Welcome to My Favorite Books & Tools!
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Welcome to My Favorite Books & Tools! *
Explore a growing collection of the best books and resources for conflict resolution, leadership, and workplace dynamics—curated for HR leaders, managers, and professionals navigating complex workplace challenges.
Check back often for new recommendations!
The Speed of Trust - Why Trust is Your Workplace’s Greatest Asset (or Its Biggest Liability)
Trust isn’t just a soft skill—it’s the foundation of leadership, teamwork, and business success. The Speed of Trust reveals how leaders can build credibility, foster strong relationships, and accelerate results by developing a high-trust workplace culture.
Split the Pie – A Radical New Way to Negotiate
Most negotiations get stuck in a tug-of-war over value—but what if there’s a better way? Split the Pie introduces a groundbreaking negotiation framework that shifts the focus from competition to fair value creation. Essential for leaders, HR professionals, and anyone who wants to achieve better deals without unnecessary friction.
How to Have Impossible Conversations – The Art of Persuasion & Conflict Management
Difficult conversations don’t have to end in frustration. How to Have Impossible Conversations provides a step-by-step guide to engaging in high-stakes discussions with people who strongly disagree with you. Whether you’re managing workplace conflicts, negotiating tough decisions, or trying to bridge divides, this book equips you with the tools to communicate effectively and build understanding.
Negotiating the Nonnegotiable – Defusing High-Emotion Workplace Conflicts
Some negotiations feel impossible—deeply emotional, high-stakes, and seemingly unwinnable. Negotiating the Nonnegotiable explores how to break through these deadlocks, manage emotional triggers, and find creative solutions even in the most intense disputes. A must-read for mediators, HR leaders, and professionals dealing with workplace conflict.
The Mediation Process – Practical Strategies for Resolving Conflict
Mediation is an essential skill in resolving workplace disputes. The Mediation Process offers a step-by-step guide to facilitating fair and effective resolutions. Whether you're an HR leader, mediator, or manager, this book provides the tools to navigate difficult conversations with confidence.
The Truth About Negotiations – Breaking Workplace Deadlocks
Think you know how to negotiate? The Truth About Negotiations debunks common myths and provides science-backed strategies to improve your negotiation skills. Essential for HR professionals, leaders, and anyone who wants to achieve better outcomes in workplace negotiations.
Good Arguments – The Science of Productive Disagreement in the Workplace
Disagreements don’t have to be divisive. Good Arguments reveals how mastering debate skills can improve listening, persuasion, and decision-making. Ideal for HR professionals, managers, and leaders looking to foster constructive discussions in the workplace.
The Book of Real-World Negotiations – How Professionals Handle Workplace Disputes
How do negotiations play out in real life? The Book of Real-World Negotiation goes beyond theory, offering real case studies from high-stakes business deals to personal disputes. This book is an essential read for HR leaders, mediators, and professionals who handle workplace negotiations and want practical strategies that work in real scenarios.
The 48 Laws of Power – Understanding Power Plays in Workplace Conflict
Want to understand how power works in leadership and negotiation? The 48 Laws of Power explores historical strategies for gaining influence, avoiding manipulation, and navigating power dynamics. While controversial, its lessons are valuable for those seeking strategic leadership insights.
Leadership and Self-Deception – How Leaders Unknowingly Fuel Workplace Conflict
What if the biggest obstacle to effective leadership is... yourself? Leadership and Self-Deception reveals how our own biases and blind spots shape workplace dynamics, often in ways we don’t realize. A transformative read for leaders who want to improve team trust, culture, and collaboration.
Power and Influence – Understanding Navigating Organizational Dynamics: Mastering Power, Politics, and Influence
In today’s world, power isn’t just about authority—it’s about influence. Power and Influence examines how modern leaders navigate workplace politics, persuasion, and credibility to drive success. A must-read for executives, HR leaders, and professionals looking to increase their strategic influence.
Humble Inquiry – How Great Leaders Ask More and Tell Less
Asking the right questions can be more powerful than having the right answers. Humble Inquiry teaches leaders how to foster trust and collaboration through thoughtful, open-ended questions. Essential for HR professionals, managers, and anyone looking to improve workplace communication.
The Leadership Challenge – The Leadership Challenge: Five Practices That Drive Extraordinary Leadership
What makes a truly great leader? The Leadership Challenge breaks down leadership into five key practices that inspire, motivate, and transform teams. This book provides a roadmap for leaders at all levels to develop trust, credibility, and lasting influence.
What Got You Here Won’t Get You There – Breaking Through Career Plateaus: Why Past Success Won’t Guarantee Future Growth
Successful leaders often hit a plateau—what worked before no longer drives progress. What Got You Here Won’t Get You There reveals the subtle habits that hold leaders back and offers practical strategies to break through to the next level. Essential reading for executives, HR professionals, and anyone looking to elevate their leadership impact.
The Art of War for Leaders – Strategic Thinking for the Workplace: Leadership Lessons from The Art of War
What can ancient military strategy teach today’s leaders? The Art of War for Executives distills Sun Tzu’s wisdom into practical leadership strategies for the modern workplace. Learn how to anticipate challenges, outthink competitors, and lead with strategic foresight.
Good for You, Great for Me – Winning Negotiations Without Creating Resentment
Winning at negotiation isn’t just about claiming value—it’s about creating it. Good for You, Great for Me dives into the concept of “trading wisely,” where both parties walk away feeling satisfied while maximizing their own outcomes. Ideal for workplace leaders, HR professionals, and dealmakers, this book teaches the art of building trust while negotiating assertively.
Bargaining for Advantage – Winning Negotiations Without Losing Relationships
Great negotiators aren’t born—they’re made. In Bargaining for Advantage, G. Richard Shell blends psychology, strategy, and real-world examples to teach readers how to craft winning negotiation strategies. Whether you’re navigating salary discussions, business deals, or workplace conflicts, this book equips you with practical skills to strengthen your bargaining power.
The Power of a Positive No – Saying No Without Burning Bridges
Saying "no" can be one of the hardest things to do—especially in high-stakes workplace negotiations. The Power of a Positive No teaches you how to assert yourself with confidence while preserving relationships. Whether you're declining an unreasonable request, setting boundaries with a difficult employee, or negotiating workplace policies, this book provides a framework for standing your ground while keeping the conversation open.
Getting Past No – How to Turn Resistance into Agreement Without the Fight
Have you ever faced a conversation that felt like hitting a brick wall? Whether it's a difficult colleague, a resistant employee, or a high-stakes negotiation, getting past an emphatic "no" is a skill every leader must master. In Getting Past No, William Ury, co-author of Getting to Yes, provides a five-step strategy to transform resistance into cooperation. This book is a game-changer for HR leaders, executives, and professionals looking to defuse tension, navigate workplace disputes, and achieve positive outcomes—without escalating conflict.