What Continuous Improvement books are you reading? All PD books are not created equal. That’s why reading the right ones is critical.
You have worked with smart and indispensable colleagues. They seem to be naturally gifted and talented. They think critically, contribute to discussions, and speak gold. In fact, other co-workers respect what they say— and like their thinking.
These smart colleagues respect their air time and use it well. Everything they say makes sense—and moves meetings in the right direction.
Maybe you wonder: “How can I be like these folks?” Today is your lucky day. Help is on the way.
Fortunately, becoming a linchpin isn’t rocket science. I use simple CI principles to help professionals get ahead, and I am no Elon Musk.
You can be a reference in your field if you work with a coach who can show you the way, a coach who will teach you concrete action steps. Really?
Yes, a great coach can help you discover what to learn, read, and do to increase your knowledge. Want an example?
That leads us to some Continuous Improvement books that my clients and I are using. Actually, I have a list of 100 key books for my clients; but let me share 10 with you.
Let’s dive in.
10 Continuous Improvement Books for Smart People

1- Linchpin: Are You Indispensable? by Seth Godin. This book tells you everything you need to know about becoming an indispensable asset in your field of work.
2- Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable by Seth Godin. This one teaches how to be remarkable— or how to do work worth talking about.
3- How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big: Kind of the Story of My Life by Scott Adams. In this book, Scott teaches the difference between goals and systems and why goal setting is overrated.
4- Mastery by Robert Greene. This one teaches what you need to know and do to master your craft.
5- Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport. From this one, you will learn strategies on how to beat distractions and get quality work done.

6- My Philosophy For Successful Living by Jim Rohn. This one teaches how to nurture a winner’s mindset and how to set yourself up for success.
7- Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise by Anders Ericsson and Robert Pool. Do you want to be an expert? Do you want to get better at what you do? If you do, this book is a must-read.
8- The Effective Executive: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Things Done by Peter F. Drucker. This book will teach you how to spend your time and energy on work that matters.
9- Measure What Matters: How Google, Bono, and the Gates Foundation Rock the World with OKRs by John Doerr. Have you heard about the goal-setting system of Objectives and Key Results (OKRs)? This book might give you insights on how to drive change and growth.
10- The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek. Do you understand the difference between finite and infinite games or work? In this book, Simon shares insights that might change the way you live and make decisions.
Have questions about how to build professional development systems? Shoot the CBL Team an email and check out our book: Creating Winning Career Systems.
PS: A few posts that you might have missed: