Experts Tell Us the Best Books on HR Strategy

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1 year ago
This article showcases our top picks for the Books on HR Strategy. We reached out to industry leaders and experts who have contributed the suggestions within this article (they have been credited for their contributions below). We are keen to hear your feedback on all of our content and our comment section is a moderated space to express your thoughts and feelings related (or not) to this article This list is in no particular order.

HR on Purpose By Steve Brown

This product was recommended by Laura Jimenez from Ishine365

Steve Brown is an acclaimed writer, speaker, and thought leader in the field of HR. In HR on Purpose: Developing Deliberate People Passions, Brown draws on real-life examples and insights in order to encourage all HR professionals to rethink their approaches to the practice itself. He emphasizes the need to let go of any preconceptions of what HR should be, and instead focus on what HR could be. This was a great, fun read and a refreshing change from the sometimes, very business-like tone of most HR literature. I highly recommend it

A Practical Guide to Crafting Your HR Strategy by Stephen Flynn

This product was recommended by Isla Zyair from Obesity Controller

People can buy this book at most major book stores or online retailers. This book provides a comprehensive overview of HR strategy and offers readers practical advice on how to develop and implement effective HR strategies. The book covers various topics, including workforce planning, talent management, and employee engagement. In addition, the author provides case studies of successful HR strategies from a variety of organizations. This book is an essential resource for any HR professional who wants to stay ahead of the curve.

Social Media Recruitment by Andy Headworth

This product was recommended by Jacquelyn Kennedy from PetDT

This book by Andy Headworth revolutionized the way that I go about recruiting for my business, and I would recommend it to anyone who has an HR role, or any kind of recruiting responsibility. In all sorts of fields (particularly when it comes to pet care – my specialty!), social media is an integral part of the way that we do business – most of the information we consume comes through the lens of social media. However, most businesses just focus on the impact that it can have on marketing, rather than how it can be used as a recruiting tool. By using the strategies set up in this book, I have been able to attract a diverse set of experiences, passionate employees. Headworth helped me to restructure recruiting processes in our business to better suit our modern world, and our specific business needs (it is always beneficial if a trainer comes to us with a prebuilt audience and client base). I cannot over stress how important it is for HR experts, especially in small, digitally based businesses, to read this book.

Digital HR Strategy by Soumyasanto Sen

This product was recommended by Theresa Personna from Kogan Page Inc.

Build an HR strategy that leverages the potential of digital transformation and new technologies to improve employee and business performance.

Advancing Strategy through Behavioural Psychology by Pontus Wadström

This product was recommended by Theresa Personna from Kogan Page Inc.

Understand how to realize a desired strategy in practice by applying the principles of behavioural psychology to strategic management. Give your company a competitive edge and bring more value to your employees and customers.

Investing in People by Wayne Cascio

This product was recommended by Edith Hamilton from NEXT New Growth

Human resources is the dedication to the people within your organization, so a book about people is the best way to strategize for creating an HR department. Cascio and Boudreau’s book focuses on the financial impacts of creating and adapting the best HR strategy possible for your company. This book is ideal for startup founders, entrepreneurs, and HR employees of all levels. It will leave you feeling more informed on what HR is in our modern world, how investing in your people will help everyone succeed, and the ways to accurately invest in the people within your organization.

Traction by Gino Wickman

This product was recommended by Tom Cooper from Holiday Parrots

If you’re struggling to get your business off the ground, or it’s just not where you want it to be, Traction Get a Grip on Your Business is the perfect solution. This easy-to-read guide will help you understand what’s holding your business back and how to fix it. With tips and tricks that are both interesting and easy to use, Traction Get a Grip on Your Business is a must-have for any business owner looking to get ahead.

The Little Black Book of Human Resources Management by Barry Wolfe

This product was recommended by Leanna Serras from FragranceX

What I love about this one is that it’s written from a real-world perspective. This isn’t a book on theory—it’s about the best practices and lessons learned over a long career. If you’ve ever wondered about what employees actually expect from HR, how to answer their most difficult questions, and what success looks like from the perspective of a company leader, this is the book for you. In just over 150 pages the author really gives you a good sense of how to succeed in an HR career without losing sight of what makes the field so interesting. It’s also just a fun read, with a lot of humor and fun anecdotes to keep you engaged. The Little Black Book of Human Resources Management is loaded with lessons not learned in a book. Instead, it is the product of over 20 years of scraped knuckles and attaboys earned while leading HR in public and private organizations.

Agile HR by Natal Dank

This product was recommended by Megan Moore from Photography-Lighting

This book covers absolutely everything you would need to up your HR game. However, the one thing that stands out to me is how much the authors (Natal Dank and Riina Hellstrom) encourage their readers to find their own definition of human resources. The purpose of it is to help you find your niche in how you approach HR strategies at any workplace, which is such an important idea to hold on to!

Bring Your Human to Work by Erica Keswin

This product was recommended by Maciek Kubiak from PhotoAiD

Caring about the people who work in your company is critical to creating a successful culture where people want to work and perform at their best. Erica Keswin has spent over 20 years as a workplace strategist and business coach. In this book, she enunciates the steps that any business leader can take to “Bring your human to Work”. An inspiring read which encourages fostering and cultivating human relationships at work with examples from real life.

