22 Life-Changing Books for Internal Communicators

Books on writing

Writing Without Bullshit by Josh Bernoff

Length: 304 PagesGenre: WritingAmazon Reviews: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  1/2Goodreads Reviews: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  1/2Recommended By: Liz Jurewicz

Here’s what Liz had to say:

I had the opportunity to take one of the author’s (Josh Bernoff) workshops at a conference I was attending and it was a breath of fresh air. He said all the things I have been thinking about the importance of getting to the point and communicating in a way that brings clarity not confusion.”

On Writing Well by William Zinsser

Length: 336 PagesGenre: WritingAmazon Reviews: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  1/2Goodreads Reviews: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  1/2Recommended By: John Twombly

Here’s what John had to say:

This is the best book I’ve read. It has sentimental value because it is the first one I received for my birthday from my mom during high school. Lesson learned: rewrite, rewrite, rewrite.”

On Writing by Stephen King

Length: 320 PagesGenre: WritingAmazon Reviews: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐Goodreads Reviews: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  1/2Recommended By: Steve Crescenzo

Here’s what Steve had to say:

Whether you like his books or not, his musings on the craft of writing are inspirational and practical at the same time.”

Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug

Length: 216 PagesGenre: Design & TechnologyAmazon Reviews: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  1/2Goodreads Reviews: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐Recommended By: Sharon O’Dea

Here’s what Sharon had to say:

It’s rightly subtitled ‘a commonsense guide to usability’ and is a useful and practical guide to putting yourself in the shoes of your audiences.”

Books on career

What Color Is Your Parachute by Richard Nelson Bolles

Length: 368 PagesGenre: Job HuntingAmazon Reviews: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  1/2Goodreads Reviews: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐Recommended By: Angela Sinickas

Here’s what Angela had to say:

Each year it is updated but the two things I took away from it were the concepts of an “informational interview,” and how and when to negotiate starting salaries. I used informational interviews extensively when we relocated to California from Chicago. And I got pretty good at negotiating salaries.Before I read the book, my pay increases moving from company to company were about 15%-20%. Not bad, but nothing special. After reading the book, my pay jumps from company to company were 50% to 100%.

Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett

Length: 274 PagesGenre: CareerAmazon Reviews: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  1/2Goodreads Reviews: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐Recommended By: Liz Jurewicz

Here’s what Liz had to say:

It was written by two Stanford professors and takes such a practical yet creative approach to making life changes. I think it’s a brilliant read for people who are into their careers but also want to keep innovating.”

Watch the author’s Tedx Talk:

Books on management

Deep Work by Cal Newport

Length: 287 PagesGenre: Time ManagementAmazon Reviews: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  1/2Goodreads Reviews: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐Recommended By: Heather Wagoner

Here’s what Heather had to say:

It’s all about attention fragmentation and how in order to get to an elite level or to just simply to be able do something with our full cognitive capacity—we have to allow ourselves to focus. It’s very difficult to do, but it’s the only way.There are also some relevant historical points for internal comms, based on the evolution of work, and industry, and the rise of the knowledge worker (that’s us). It discusses how that has been combined with an ‘industrial’ mindset—meaning ‘producing’ and ‘productivity’ is what is rewarded—when in fact, we’d be better off doing less, but better, and using our full cognitive capacity.”

Strengths Finder by Tom Rath

Length: 192 PagesGenre: ManagementAmazon Reviews: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐Goodreads Reviews: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐Recommended By: Brenton Miller & Victoria Dew

Here’s what Brenton had to say:

It helped me narrow down where I was most effective and how to best leverage my skills and professional strengths within my role.”

Here’s what Victoria had to say:

It is the book I feel like I give to others the most often, and that’s probably a good indicator of its impact on my own life.”

Crucial Conversations by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler

Length: 272 PagesGenre: TrainingAmazon Reviews: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  1/2Goodreads Reviews: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐Recommended By: Elisabeth Wang and Pinaki Kathiari

Here’s what Elisabeth had to say:

I think about this book often as I am building relationships and coaching my team.”

7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

Length: 432 PagesGenre: Self-Improvement & ManagementAmazon Reviews: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  1/2Goodreads Reviews: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐Recommended By: Elisabeth Wang, Pinaki Kathiari, and Jen Hall

Here’s what Jen had to say:

For my entire career, I’ve been tied to Outlook as though an invisible chain connects us, and priorities that may not be mine or my team’s tend to drive more than half of my day—and they arrive in tens of thousands of emails—that we constantly monitor.Covey has great tips about ‘closing out of your email’, that I’m afraid I need to politely ignore to stay employed, but the chart helps me prioritize and weed through all the demands on our limited resources and time.When you absolutely have to say ‘no’ to things, it really helps to identify what is ‘important and urgent’ and not just ‘urgent, but not important’ or ‘urgent, but important to someone else.’May sound kinda harsh, but when you’re in a corporate role supporting an entire system, it’s very helpful to boil things down to ‘which task would serve the most people or add the most value to the organization’ if you have to pick just one.”

