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Turning the Page on Your Career: Leadership’s Recommendations for Professional Reading – Part 2

Ashley DeGroot | February 19, 2021

This is our final installment of book recommendations from members of Paycom’s leadership, so we hope you’ve saved some room on your reading list. Pushing to find new ways to lead and excel is nothing new to the members of our team, and they’ve offered a few of their favorite books that fueled this drive to be the best.

Cassie Niemann, Talent and Organizational Development Manager, HR

  1. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success — Carol S. Dweck

A growth mindset is the foundation of learning, curiosity and success. A growth mindset allows you to embrace challenges, be persistent in the face of adversity, learn from criticism and find lessons in your success as well as the success of others. To develop grit, or the power to persevere in any situation, you must cultivate a growth mindset. Hard work, effort and learning will get you further in life and in your career than talent and smarts.

  1. Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts — Brené Brown

We should all aim for three things: brave work, tough conversations and whole hearts. To show up as our very best, to lead effectively in any situation and to adequately serve others, all requirements in any organization, we must practice courage and vulnerability as leaders.

  1. Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win — Jocko Willink and Leif Babin

According to the authors, there are no bad teams, only bad leaders. I love the 10 direct and specific leadership lessons in this book as well as the stories these two former Navy SEALs share.

Charles Franks, Operations Recruiting Manager

Each of these books helps potential leaders and people of influence look within themselves and self-evaluate. The primary focus would be helping an individual to build character, thinking with intentional action and assisting to create positive change within themselves to impact others and all things around them.

  1. Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t — Simon Sinek
  2. The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business — Charles Duhigg
  3. Becoming a Person of Influence: How to Positively Impact the Lives of Others — John C. Maxwell

Looking for new ideas and learning from the greats is an essential part of the journey for individuals looking to improve in any endeavor, and we’re thankful that members of the Paycom leadership team took the time to share some of the works that helped them on their way.

If you’re ready to embark on the next chapter of your professional career, we know an organization that might help you get there. Apply for a job at Paycom today!

About the author
Author picture, Ashley DeGroot
Ashley DeGroot
As a senior employer brand marketer for Paycom, Ashley DeGroot helps the talent acquisition teams determine their goals and assists with strategy development. Her efforts include campaign management, engaging with top talent and increasing brand awareness. After earning a public relations degree from the University of Oklahoma, DeGroot joined the Paycom team and has held a few different roles across the marketing department during her tenure. Her passion for Paycom's employer brand shines through in her work with more than 3 years of experience in the space. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, attending concerts and reading.