Six Books That Will Change Your Approach to Human Resources
Human Resources (HR) teams are often unfairly derided by the wider business community. They're frequently seen as the ‘baddies’ who say no to managers and executives alike — the ones who put a stop to everyone’s fun.
But HR is a vital business function, responsible for the internal management of people and operations. Despite its importance, it's often overlooked or reduced to the role of ‘fun police’ or office parents.
There may not be much HR professionals can do to change this perception overnight, but by becoming more well-versed in wider business practices, you can transform how you approach Human Resources Management.
These books are presented in no particular order — each offers something powerful and perspective-shifting.
Good to Great by Jim Collins
Although not technically a Human Resources book, it offers wisdom and structure in a wonderfully well-written, fast-paced read.
Jim Collins has spent years researching what makes businesses last and what makes them great. The book presents a compelling research-based perspective that encourages deep reflection. While it's not laid out as a step-by-step HR guide, Good to Great will help you elevate your HR role from good to great by understanding the foundations of business excellence.
Start with Why by Simon Sinek
This book goes beyond the minutiae of HR management. Like Good to Great, it offers a high-level perspective.
Its key takeaway is the importance of understanding your personal motivation and the deeper purpose behind your work. Sinek explores how great leaders inspire others by starting with "why" — a question every HR professional should be asking themselves and their teams.
Simon Sinek does at times veer into the ‘guru’ category of personality, which some may find overexposed. But this minor quirk aside, Start with Why is a powerful book that presents well-structured ideas to help you and your team think with clarity and purpose.
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The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber
This is one of the most important books small business owners can read. For everyone else, it's a revelation.
The book focuses on creating systems that work for small businesses, guiding owners to shift from being owner-creators to owners of scalable, repeatable systems.
For HR and recruitment professionals, The E-Myth offers practical insight into thinking systematically about processes — something that can transform the way HR functions within an organisation.
📚 Read The E-Myth Revisited here
People: New Assets on the Balance Sheet by DiVanna and Rogers
Originally published in the 1990s, this now-overlooked classic delivers a timeless message: in the modern knowledge economy, your people are assets, not liabilities.
Too many companies still view employees as costs to be minimised on the balance sheet — a mindset that has led to strategic disasters. DiVanna and Rogers present an evidence-rich case for recognising staff as valuable contributors to business success.
The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle
This book is a manifesto for rediscovering the obvious truth about talent: it can be developed. Skills, abilities, and performance are not purely innate — they grow through consistent application and deep practice.
While many of the examples are drawn from sport, music, and the arts, the insights apply directly to workplace learning and development. HR professionals can use these principles to design better upskilling initiatives and help team members overcome the fear of learning something new.
The Rare Find by George Anders This is one of the few recruitment-focused books (aside from Recruitment Hacks) truly worth your time. Anders dives into how to find exceptional talent in unconventional places — the kinds of candidates that don’t fit traditional moulds but bring extraordinary value.
You’ll learn how to identify rare skills and mindsets, and how to refine your selection processes. Not all roles require long, convoluted hiring pipelines. Sometimes, it’s about choosing the right test for the right outcome.
This book will also help you design better, more targeted hiring strategies to spot potential where others don’t.
How Each of These Books Will Help You
Good to Great will help you define what greatness means for your team or company — and how Human Resources can support that.
Start with Why will guide you and your team to understand the deeper reasons behind your actions and clarify your purpose.
The E-Myth Revisited will teach you how to systematise your business or department for long-term success.
People: New Assets on the Balance Sheet will give you a solid evidence base to advocate for investing in your staff.
The Talent Code shows how to grow internal talent and support effective learning and development.
The Rare Find will help you identify hidden talent and rethink outdated hiring practices.
Final Thoughts
This reading list is designed to help you — whether you're a home worker or HR professional — improve the work you do.
By offering diverse perspectives and ideas, these books can help you see the bigger picture and bring new depth to your approach to people, processes, and purpose.
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