The ONE Thing by Gary W. Keller and Jay Papasan

Length: 240 PagesGenre: ManagementAmazon Reviews: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  1/2Goodreads Reviews: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  1/2Recommended By: Jennifer Andrick

Here’s what Jennifer had to say:

As communicators we often wear multiple hats, which sometimes is great, but can also be to our detriment. Often we get pulled into so many projects and customer requests that we lose focus on what’s most important for our organization. This really helped me reset and reflect on what’s the one strategy I need to work on to take internal communications to the next level.”

Now, Discover your Strengths by Marcus Buckingham

Length: 272 PagesGenre: ManagementAmazon Reviews: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐Goodreads Reviews: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐Recommended By: Priya Bates

Here’s what Priya had to say:

It’s the premise that we all have something we’re naturally good at. If you focus on people’s strengths versus their weaknesses and struggles, you build confidence that will serve them well even when they are struggling. For me, whether it’s managing teams, coaching leaders, consulting with organizations, or building brands, I alway focus on strengths that we can build on.”

The First 90 Days by Michael Watkins

Length: 304 PagesGenre: Management & LeadershipAmazon Reviews: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  1/2Goodreads Reviews: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  1/2Recommended By: Rita Zonius

Here’s what Rita had to say:

I love it because it provides practical tools to help you transition from an old role into a new one. Michael describes the ‘breakeven point’ —the stage at which you’ve learned just enough in a new role so you can begin taking action and adding value— being at around the six-month mark. So, what you do in your first 90 days is critical to ensure you go into a new role with your eyes open, learn as much as you can as quickly as you can, to enable you to make informed decisions about your strategies and plans.”

Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown

Length: 272 PagesGenre: Time ManagementAmazon Reviews: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  1/2Goodreads Reviews: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐Recommended By: Angee Linsey and Rocky Walls

Here’s what Rocky had to say:

I think a huge problem in any communication is that we’re not concise enough, we don’t prioritize, and perhaps related, we don’t stop and listen. I think if communicators could carefully focus their efforts on just the communication, that’s going to make the biggest differences, the results would speak for themselves.”

Start With Why by Simon Sinek

Length: 272 PagesGenre: Management & LeadershipAmazon Reviews: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  1/2Goodreads Reviews: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐Recommended By: Sharon O’Dea

Here’s what Sharon had to say:

I find myself coming back to this one for quotes time and again, as it explains how organisations need to have purpose, and connect people to that purpose.”

Watch the author’s Ted Talk:

The Goal by Eliyahu M. Goldratt & Jeff Cox

Length: 408 PagesGenre: Business ManagementAmazon Reviews: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  1/2Goodreads Reviews: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐Recommended By: Carrie Basham Marshall

Here’s what Carrie had to say:

I read this when I was getting my MBA about ten years ago. It’s not a sexy “social business” book. But it does help you understand the fundamentals of running an efficient business – I have always tended to be a bottleneck, and I constantly go back to The Goal in order to remind myself that I have to let go a little bit in order to grow.”

Who Moved my Cheese by Spencer Johnson

Length: 96 PagesGenre: Human ResourcesAmazon Reviews: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  1/2Goodreads Reviews: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  1/2Recommended By: Sean Williams

Here’s what Sean had to say:

It’s the essence of change management.”

10 Natural Laws of Successful Time and Life Management  by Hyrum Smith

Length: 204 PagesGenre: SalesAmazon Reviews: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  1/2Goodreads Reviews: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐Recommended By: Chris McGrath

Here’s what Chris had to say:

It helped me define what’s really important to me and to set and achieve many goals.”

The Trust Factor by Paul J. Zak

Length: 256 PagesGenre: Organizational BehaviourAmazon Reviews: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐Goodreads Reviews: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐Recommended By: Victoria Dew

Here’s what Victoria had to say:

I’m really interested in the effects of trust — psychological safety, really — on culture and the workplace, and he’s done some amazing work in this area.”

Books on motivation and inspiration

The Pig of Happiness by Edward Monkton

Length: 32 PagesGenre: MotivationalAmazon Reviews: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐Goodreads Reviews: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  1/2Recommended By: Stephanie Richard

Here’s what Stephanie had to say:

It’s a short read, but it really speaks to standing apart when the world tends to get you down. Here’s what I take from it: that my positively can be inspiring to others, so I try to keep this upbeat mindset in my work life, and I hope in the long-run it wears off on others.”

Watch the animated video:

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

Length: 285 PagesGenre: CreativityAmazon Reviews: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  1/2Goodreads Reviews: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐Recommended By: Alan Oram

Here’s what Alan had to say:

It made me start thinking more deeply about my own creative process and why creativity is important to me.”

The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman

Length: 368 PagesGenre: Psychology and DesignAmazon Reviews: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  1/2Goodreads Reviews: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐Recommended By: Chuck Gose

Here’s what Chuck had to say:

It’s one of my favorite reads and it’s been around for a while. This book makes you think about how important design is in how interact with everything from physical objects to software to even communications. It might help communicators hit refresh or redo on the way internal comms channels and messages are designed.”

With these 22 fantastic recommendations, everyone on your team is sure to find something to inspire them. And while you’re adding to your “to-be-read” pile, here are the top IC blogs you should definitely be following. Happy reading!