In the human resources industry, literature relating to the profession is readily available by the dozens. Whether your field is performance management, recruiting, or any other HR role, there’s plenty of material at your disposal. In the ever-changing playing field of HR, it’s imperative to stay abreast of new theories and strategies emerging to adapt to changes in workplaces and their culture. The authors are often seasoned experts on the subtopics and nuances within HR, and it is widely considered one of the most effective ways to learn and develop crucial skills needed to advance your career and stay on top of industry trends. .
Although human resources books are readily available, some miss the mark. You may be looking to learn about a very specialized aspect of human resources, and it’s important to make sure the book you’re picking up and reading at the end of the day is relevant to your needs.
You are reading: Books for human resources
You can listen to audiobooks while you drive, read a paperback before bed, or sit down with an e-reader to unwind after a long day. Whatever medium you choose to digest literature, we’ve got you covered. here is our list of the 16 best human resources books.
1. HR From the Outside In: Six Competencies for the Future of HR by Dave Ulrich, Jon Young, Wayne Brockbank, Mike Ulrich, 2012
hr from outside in explores the skills needed for the future of human resources. Written collaboratively by Dave Ulrich, Jon Young, Wayne Brockbank, and Mike Ulrich, this book covers the HR horizon and how to approach technological, social, economic, demographic, political, and economic change from the outside in.
is a thought-provoking technical read on managing many potential changes in the workplace by starting and grounding your work in the business, thus from the outside in. With this approach, HR from the outside in will provide readers with the tools and framework to add even more value to a company’s human resources.
2. The HR Scorecard: Linking People, Strategy, and Performance by Brian Becker, Mark Huselid, and Dave Ulrich, 2001
Regarded as something of a bible for HR professionals, the HR Scorecard serves as a seven-step guide that links business strategy to HR goals. Throughout this book, authors Brian Becker, Mark Huselid, and Dave Ulrich draw on the study of nearly 3,000 companies to definitively outline the steps that enable companies to measure the performance, efficiency, and alignment of their resource functions. humans.
The HR Scorecard, created and published in 2001, has served countless HR professionals with a fresh approach to properly implementing a strategy that aligns the business and its HR staff. Without a doubt, an essential item on the shelf of any human resources professional.
3. Winning Through Organization: Why the War for Talent Is Failing Your Company and What You Can Do About It by Dave Ulrich, David Kryscynski, Wayne Brockbank, Mike Ulrich, 2017
the war for talent: one of the biggest challenges facing modern human resources professionals. In an environment of rapid growth and expansion, it has become increasingly difficult to find the best people for the job. Competing among a huge hiring force for the perfect employee with aligned values, drive, and motivation can seem impossible. In Victory Through Organizing, this dilemma is tackled by USA Today bestselling author Dave Ulrich, along with David Kryscynski, Wayne Brockbank, and Mike Ulrich.
In this 2017 post, the focus shifts away from the war for talent and toward helping people thrive in your organization. the goal of this approach is to create value within the organization that is greater than its individual parts. Through fact-based research and examples, Ulrich, Kryscynski, Brockbank, and Ulrich demonstrate how HR professionals can operate in an effort to grow competitively.
4. the talent deception: why data, not intuition, is the key to unlocking human potential by tomas chamorro-premuzic, 2017
Each year, HR professionals rely on their instincts and unscientific methods to make critical business decisions. this decision-making process has cost organizations billions in solutions that miss the mark. In 2017’s The Talent Delusion, the common mistake of relying on intuition is fixed with a more scientific approach that harnesses data to make evidence-based decisions.
Thomas Chamorro-Premuzic discusses the science in people’s organizational behavior and how HR professionals can measure, understand, and predict it to find and retain the best talent in today’s modern workforce. A must read for anyone seeking a new perspective on how to make critical HR decisions.
5. work rules!: insights from inside google that will transform the way you live and lead by laszlo bock, 2015
google is widely regarded as one of the best places to work. but why?
google has always been able to achieve a perfect balance between creativity and structure. laszlo bock, former senior vice president of people operations at google and author of work rules. writes about behavioral economics and the psychology behind striking that perfect balance that has made google a powerhouse of talent.
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Whether you’re an HR professional or an entrepreneur, work is a rule! it provides a foundation for building a great company from within rather than from the top down. This engaging and fun read will show you how to measure the success of your business by the quality of life of your employees.
6. interrupted hr: time for something different by lucy adams, 2017
lucy adams thinks hr is lost and in desperate need of a new direction, and disruption is the key. In this 2017 post, Adams sets out to discover how HR professionals can change the way they lead the workforce in a rapidly changing environment.
In this book, you will be challenged in your thinking. how do you see your people? how do you treat them? How do you make people-driven decisions? hr disrupted provides guidance on how to change these processes so you can start working with employees on an equitable basis.
7. thinking, fast and slow by daniel kahneman, 2013
Daniel Kahneman, Nobel Prize-winning author for Thinking Fast and Slow, sets out to explore the way we think. Kahneman takes the reader on a journey through the mind in which two different methods of thinking take place: fast and slow. System 1 is fast, intuitive, and emotional, while System 2 is a slow operational thought process that is calculated, analytical, and logical.
thinking, fast and slow describe the influence and impact that each of these systems has on our decision-making, especially in our work lives. Knowing how these two sides of the mind work can help HR professionals harness their own behavior and judgment in the workplace to make more effective decisions. Relying less on intuition and letting slow thinking help you make fact-based decisions can make all the difference in your work.