The HR Value Proposition by David Ulrich

This product was recommended by Sanya Nagpal from Leena AI

The book charts a path for HR professionals so they can lead their organizations into a better future. The content is on-point keeping in mind today’s HR environment, irrespective of one’s HR function, industry, or size of organization. In the book, Dave gives great insights and practical tips for HR professionals to enhance their value proposition and improve their capability to deliver better results. Along with strategic thought processes, the author provides a step-by-step approach to assess and address the concerns of one’s organization. HR professionals who are motivated to leverage their own value and deepen their organization’s real strength could really benefit by starting their study here. This book has taught me to understand my role as an HR professional better. It has guided me in impacting and building a solid foundation for my organization. It taught me to engage myself in a growing culture and build strong teams. The book also assisted me in developing myself as an HR professional.

The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle

This product was recommended by Scott Lieberman from Touchdown Money

Strategizing to build a company culture can be challenging and sometimes feel intangible. *Coyle uses science and real-world insights to demystify the process of building your culture, delving into three essential skills, safety, vulnerability, and purpose, that help bring all the individuals of an organization to work as one cohesive entity.* He proves that culture isn’t how you feel or exist but the steps you take to live and work in a specific way. HR teams would do well to use this book as they plan their culture-building strategies.

Feedback (and Other Dirty Words) by M. Tamra Chandler

This product was recommended by John Li from Fig Loans

The authors take on one of the most difficult parts of the HR experience for both the employee receiving feedback and the HR team or manager giving it. By sharing their alternative perspective, they help spin feedback as a positive, using it to improve trust rather than lose it. Every professional could benefit from constructive criticism, and this book helps build strategies for HR to lead that cultural shift.

HBR’s 10 Must Reads on Reinventing HR by Harvard Business Review

This product was recommended by Theola Tinney from Vinpit

This is a book that I used to read on reinventing my HR team. This is a very good book as it lines up real stories that we can use and apply in HR. It is very informative as it covers people management, new hires and uses tools to develop people. I really recommend this book to all HR professionals.

The HR Scorecard by Dave Ulrich

This product was recommended by Jason Cordes from CocoLoan

While it may not be the easiest HR book to read, the factual knowledge you gain is worth a few hours of thought. The authors describe a seven-step process for improving HR practice, also known as an HR scorecard. The book directly connects human resource management to an organization’s overall performance. The wealth of experience contributes to a valuable journey for those looking to improve organizational capacity through effective HR management.

Victory Through Organization by Dave Ulrich

This product was recommended by Jason Cordes from CocoLoan

The book is based on an HR competency study of over 30,000 HR professionals and business leaders. The book delves deeply into how human resources functions can add value. The book examines how value is created for the HR function and employees and how it affects other stakeholders. It is one of the best HR books recommended for HR managers and those at the top of the organizational hierarchy.

Work Rules! by Laszlo Bock

This product was recommended by Jason Cordes from CocoLoan

This book is jam-packed with insightful insights into the growth of an organization. The main takeaway from this book is that the more data and analysis were done using scientific methods, the more noticeable the difference in management. Furthermore, the book discusses how important the human aspect of management is to the overall process.

HR from the Outside In by Dave Ulrich

This product was recommended by Lyle Florez from EasyPeopleSearch

After reading Dessler’s book, you’ll understand what Human Resource Management entails. What, however, are the competencies that an HR professional should possess? That is the subject of this book. Ulrich and colleagues list the key competencies of the modern HR professional in this book. The HR professional should facilitate capability development, be a technology advocate, a change champion, and an HR innovator and integrator.

Predictive HR Analytics by Dr. Martin R. Edwards

This product was recommended by Lyle Florez from EasyPeopleSearch

The book provides readers with a clear and simple framework for high levels of understanding and applying HR analytics. It walks readers through examples of predictive models, allowing them to develop effective HR strategies. Although advanced analytics are not widely used, this book explains why they should be and how to use them effectively. It conveys how to conduct various analyses and interpret the results in simple terms.

Human Resource Management by Gary Dessler

This product was recommended by Lyle Florez from EasyPeopleSearch

Gary Dessler has worked in various capacities throughout his career. He is now a consultant and professor at Florida International University in Miami. This book is regarded as an HR bible by industry experts. This HR management book’s 16th edition was released with several updates. This book emphasizes the importance of having a solid foundation in HR management concepts and tactics that will allow professionals and students to excel at their jobs. Furthermore, the information is presented in a relatively simple manner.

The Essential HR Handbook by Sharon Armstrong

This product was recommended by Maria A. McDowell from EasySearchPeople

Essential HR Handbook is one of the best books I have read on human resources management. This book covers vital topics on human management from building relationships, best practices with workers, human emotional management, and traversing HR problems in a complicated business world. For anyone searching for a resourceful HR strategy book, I strongly recommend the Essential HR Handbook.

David Friedland

Bit of a gear addict.

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