Human Resource Management (HRM) is a broad term that encompasses human resources management, employee relations, compensation, benefits, training, performance evaluation, recruitment, selection, and other related activities.
There are many human resources books, but they often focus on specific industries or companies. This makes them less useful to general readers who want to better understand the field.
This article will look at some of the best HR books for professionals. These include diversity and inclusion books that offer a comprehensive overview of the entire HRM field. They cover recruiting, hiring, managing employees, motivating workers, developing talent, managing diversity, and much more.
Let’s begin.
Book Recommendations: What It Means For HR Professionals
Human resource management (HRM) has always been a challenging field. The job requires employees to deal with various issues such as employee relations, compensation, benefits, performance evaluation, training, recruitment, etc. As a result, HR managers often face challenges in their daily work.
Many provide diversity and inclusion book information on various aspects of HRM. These best HR books cover topics ranging from basic concepts to advanced ones. Some of these books are written specifically for HR professionals, while others are meant for general audiences. Regardless of the audience, however, they can help HR professionals understand how to manage people and improve organizational effectiveness.
Read more to become a more effective HR professional.
What Books Are A Must-read For HR Professionals?
The following list the best HR book recommendations to make you a more effective HR professional.
The Talent Delusion by Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic
This book for HR professionals focuses on the discoveries on the difference between “regular” and “superior” performance. Some people significantly differ between their peak and average performances, while others are in the middle.
Giving it your all is a simple way for an employee to trick their manager into believing they are performing well. However, it is impossible to always perform at a high level. It’s only a matter of time before people return to their typical performance. So it’s practically impossible to judge someone’s ability to perform based on just a few weeks or months of data, especially if that person has a strong desire to succeed.
HR Disrupted. It’s Time for Something Different by Lucy Adams
According to Adams, disruptive HR is built on understanding what motivates people and why certain actions produce better results than others. For starters, employees aren’t treated as children but as responsible people. As a result, workers are treated as consumers and not just employees.
For example, Adams demonstrates how to better manage employees in a more digital and disruptive company environment by using examples from her time as the BBC’s HR director.
HR Rising: From Ownership to Leadership by Steve Browne
Browne’s formula of People plus Processes equals Results is explained in the book. Instead of moving backward from results to processes, this is the opposite with people as an afterthought. Instead, an engaged workforce results when the focus is on developing, motivating, and empowering employees.
According to Browne, great leadership is not derived from a person’s position title but rather from their inherent character. Reading this book and reflecting on your work history will help you identify the leadership attributes that you can use to take the reins of leadership right now.
Steve Browne’s goal is to motivate people to pursue a career in human resources. In addition to being an HR professional and author, Browne hosts an HR Roundtable and an online discussion group. He is also the author of a popular HR blog read by people worldwide.
Investing in people. Financial Impact of Human Resource Initiatives by KirsWayne Cascio and John Boudreau
Investing in people is arguably one of the best books to read when looking to take your career to the next level. Cascio and Boudreau’s approach to solving typical HR issues is extremely structured and data-driven. It is also one of the best books to read as it has an in-depth look at strategic HR assessment and other HR subjects.
Some other best books to read for an HR professional
- How to Win Friends and Influence People By Dale Carnegie
- Thinking, Fast and Slow By Daniel Kahneman
- Belonging at Work: Everyday Actions You Can Take to Cultivate an Inclusive Organization By Rhodes Perry, MPA
- The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth By Amy C. Edmondson
- The Practical Guide to HR Analytics: Using Data to Inform, Transform, and Empower HR Decisions By Shonna D. Waters, Valerie N. Streets, Lindsay McFarlane, and Rachael Johnson-Murray
- Strategic Human Resource Management: An HR Professional’s Toolkit By Karen Beaven
- Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap…And Others Don’t by Jim Collins
- Fierce Conversations: Achieving Success at Work and in Life, One Conversation at a Time by Susan Scott
- The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable by Patrick Lencioni
- The 7 Intuitive Laws of Employee Loyalty: Fascinating Truths About What It Takes to Create Truly Loyal and Engaged Employees by Heather R. Younger
- Aligning Human Resources and Business Strategy by Linda Holbeche
- Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen
- Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity by Kim Scott
Conclusion
There you have it book recommendations for HR professionals out there. These human resources books cover a vast range of topics related to different aspects of HRM. If you want to go beyond simple job descriptions and policies, these top books will help you develop skills that can be invaluable to your profession.
They’re all readable and highly engaging, making them perfect choices for those who work long hours at the office without any time or energy left over for reading. Hope they helped!