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Hey friends, we’re back with another batch of book recommendations from the alfii squad—this time, we’re featuring favorites from our HR team. Be sure to check out the first and second editions of our book recommendation series, in case you missed them!
Before we dive in, get to know our HR superhero Emma Gatrell: as alfii’s Head of People and Culture, Emma is an important puzzle piece to the team. She is our go-to for everything and anything people-related, inspiring us all with her unmistakable passion for working with people and her impressive expertise on all things HR.
We were super excited (and curious) to get her top 5 book recommendations, and we’re even more excited to share them with you! So let’s get into it, shall we?
- Measure What Matters by John E. Doerr
- The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*** by Mark Manson
- Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson
- Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter by Greg McKeown and Liz Wiseman
- Calm The F*** Down by Sarah Knight
1) Measure What Matters by John E. Doerr
“I think, the best recommendation I could put here are words of Larry Page, a co-founder of Google, who once said that he wished he had this book 20 years ago when they founded Google.” – goodreads reviewer
“Whether you're a seasoned CEO or a first-time entrepreneur, you'll find valuable lessons, tools, and inspiration in the pages of Measure What Matters. I'm glad John invested the time to share these ideas with the world.” – Reid Hoffman, cofounder of LinkedIn and author of The Start-up of You
For aspiring entrepreneurs, one of the biggest challenges is turning their vision into a reality. That's where Measure What Matters comes in. Venture capitalist John E. Doerr delves into the goal-setting system of Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) system, which is an approach that has facilitated explosive growth for tech giants such as Google and Intel.
The benefits of this system speak for themselves, as OKRs highlight the most critical work of an organization, concentrate efforts, and promote collaboration. They keep employees aligned with the company's objectives, integrate goals across departments to fortify the entire enterprise, and enhance job satisfaction while reducing turnover rates. If you're looking to take your business to the next level, Measure What Matters is a must-read.
2) The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*** by Mark Manson
“Beyond just its entertainment value, [this book] has genuinely helped me reframe my thinking and approach to life. It has helped me to let go of things that don't matter and focus on what truly does. It has given me a sense of clarity and purpose that I didn't have before.” – Amazon reviewer
“The opposite of every other book. Don’t try. Give up. Be wrong. Lower your standards. Stop believing in yourself. Follow the pain. Each point is profoundly true, useful, and more powerful than the usual positivity. Succinct but surprisingly deep, I read it in one night.” – Derek Sivers, Founder of CD Baby and author of Anything You Want: 40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur
Sometimes, the key to a happier, more fulfilling life is letting go of the things that don't really matter. That's the central message of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*** by Mark Manson. In this book, Manson encourages readers to focus on what truly matters to them, rather than worrying about what others think or trying to conform to society's expectations.
According to Manson, backed both by academic research and well-timed poop jokes, the key to improving our lives isn't turning lemons into lemonade, but developing a better tolerance for lemons. Let's face it, we're all flawed and limited - not everyone can be a superstar, and some things in life just aren't fair. That's why Manson suggests we embrace our limitations and get cozy with them. Instead of running away from our fears, faults, and uncertainties, we need to confront them head-on. It might not be easy, but by doing so, we'll find the courage, perseverance, honesty, responsibility, curiosity, and forgiveness we need to live our best lives! With a no-nonsense writing style and plenty of humor, this book is a refreshing take on personal growth.
3) Who Moved My Cheese? By Spencer Johnson
“Great little book that can be read in an hour or two. Perfect for when things are going well but also great when in a low. Simple story format makes the core messages stick.” – Amazon reviewer
“If you haven’t read the book by now, you’ve missed out on reading “one of the most successful business books ever.” – Unknown
Change can be scary, but it's inevitable. Who Moved My Cheese? is a parable that teaches readers how to adapt to change positively, not just at work but in all areas of life. The book tells the story of two mice and two "little people" who are forced to navigate a maze in search of cheese. Along the way, they encounter challenges and obstacles that force them to reevaluate their approach. With its simple but powerful message, Who Moved My Cheese? is one of those timeless books that’s short and sweet, one that you’ll likely return to again and again throughout your life. This gem is a great quick read for anyone who wants to learn how to embrace change and thrive in a constantly evolving world.
4) Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter by Liz Wiseman and Greg McKeown
“This book really helped me. It’s different from the many leadership books that are out there. What’s so great is that it is so precise, it goes down several layers providing easy to understand practical insights into exactly how to lead like a Multiplier. You can easily refer back to this book too as it provides Multiplier Formulas in short sound bites after each chapter.” – Amazon reviewer
“Every so often a book comes along that forces us to ask important and difficult questions of ourselves. Multipliers is such a book. Liz Wiseman and Greg McKeown challenge us to imagine a dramatically more productive future for our organizations.” – Tim Brown, CEO, IDEO
As a leader, your job is to bring out the best in your team. Multipliers is a book that teaches readers how to do just that. The authors Greg McKeown and Liz Wiseman identify two types of leaders: "Diminishers" and "Multipliers." Diminishers are leaders who stifle their team's creativity and potential, while Multipliers are leaders who bring out the best in their team and help them reach their full potential.
Furthermore, they break down five categories of individuals who inspire, support, and improve others in their organization, providing guidance on how you can become one of these multipliers and avoid being a diminisher. If you want to be a leader who inspires and motivates your team to achieve great things, don’t leave Multipliers on your shelf for too long. Get to reading!
5) Calm The F*** Down by Sarah Knight
“I have never read a self-help book. I picked this one up because I found the title amusing. The author is not a therapist, but more like a friend who can be honest with you. It might not be right for everyone, but it was for me.” – Amazon reviewer
“Every so often a book comes along that forces us to ask important and difficult questions of ourselves. Multipliers is such a book. Liz Wiseman and Greg McKeown challenge us to imagine a dramatically more productive future for our organizations.” – Tim Brown, CEO, IDEO
Do you find yourself overthinking about things that are beyond your control? Are you prone to panicking when things don't go as planned? Is anxiety holding you back from living your life to the fullest?
The book Calm the F**k Down offers practical strategies to help you cope with difficult situations and manage your anxiety effectively. Whether the issue at hand is a relationship breakdown, personal breakdown, or a global crisis like a shortage of butter in France. The book provides actionable steps to help you move forward and bounce back from these challenges, rather than simply offering hollow reassurances.
Think of it as having a supportive friend who not only empathizes with you but also helps you take constructive steps to improve your situation. With tips on everything from breathing techniques to time management, this book is a great resource for anyone who wants to feel more calm and centered in their daily life.
That’s it for now
These are our HR’s 5 book recommendations for success and self development both in and out of the workplace. We highly recommend you place your phone and laptop somewhere out of reach before diving in. Enjoy, and we’ll be back with more soon!
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