12 Must-Read Books About Communication at Work
Every day we think about how to help our customers better connect with their employees. A modern intranet is a strategic tool to bring colleagues together, keep them informed, equipped, and inspired to do their jobs. But, without communication, an intranet will be an empty piece of software.
Like I said, we think about this topic every day. So I set out to ask our customers and Lumies (the staff at LumApps) about top book picks to help improve communication at work.
Get ready to expand your reading horizons with these 12 handpicked recommendations that are sometimes what you’re expecting, and sometimes not, but all rich with valuable insights.
Here are our top 12 must-read books to help with business communication, as recommended by staff and customers of LumApps!
1. Winning by Jack Welch, Suzy Welch (Get the Book)
“Anything written by Jack Welch … this book was a game changer for me as it identified the key elements of leadership and business communications” - Lisa Capra, Product Marketing Manager at LumApps
Quick Summary:
"Winning" by Jack Welch and Suzy Welch imparts invaluable lessons on business communication, emphasizing the critical role effective communication plays in organizational success. You’ll learn how to articulate clear visions, foster open dialogue, and cultivate a transparent environment that encourages collaboration and innovation.
The book underscores the importance of concise, direct communication to align teams, motivate employees, and drive performance. Additionally, it delves into the significance of feedback mechanisms, active listening, and constructive dialogue in resolving conflicts and nurturing a culture of continuous improvement.
2. Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It by Chris Voss (Get the Book)
“I'm absolutely crap at negotiating, so I learned a lot of quick actionable tips from this book. Chris Voss is a former FBI hostage negotiator who shares his field-tested approach to negotiating.” - Arnaud Weiss, Chief of Staff at LumApps
Quick Summary:
"Never Split the Difference" by Chris Voss offers a glimpse into the art of negotiation through the eyes of a former FBI international hostage negotiator. This book introduces nine effective principles and counterintuitive tactics to elevate negotiation skills in professional and personal interactions.
Readers will learn practical insights on how to be more persuasive, navigate high-stakes negotiations, and develop the expertise required to thrive in such situations. By embracing the principles outlined in this book, individuals can hone their business communication abilities, refine their negotiation strategies, and enhance their overall effectiveness in diverse communication contexts.
3. The Culture Map: Breaking Through the Invisible Boundaries of Global Business by Erin Meyer (Get the Book)
“This book covers almost everything about cultural differences and how they impact international business. While it’s not a book specifically on communication, knowing cultural differences helped me improve communication working for a global company.” - Hadiyah Ouardiri, Customer Success Manager at LumApps
Quick Summary:
Through real-life anecdotes and practical insights, this book unravels the complexities of cultural differences and their profound impact on international collaboration. Erin Meyer's field-tested model decodes how cultural nuances influence business communications and includes the eight dimensions to understand how to effectively motivate teams, engage clients, and facilitate seamless cross-cultural interactions. This book equips individuals with actionable strategies to enhance their communication effectiveness, foster productive relationships, and optimize teamwork across borders.
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4. Impact Players: How to Take the Lead, Play Bigger, and Multiply Your Impact by Liz Wiseman (Get the Book)
“I always recommend this book, along with her book Multipliers, to demonstrate how anyone can maximize their influence and effectiveness. I like these books because together, they offer a healthy balance of the workplace by focusing on personal contributions within teams (Impact Players) and how leaders can amplify the capabilities of their teams (Multipliers).”
- Lisa Capra, Product Marketing Manager at LumApps
Quick Summary:
Through insights drawn from top industry leaders and practical strategies, readers can uncover the key mindsets and behaviors essential for elevating their performance and influence at work. From stepping up to take charge and adapting to change with agility to fostering a culture of growth and innovation, Impact Players offers a roadmap for individuals to excel in their roles, inspire teams, and spark positive change within their organizations.
By embracing the practices outlined in this book, readers can enhance their business communication skills, cultivate a high-impact mindset, and navigate complex workplace dynamics with finesse, ultimately propelling their professional growth and success."
5. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain (Get the Book)
“This book should be required reading for everyone, not just introverts, in the workplace where communication is crucial to getting things done. It has specific case studies from ivy league students to silicon valley leaders, and cautionary tales of what happens when you only listen to the loudest in the room.” - Helen Cameron, Customer Success Manager at LumApps
Quick Summary:
“Quiet” by Susan Cain covers the power of introversion and strengths that introverts bring to the table in business – listening skills, innovative thinking, and preference for solitude that often characterize introverted personalities, qualities that can greatly enrich communication strategies in professional settings.
By understanding and leveraging the attributes highlighted in "Quiet," individuals can cultivate a deeper appreciation for diverse communication styles, foster inclusive dialogues, and harness the full spectrum of talents present within their teams and organizations.
6. Fierce Conversations: Achieving Success at Work and in Life One Conversation at a Time by Susan Scott (link)
“Early in my career, I often had a hard time speaking up for myself and saying what I wanted and needed, both in personal and professional settings. This book helped me learn to ‘transform everyday conversations at work and at home with effective ways to get your message across’—and get what you want." - Mary Kaplan, Head of Product Marketing at LumApps
Quick Summary:
"Fierce Conversations" by Susan Scott explores the power of real and impactful chats in work and life. Packed with practical tools, this book helps you handle crucial talks effectively, deepen connections, and achieve meaningful outcomes. Learn strategies to boost workplace relationships, enhance engagement, and tackle conflicts positively. By embracing "Fierce Conversations," you'll boost your communication skills, foster open dialogue, and succeed through purposeful conversations.