8. nine lies about work: a real-world guide for a freethinking leader by marcus buckingham, ashley goodall, 2019
As an HR professional, you often establish common ground on how you approach your job and the people you work for. “the best people are complete”, “people care what company they work for”, “leadership is important”.
these are 3 of the nine lies of marcus buckingham and the nine lies of ashley goodall about work.
In this 2019 book, Buckingham and Goodall dive deep into these common lies about the nature of work and why they’re so prominent today. for freethinking leaders, nine lies about work shows how to focus on building a strong workplace by focusing on the employees who train them rather than the business itself.
9. hr rising!: from ownership to leadership by steve browne, 2020
time uploading!! is a book that looks at the power of human resources and what it can do to really improve the lives of people, companies and your own.
bestselling author steve browne offers insights on bringing change to the workplace, fostering connections and building trust.
10. belonging at work: everyday actions you can take to cultivate an inclusive organization by rhodes perry, mpa, 2018
The feeling of belonging at work is something we all want, including human resources professionals. working at a job you don’t really fit in can hurt your productivity, focus, and motivation, often leading to higher turnover. As an employer, it’s important to know how to create that workplace synergy that gives your employees that satisfaction of knowing they belong. It’s not an easy task, but here’s what Rhodes Perry discusses in Belonging at Work.
Written in 2018, Belonging at Work provides guidance for leaders to create a space that is inclusive and can make their employees feel valued. With a wealth of case studies and Perry’s personal experience, it’s hard not to see how you can make your employees feel like they belong.
11. The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth by Amy C. edmondson, 2018
When you think of workplace safety, you might think of emergency exits, hazmat training, and personal protective equipment, but what about psychological safety?
A safe space to foster innovative dialogue and allow free flow of thought can enhance your team’s creativity more than you think.
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in amy c. Edmonston’s 2018 book, The Fearless Organization, Edmonston explores the topic of fostering psychological safety in the workplace. Providing their employees with an environment that can spark new and creative ideas is extremely valuable, and the courageous organization shows leaders exactly how they can create this kind of space.
12. The HR Analytics Field Guide: Using Data to Inform, Transform, and Empower HR Decisions by Shonna D. waters, valerie n. streets, lindsay mcfarlane and rachael johnson-murray, 2018
In today’s modern workplace, the use of HR analytics is critical to an organization’s success. In the practical guide to human resource analysis, authors shonna d. waters, valerie n. street, lindsay mcfarlane, and rachael johnson-murray create a comprehensive guide on how to make better use of data when making critical human resources decisions.
13. redefining human resources: transforming teams of people to drive business performance by lars schmidt, 2021
lars schmidt is a leading HR innovator and author of Redefining 2021 HR. In this book, schmidt gives readers a unique perspective on the field of talent management, recruiting, and more. Redefining HR’s forward-thinking guide to HR focuses on forward-thinking ideas and practices from various HR innovators in business – featured on reddit, stripe, hubspot, and more.
If you’re interested in changing the status quo in your workplace to help your employees reach their full potential, Redefining HR is for you.
14. the 9 faces of hr: a disruptive guide to mastering innovation and driving real change by kris dunn, 2019
As an individual in human resources, it’s important to be aware of who you are and how you work. that’s why kris dunn wrote the 9 faces of hr. In this entertaining read, 9 HR archetypes are explored in an effort to help readers understand themselves and other HR professionals they will encounter in their careers.
dunn gives readers the opportunity to look inside through the 9 faces of hr in a practical and no-nonsense way.
the policeman, the murderer, the judge, what hr face are you?
15. HR on Purpose: Developing Deliberate Passion for People by Steve Browne, 2017
can you be in human resources for 30+ years and still get excited?
The answer is yes.
In HR On Purpose, Steve Browne looks at many real-life examples, ideas, and experiences to highlight the many misconceptions about HR. Browne takes an in-depth look at what the hour may be, rather than what people think it should be. This is a great read for anyone looking for motivation and change with their HR role.
16. Bring Your Human to Work: 10 Surefire Ways to Design a Workplace That’s Good for People, Great for Business, and Could Change the World by Erica Keswin, 2018
humans and work – two things that don’t always go together.
In Bring Your Human to Work, workplace strategist and business coach Erica Keswin explores businesses like Lyft, Starbucks, and Soulcycle to discover what makes a human-friendly workplace.
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It’s a nuanced topic, but keswin makes it easy to follow the guide on how to build positive and trusting relationships with your employees. As an HR professional, this book will give you fantastic information on how to make your workplace more welcoming to your people.
Further reading: The Structured Employment Interview: A Narrative and Quantitative Review of the Research Literature by Julia Levashina, 2013
At vidcruiter, we’re big proponents of structured interviews. Structured interviews are one of the best recruiting practices and ensure that candidates are given the same questions in the same order to give an objective ranking of each candidate. many unstructured interviews experience the pitfalls of hiring bias and can reduce the chance of finding the right candidates for the job.
the structured employment interview, an article in volume 67 of personnel psychology, talks about structured interviews and how they can be applied to the hiring process. It includes in-depth research and interesting takeaways that can help recruiters put structure into their hiring. An intriguing academic read for recruiters looking to give their candidates a more equal and fair chance at work.
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