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The Best Human Resources Management Books of 2014

Posted by Tristan Ruhland on Dec 11, 2014 12:53:30 PM

best-human-resources-management-booksHuman Resources management professionals know that their personal education never really ends. The need to stay informed of changes and innovations in their field is a constant factor for them, and one of the ways to stay on top of these is through reading.

But where do you start? A quick search on Amazon, for example, reveals over 24,000 titles just in "human resources management" alone. And of these, many are already over ten years old. While this does not necessarily mean they are no longer relevant, it does mean that many titles contain information that is quickly becoming dated.

Staying Ahead of the Human Resources Management Learning Curve

Here is a list of the top-reviewed books for 2014 related to human resources management:

1.  The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable by Patrick Lencioni (Apr 11, 2002)

A classic for business leaders and managers alike. Lencioni reveals the five dysfunctions which go to the very heart of why teams often struggle. He outlines a powerful model and actionable steps that can be used to overcome these common hurdles and build a cohesive, effective team.

2.  Crucial Conversations Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High, Second Edition by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan and Al Switzler (Sep 9, 2011)

When Crucial Conversations was originally published it helped change the way people communicate when in stressful situations. As a result, millions of people have learned how to hold effective crucial conversations and have dramatically improved their lives and careers because of the methods outlined in this book.

3.  Who Moved My Cheese?: An A-Mazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life by Spencer Johnson and Kenneth Blanchard (Sep 8, 1998)

Another classic book that addresses the need for finding the language and tools to deal with change. This is an issue that makes many people nervous and uncomfortable. Most people are fearful of change because they don't believe they have any control over how or when it happens to them. The authors show us that what matters most is the attitude we have about change.

4.  Now, Discover Your Strengths by Marcus Buckingham and Donald O. Clifton (Sep 16, 2013)

At the heart of this book is Gallup’s StrengthsFinder assessment, the product of a 25-year, multimillion-dollar effort to identify the most prevalent human strengths. The program introduces 34 “themes” and reveals how they can be translated into personal and career success The book will help you learn how to focus and perfect these themes. 

5.  Who: The A Method for Hiring by Geoff Smart and Randy Street (Sep 30, 2008)

Who provides a simple and effective solution to the problem of unsuccessful hiring. The average hiring mistake costs a company $1.5 million or more a year and countless wasted hours, while the typical hiring success rate of managers is only 50 percent. Based on more than 1,300 hours of interviews with more than 20 billionaires and 300 CEOs, the authors present what they call their "A Method for Hiring."

6.  The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace: Empowering Organizations by Encouraging People by Gary D Chapman and Paul E. White (Sep 1, 2012)

This book helps supervisors and managers effectively communicate appreciation and encouragement to their employees, resulting in higher levels of job satisfaction, healthier relationships between managers and employees, and decreased cases of burnout. Ideal for both the profit and non-profit sectors, the principles presented in this book have a proven history of success in businesses, schools, medical offices, churches, and industry. 

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7.  The Best Place to Work: The Art and Science of Creating an Extraordinary Workplace by Ron Friedman PhD (Dec 2, 2014)

The author, Ron Friedman, Ph.D., uses the latest research from the fields of motivation, creativity, behavioral economics, neuroscience, and management to reveal what really makes us successful at work. Combining powerful stories with the latest findings, he shows leaders at every level how they can use scientifically-proven techniques to promote smarter thinking, greater innovation, and stronger performance.

8.  The Alliance: Managing Talent in the Networked Age by Reid Hoffman, Ben Casnocha and Chris Yeh (Jul 8, 2014)

The authors contend that the employer-employee relationship is broken, and managers face a seemingly impossible dilemma: the old model of guaranteed long-term employment no longer works in a business environment defined by continuous change, but neither does a system in which every employee acts like a free agent. The solution, they say, is to stop thinking of employees as either family or as free agents, but as allies. 

9.  Remote: Office Not Required by David Heinemeier Hansson and Jason Fried (Oct 31, 2013)

The authors esplore the surging trend of employees working from home, or other remote locations, and explain the challenges and unexpected benefits.  Most important, they show why more businesses will want to promote this new model of getting things done.

10. Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel H. Pink (Jan 21, 2010)

It is commonly held that the best way to motivate is with rewards like money, or the carrot-and-stick approach. That's a mistake, says Daniel H. Pink. In his book, he asserts that the secret to high performance and satisfaction - both at work and in personal life - is the deeply human need to direct our own lives, to learn and create new things, and to do better by ourselves and our world. The author exposes the mismatch between what science knows and what businesses do—and how that affects every aspect of life.

Human Resourcs management education for the best of us

The role of the HR Manager is constantly expanding and, in many ways, evolving as business changes, technology progresses, and the demands on the human resources departments shift. On-going education - whether formal or self-administered - is essential for the successful HR professional.

Having alternatives such as outsourcing aspects of the HR workload is another way to alleviate the burden placed on HR managers. If you are considering outsourcing some of your processes, give us a call. Let Accuchex help you in managing your HR needs, payroll processes, and staying on top of compliance demands. Get your Free Download: Payroll Outsourcing Guide to help you make an informed decision or call Accuchex Payroll Management Services at 877-422-2824. 

 

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Topics: HR best practices, human resources management

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