Career Skills

You will never look at people the same way again - including yourself - after this lively look at how we make character judgments. Drawing on cutting-edge social science research as well as their own work with Fortune 500 executives, members of Congress, and Nobel Prize winners, authors Matt Kohut and John Neffinger demystify the process we use to size each other up.

Writing at Work covers everything professionals need to know about writing on the job today. HR and L&D managers can use this new course to train experienced employees who already know the basics of business writing but could use a refresher.

The key to personal profit, productivity, and prosperity is enjoyment, enjoying your life and enjoying your work. Now everyone, from secretaries to CEOs, from house painters to housewives, can learn to mix business with pleasure and make every job a labor of love. The Joy of Working is a practical, down-to-earth guide that will help you radiate confidence and competence in everything you do. Step by step and day by day, this unique 30-point program is sure to make your job more satisfying, more exciting, and more fun.

So, how do you change someone's mind - or at least advance the conversation - when everyone is entrenched in their own points of view? Communication expert Lee Hartley Carter has spent nearly 20 years advising and helping the world's most well-known companies do just that. Filled with deeply researched insights into how we make up - and change - our minds, as well as colorful real-world examples and actionable recommendations, Persuasion will help you hone your message and craft your narrative in order to get heard and get results.

We can’t always control the situation, but we can control how we choose to navigate it. And navigation is particularly important when you’re a pilot. Take it from Rebecca Barkhouse, a professional pilot who has spent nearly two decades not just flying planes, but teaching others how to become accomplished pilots, too. Her own journey to becoming a pilot was filled with unpredictable moments and plenty of situations she couldn’t control.

Ethical intelligence may not get as much attention as other forms of "smarts", but as Bruce Weinstein reveals, it is the most practical, valuable, and even courageous form, determining success on the job, fulfillment in relationships, and sense of self-worth. After reviewing the basic ethical principles agreed upon by cultures and religious traditions around the world and throughout time, Weinstein tells listeners how to develop their ethics IQ by applying these principles in daily life.

Discover how to use proven spy techniques to bolster your business strategies - from self-advocation to selling to interviewing - and ultimately make more money with this unique guide.

In this modern classic, Annette Simmons reminds us that the oldest tool of influence is also the most powerful. Fully revised and updated to account for new technology and social media, along with two new chapters on the role of stories in the development of civilization and how to adjust your story to your specific goal, Simmons showcases over 100 examples of effective storytelling drawn from the front lines of business and government, as well as myths, fables, and parables from around the world.

Does talking about your accomplishments feel scary or icky because you're worried people will think you're "obnoxious"? Does it feel more natural to "put your head down and do the work"? Are you tired of watching the loudest people in your industry get disproportionate praise and rewards? If you answered "yes" to any of the above, you might be self-sabotaging. You need to learn to brag better. Meredith Fineman shares the surefire and anxiety-proof strategies that have helped her clients effectively communicate their achievements and skill sets to others.

Life is built one conversation at a time. Learn which conversations matter, how to transform those conversations, and balance them all while leading change. Human beings are conversational animals. Every day we're in constant communication with ourselves, other people and the world around us, and while not all conversations may seem important, they all have the potential to transform our personal, professional and cultural lives for the better. This book explains how conversations work and offers practical advice on how to improve the quality of our exchanges.

Tradition says there are three ways to grow a company's revenue: fire up the sales team with empty promises, cut costs and downsize, or cook the books. But what if there's a better way, a way that nine amazingly profitable and well-run companies are already embracing.

The most effective communicators in the world all structure their messages the same way, by designing for simplicity. But the problem is, simple is hard work. Our brains are programmed to complicate. Our world incentivizes more, more, more. It takes deliberate, intentional effort to communicate in a way that seems effortless. In Simply Put, award-winning marketing entrepreneur Ben Guttmann unveils a five-part framework that allows anybody to communicate with clarity. With this book, you'll be able to design messages that are beneficial, focused, salient, empathetic, and minimal—and that work.

In Overcoming Passive-Aggression, Dr. Tim Murphy and Loriann Hoff Oberlin provide an in-depth look at a topic we've all faced but haven't always recognized: Hidden anger. When people don't express their views and feel compelled to conceal their true beliefs and emotions, behaving in ways that don't match what they honestly think, there can be serious physical and psychological results for everyone involved.

There’s no shortage of negotiation books that advise you to “get to yes,” urge you to “never split the difference,” and push you to “ask for more.” But these one-size-fits-all negotiation techniques disregard the reality of our complex, multifaceted, multicultural world, where snap judgements are made based on perceived differences. When bias lies behind every negotiation, the only constant is you. Learn to leverage who you are—and gain the upperhand.

Would you rather get a root canal than face a group of strangers? Does the phrase “working a room” make you want to retreat to yours? Devora Zack, an avowed introvert and successful consultant who gives presentations to thousands of people at dozens of events annually, feels your pain. She found that other networking books assume that to succeed, you have to act like an extrovert. Not at all. There is another way.

Ever felt tongue-tied in conversations? You're not alone. Many of us struggle to express ourselves, connect with others, or handle tricky discussions. But imagine being able to chat confidently with anyone, anywhere. Picture yourself resolving conflicts effortlessly, building stronger relationships, and feeling heard and understood. This book is your roadmap to becoming a conversation master. Inside, you'll discover five simple yet powerful rules that will transform the way you communicate.

Do you want to become a successful lawyer, business manager, or accountant? What you're learning in professional school isn't enough. It's just the basics. If you want to move ahead, there are all kinds of skills you need to learn that no one is teaching in an organized way. How to interview so you'll get hired, choosing the workplace most suited to you, how to be effective in communicating with clients and superiors, the secrets of service you need to master, how to set up a career plan, and so much more.

Listening might seem like the easiest thing in the world to do. But most people retain only a fraction of what they hear, resulting in miscommunications and lost opportunities. When you actively listen, you learn to gather perspectives, bridge differences, and resolve problems. Absorbing what a person is saying, thinking, and feeling sets the stage for dramatically improved relationships and increased professional success.

It sounds so simple: Tell stories from your life, and people will remember your message. But when you get down to crafting one, there's nothing easy about it. Material for stories surrounds us. Yet few people are skilled at sharing personal anecdotes and even fewer know how to link them to professional goals. Whether you want to stand out in the interview process, add punch to a presentation, or make a compelling case for a new initiative, Let the Story Do the Work shows you how to mine your experience for simple narratives that convey who you are.

Your workday is filled with them - people who frustrate, impede, maneuver, undermine, plot, connive, and whine. This indispensable guide details specific techniques for handling all of them, with easy-to-follow scenarios for every situation. Updated and revised to reflect modern issues including technology, generation gaps, and language barriers, this guide describes 10 kinds of culprits and offers helpful strategies and phrases for diffusing workplace tensions and effectively resolving conflicts.