Five books that have shaped my career.
Five books that have shaped my career.
This week we dig into some great books you can read to level up your career.
As a product manager, I've learned that success goes beyond technical skills. It’s about building trust, measuring impact, and being willing to rethink assumptions.
Over the years, a few books have greatly impacted how I approach my work. These five stand out because they’ve given me new perspectives, helped me build better teams, and allowed me to manage projects more effectively.
1. The Speed of Trust by Stephen M.R. Covey
One of the first books I can remember having to read and discuss for business classes was The Speed of Trust: The One Thing That Changes Everything by Stephen Covey. My professor was a huge Covey slappy, and she referenced him at least five times every class. In retrospect, I understand now why she was so strong on his works.
The Speed of Trust opened my eyes to how important trust is in teams. It’s not just something nice to have - it’s the foundation that makes everything run more smoothly. When trust is high, things happen faster, decisions are made more easily, and the team stays in sync.
This book helped me realize how much effort I need to put into building trust with my team and stakeholders. By investing in trust upfront, we can move more quickly and confidently. It’s made me more deliberate about fostering trust and collaboration in every project I lead.
2. Measure What Matters by John Doerr
Without clear goals, projects can easily lose focus. Measure What Matters gave me a framework to set measurable goals and track progress through Objectives and Key Results (OKRs). It helps me keep the team aligned on what success looks like and ensures we’re always aiming for impact.
I especially appreciate how it keeps me grounded when planning work. It pushes me to ask, How will we know if this is working? It’s become an essential tool for making sure our work is focused on driving real results.
Regardless of your org type, there’s a good chance they all have some semblance of impact or company-driving metrics. Although you may have various target needles to move, you should always remember these when telling the story of your success.
3. Wait: The Art and Science of Delay by Frank Partnoy
In a role where quick decisions often feel necessary, Wait taught me the value of slowing down. Partnoy’s perspective on delay made me rethink when and how to make decisions. Sometimes waiting isn’t procrastination—it’s gathering more information or letting things develop before making a call.
This idea has influenced how I approach product launches and new features. Instead of rushing, I ask: Is now the right time? Do we have all the information we need? This patience has led to better outcomes and more thoughtful decisions.
4. Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know by Adam Grant
Think Again encourages a constant rethinking of beliefs and decisions - which is crucial in product management, where the landscape changes constantly. Adam Grant’s focus on intellectual humility—being willing to change your mind—has had a big impact on me.
It’s taught me the importance of questioning my assumptions and staying open to new information. This book reminds me that growth comes from what we don’t know yet, and it’s made me better at seeking feedback and encouraging curiosity within my team.
5. Laws of UX by Jon Yablonski
I would never pretend to be an expert in UX/UI - if you’ve seen my MS Paint mockups over time you would probably agree.You don’t have to be in that line of work, however, to appreciate some of the core concepts that exist within Laws of UX.
Laws of UX changed the way I think about product design. It helped me understand why some user experiences just work and others don’t. As a product manager, making sure that the products we create are intuitive and easy to use is key. This book simplifies complex design principles and shows how to apply them practically.
What I love about it is how actionable it is. It doesn’t just stay in theory - it gives clear advice on creating designs people enjoy using. It’s helped me guide teams to make design decisions that work for users and business goals.
Final Thoughts
These five books have shaped how I work as a product person. From building trust to setting measurable goals, to learning when to slow down and rethink, each one has helped me approach my work in a smarter way. If you’re looking for new perspectives in your career, these are definitely worth a read.
What books have shaped your career? I’d love to hear your recommendations. Leave a comment and let me know.