Bookshelf | CareerFocus Café

Atul Gawande

While a simple checklist wouldn’t seem to have the power to eliminate mistakes and improve performance, this book proves otherwise. In his book, The Checklist Manifesto, surgeon and author Atul Gawande spins a fascinating account of the power of the checklist, citing examples of its effectiveness in building skyscrapers, investing in the stock market, piloting jets and conducting surgery.

Managing Thought

Mary J. Lore

Cheer up. Look on the bright side. Think positive. Change comes from within.

Don’t you hate it when people tell you that you could be happier and more successful if you’d simply put your mind to it? As if it were all in your hands. But what if they’re right? Can you really improve your life by managing your thoughts? Of course you can, answers former CEO Mary J. Lore, author of the aptly named Managing Thought.

New Resume New Career

Catherine Jewell

Begin the idea that a resume is really just an advertisement for yourself, and you'll understand that HOW you present information about your skills and job goals is as important as WHAT you include.

If you’re changing careers or looking for a job in a new industry, this book can help you adapt your resume to a new career in a new industry by simply rethinking its structure. With dozens of examples, author and career coach Catherine Jewell shows readers how to identify their relevant skills and emphasize their strengths in the pursuit of a new career.

Strengths Finder 2.0

Tom Rath

The book Now Discover Your Strengths (authored by Marcus Buckingham and Donald O. Clifton) was released in 2001 and Strengths Finder 2.0 is it 2007 follow-up. Both of these books are useful guides for anyone making a decision about their career path.

The idea behind both books is that each one of us possesses distinct strengths. By identifying these strengths and putting them to work in our careers, not only will we be more successful and productive, we’ll enjoy our work more.

The Other Kind of Smart

Harvey Deutschendorf

While emotional intelligence often goes by other names such as “people smarts” or “soft skills,” it is simply the ability to interact effectively with others. Maintaining control over negative emotions, cultivating self-respect and respect for others as well as keeping a positive outlook even when things aren’t going according to plan are all important components of emotional intelligence.