It’s nearing the end of the year. Maybe you’re like me and need a little push to boost your performance, since days are shorter, the weather is colder and let’s face it all motivation is fleeting.
I get it. Trust me. But time is of the essence. I know that focusing on yourself and your family can be difficult right now. Winter is hard. Its flu season, you’re busy making holiday plans and then of course, there are those never ending to do lists (and Christmas card lists!). For many of us ladies the last thing you want to be thinking about is your career and performance at work. Here’s the thing, you should be! Don’t put work and productivity on the back burner. Take this as your kick in the butt to get back on track in your career goals, or level up if you’re feeling bored. We all get off track, life happens. I haven’t felt like I have been reaching my goals the past few weeks and I really needed a wake up call to get back to normal. I personally want to finish this year on a high note, so I have been reading so much and trying to absorb all things productivity for the past few weeks. Here are a few books that will help boost your performance. Each of these books left me feeling motivated, focused and wanting to work harder.
Grit by Angela Duckworth
I have listened to dozens of podcasts with Angela Duckworth on various topics, from behavioural economics to social psychology. I always found that Duckworth had something meaningful and interesting to say. She answers a lot of questions that I too, have wondered about. Her work always left me thinking about things differently. I really appreciated hearing her perspective on different podcasts, which led me to finally crack open Grit. I found Grit to be relatable, easy to read, and easy to transfer practices into my life. This book gave me confidence and made me feel a little more Gritter (if you don’t know what I’m talking about read and find out). TRUST ME everyone can use a little more Grit. Read this book when you’re thinking about your long term goals. Thank me later.
Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss
This one is SO interesting. The perspective is a little unorthodox compared to what I usually read (Voss is a former FBI international hostage negotiator). But, it is so interesting! You won’t be able to put this one down. You will learn so much. Voss is teaching the art of negotiating in high stakes situations. If you’ve ever touted yourself as someone who knows how to negotiate, forget everything you know and read this. Voss explains life as a series of negotiations and prepares you for them. This book made me feel like I had an inside track on people’s thought process when negotiating, and a competitive edge. This is the book you didn’t know you needed.
7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
An oldie but a goodie. I finally got around to reading this one. Terrible I know, it has been on my list since 2017 and I have been picking it up and putting it down since then. Finally I did it, I finished and I am so glad I did. This one is similar to the long term thinking that Duckworth touches on. One of the habits Covey recommends is “begin with an end in mind” this is a big one for me. Being intentional with my time is something I am working extra hard on and lately. Finally finishing this book up really helped me refocus here. I think because it took me so long to read it felt great to finally be able to close the book for good. Read this book when you need a quick bit of motivation. This book will give you everything you need to refocus and boost your performance.
Hardball by Chris Matthews
“How Politics is Played Told by One Who Knows the Game” This book is specific to getting ahead in politics but it really does give insight that can be transferred across all sectors. Even though it is based on American politics, it’s a really good one, so I had to include in my list of books to boost your performance. Matthews talks about raw ambition and how to harness into something that can work for you. Think a go to guide on how to work smart, not hard. It will also make you think about all that theory you studied in school … and how to make it actually fit into your practical life. There are also some very interesting stories and anecdotes that will make you laugh. Read this book when you’re thinking about short term things you can start doing in your career today to get ahead or when you’re interested in learning some tried and true political tactics.
If you have to pick one I would say Grit should be it. If you have a little more time or enjoy reading, seriously read them all (and don’t take forever on the Covey one like I did).
These books will give you something beneficial to careers across all different fields. If you’re like me and have just felt in a little productivity slump lately start reading, these will help you switch direction. Maybe you need to find a little more confidence or are just looking for a few pointers on how to make better use of your time at work. Each one of these books are going to help boost your performance and get you on your way to goal getting.
So that’s enough from me. If you’re looking for more ways to boost your productivity you can check out Ana’s tips here. And if reading isn’t really your forte you can always look for the audiobooks! These books also make great Christmas gifts for your mentee’s.
