders with everything needed to cultivate thriving, productive workplaces. By focusing on wellbeing as well as performance, this book shows that happier teams are not only more resilient but also more creative, collaborative, and committed to achieving long-term success.
Best read for: Communicating with impact
Accessible Communications: Create Impact, Avoid Missteps and Build Trust
Lisa Riemers & Matisse Hamel-Nelis
$37.04, Paperback, Kogan Page
Inclusive and effective communication is important for modern businesses. Accessible Communications provides clear frameworks and tools to create messages that resonate, comply with regulations, and build trust. With actionable insights for emails, documents, videos, and social media, this read empowers professionals to connect with audiences while enhancing career and organizational success. By mastering these strategies, teams can foster stronger relationships, improve collaboration, and make sure their messages are understood by everyone.
Best read for: Utilizing emotional intelligence
The Heart of Finance: Emotional Intelligence for Financial Planners
Cliff Lansley & James Woodfall
$17.91, Paperback, Rethink Press
When working with clients, the real value comes from beyond the business transaction; it’s about creating meaningful relationships. The Heart of Finance by Cliff Lansley and James Woodfall teaches how emotional intelligence can help you connect with clients, grow your business, and keep them loyal. Packed with practical advice, it shows you how to earn trust, handle tough conversations, and communicate in ways that really resonate with each client. Giving financial professionals and entrepreneurs the tools they need to succeed.
Best read for: Leading digital transformation
Transform!: The 14 Behaviors Driving Successful Digital Transformation in the Age of Gen AI
Ian Murrin, Rajesh Jethwa & Mike Wright
$25.99, Hardcover, Wiley
Digital transformation projects fail more often than they succeed, but Transform! provides a clear roadmap to avoid common mistakes. Through real-world case studies and proven strategies, it shows leaders how to set priorities, shape workplace culture, and implement human-focused technology initiatives effectively. This book is an important read for anyone aiming to deal with digital disruption with confidence and tangible results. It also offers practical guidance for sustaining change over the long term, ensuring that transformation efforts lead to lasting impact.
Best read for: Marketing strategy execution
Marketing Strategy: Implementing and Measuring a Successful Marketing Strategy (2nd edition)
Jenna Tiffany
$45.99, Paperback, Kogan Page
A strong strategy is only as good as its implementation. Jenna Tiffany’s guide Marketing Strategy gives you everything you need to create, run, and track marketing plans that actually work. With practical frameworks, tips on analytics, and advice for managing stakeholders, this book helps marketers and leaders grow their business, measure results, and fine-tune strategies for real impact. It also shares actionable insights for adjusting your strategy in a rapidly evolving market, helping your marketing stay impactful and on point.
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