7. How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie (Get the Book)
“This is a must-read business communication book that offers timeless advice for anyone looking to improve their ability to connect with people. For example, ‘You can't win an argument. If you lose it, you lose it; and if you win it, you lose it’.” - Justin Hein, SVP of North America Sales at LumApps
Quick Summary:
"How to Win Friends & Influence People" by Dale Carnegie is a timeless classic that offers essential principles that can transform how individuals engage with others in both personal and professional settings. Readers learn valuable lessons on communication effectiveness, relationship-building strategies, and influencing others positively.
"How to Win Friends & Influence People" will help readers enhance business communication by emphasizing the importance of empathy, active listening, and understanding human behavior, empowering readers to cultivate meaningful connections, foster collaboration, and achieve success in their professional endeavors.
8. Red Cape Rescue: Save Your Career Without Leaving Your Job, by Darcy Eikenberg (Get the Book)
“This book teaches how to address communication challenges by ‘imagining positive intent’ about the other person by approaching the situation with trust and empathy. The book is also organized into 3 sections with an action plan for how to approach what you think, what you say, and what you do – these are the only things you can truly control at work and in life.” - Blair Williamson, Global Content Marketing Manager at LumApps
Quick Summary:
"Red Cape Rescue" by Darcy Eikenberg empowers professionals to revolutionize their work lives without resorting to drastic career changes. Through this book, readers uncover strategies to elevate their confidence, seize control over their professional destinies, and achieve a harmonious work-life balance.
Eikenberg's practical insights offer readers surprising ways to shift mindsets, enhance communication skills, and protect valuable time at work. "Red Cape Rescue" serves as a beacon to navigate challenges at work with resilience, authenticity, and purpose, offering a roadmap to create fulfilling professional success right where they are.
9. Setting the Table: The Transforming Power of Hospitality Business by Danny Meyer (Get the Book)
"While the context of this book is running restaurants, it's really about understanding that business and communication are always about people and how you make them feel. It’s the best book on servant leadership that’s not ‘a business book about servant leadership.’ Ultimately, the book is about how you value and treat people, and the mindset you have when you communicate with others." – Elizabeth Schaefermann, Senior Manager of Product Management at Publicis Sapient and customer of LumApps
Quick Summary:
A bestselling business book from an award-winning restauranteur and owner of Union Square Cafe, Gramercy Tavern, and Shake Shack. In Setting the Table, Danny Meyer shares some of the lessons learned building his food service empire including the customer centered philosophy he calls 'Enlightened Hospitality.'
Emphasizing strong in-house relationships as well as customer satisfaction, the tenets of 'Enlightened Hospitality' apply to anyone working in any business. Unique and motivational, Meyer's story and philosophy will help you become more effective and productive, while deepening your understanding and appreciation of doing a job well.
10. Basic Black: The Essential Guide for Getting Ahead at Work by Cathie Black (Get the Book)
"As a young woman in the business world (10 or so years ago anyway!), I really enjoyed Basic Black: The Essential Guide for Getting Ahead at Work." It helped me look at things with a business lens and take some of my emotion out of how I handle business situations." – Kelly Bingham, Internal Communications Manager at Site One Landscape and LumApps customer
Quick Summary:
Basic Black offers essential insights that will help you land the job, promotion, or project you’re after, no matter where you are on your career path. The book gives readers an up-close-and-personal look at the astute, resilient, and optimistic drive that has enabled advertising and publishing pioneer Cathie Black's impressive career. Encouraging readers to pursue their passions and strive to be their best, the president of Hearst Publishing offers straight-up practical advice about managing job interviews, which rules to break, and why you should make your life a grudge-free zone.
11. Internal Communication in the Age of Artificial Intelligence by Monique Zytnik (Get the Book)
"The latest book that is on my table and that will also serve as my holiday reading is Monique Zytnik's Internal Communication in the Age of Artificial Intelligence. It's new on the market and currently already a bestseller." – Inge Van Wegens, Social Collaboration and Community Manager at Proximus and a customer of LumApps
Quick Summary:
Examining ways to reimagine a more human-centered and sustainable way of conducting business, Internal Communication in the Age of Artificial Intelligence looks at combining the advantages of emerging technology with human strengths. Despite new technologies and ways of working, the book is a reminder that building relationships, communicating effectively, and promoting strong, purpose-driven leadership is what matters most.
12. Radical Candor by Kim Scott (Get the Book)
"I love Radical Candor by Kim Scott! It has changed the way I communicate professionally, with my team, and even personally - encouraging me to place importance on empathy, directness, and immediate feedback." - Taylor Nunley, Digital Workplace Manager at Community Health Systems and a LumApps customer
Quick Summary:
Radical Candor is an approach based on showing someone that you care personally, while challenging them directly, but in a way that is not aggressive or insincere. It is about thinking empathically when you communicate with others. “Reading Radical Candor,” says Sheryl Sandberg, “will help you build, lead, and inspire teams to do the best work of their lives.” The book examines some of the challenges of implementing the strategy and how generating positive outcomes in difficult circumstances can be a reality for teams big or small.
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