11 Books That Will Give You Major Work Bestie Vibes When You Need Them Most

Y’all, this newsletter is the newsletter that almost wasn’t for February. Amidst a lot of personal and team changes this month, I quickly abandoned plans to coordinate multiple guest contributors and was going to scuttle the whole thing. Let’s be real: this month has taken it out of everyone.?

We’re grieving the recent hate crimes against Asian women, watching war and strife unfold around the globe, getting ready for Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, and oh—leading, still, through a crisis while keeping it together at home.

I’ve made more mistakes this last month than I can remember in recent times—moving too fast trying to do all the things or not double-checking a distro list or that paperwork was filed accurately. And then because I'm me, spend the next few days giving myself a hard time about it. Colleagues and friends are reporting the same—there’s too much to do, not enough time, and a pervasive fog of ambiguity in all things. If we had a Gentle January, this has been Face Palm February.?

In times like these, Anne Lamott rings in my ears: “Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.”

So here on the very last day of the month, let’s take some time to unplug and refill our cups with 11 awesome books by badass women who remind us what our best selves can look like at different times in our lives. Just when we need it, they also give us permission to take grace and space meanwhile. In tough times, the mentoring tips from a great book can feel like that 1:1 inspo you need to get going again. Slow down, read up, speed up.

1. It's About Damn Time: How to Turn Being Underestimated Into Your Greatest Advantage by Arlan Hamilton - a go to when adversity is getting you down. Arlan is changing the VC world one investment at a time!
2. Betting on You: How to Put Yourself First and (Finally) Take Control of Your Career by Laurie Ruettiman - the career management book you need to read when you’re ready to quit everything. Laurie is the empathetic friend you'd call if you had her number, but in book form!
3. Year of Yes: How to Dance it Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own by Shonda Rhimes - for the days you’re day dreaming about the big opportunities that scare and thrill you. Shonda’s commitment to eating life for a full year guides us out of the comfort zone in a fun way.
4. The Long Game: How to Be a Longer Term Thinker in a Short Term World by Dorie Clark - hands down one of my fave books on branding yourself and investing in your future. Dorie’s own journey inspires taking action and making smart investments that pay off over time.
5. The Making of a Manager: What to Do When Everyone Looks to You by Julie Zhuo - when you’re feeling unsure about whether you’re ready to lead or need that confidence boost to show up as the leader people need. Julie’s candor reminds you it’s okay to be human and always ok to try again better the next time.
6. The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins - when anxiety or fear are keeping you in bed or from having that hard conversation you’ve been avoiding. Mel is the coach we’ve needed our whole lives.?
7. Smart Growth: How to Grow Your People to Grow Your Company by Whitney Johnson - great for kicking yourself into growth mode on the S curve of learning. Whitney has been breaking boundaries and telling amazing disruption stories her whole career.
8. The Disruption Mindset: Why Some Organizations Transform While Others Fail by Charlene Li - when the old ways of doing things just aren't going to cut it for your ambition and you’re ready to take your strategy to the next level. Charlene’s advice is on point for the pressures and opportunities of pandemic life.?
9. How to Stop Feeling Like Sh*t: 14 Habits That Are Holding You Back From Happiness by Andrea Owen - for those days! Andrea has practical tips to bring life back to manageable.?
10. The CEO Next Door: The 4 Behaviors That Transform Ordinary People Into World-Class Leaders by Elena L. Botelho and Kim R. Powell - when you’re eager for executive coaching tips without the time commitment or price tag. They’ve assembled great wisdom from thousands of leaders!
11. Gravitas: Communicate With Confidence, Influence, and Authority by Caroline Goyder - developing gravitas is the game changer that will unlock your career success so you can stand out at review time but also all year long. It features a handy chart in front that helps you dial in on specific skills you want to lean into (like being great in a meeting or handling conflict without seeming rattled).?

What books would you add? I hope we all get some reading and reflection time in the coming weeks, that the world will find a calmer, safer trajectory, and that we'll work together to leave all of our people better than we find them.?

If you want to check out LinkedIn Learning courses that will help you get in touch with your boss energy at work, try:

Mastering Self Motivation by Selena Rezvani

Mel Robbins on Confidence? by Mel Robbins

Humane Productivity? by Rahaf Harfoush

Resilience Strategies for Optimal Performance by Tatiana Kolovou

The Mindful Workday by Britt Andreatta and Desk Yogi

How to Have a Great Day at Work by Caroline Webb

Onward!