With the new year here that also means new hires! And while getting some fresh faces in the office can be exciting, it is important to set them up for success in their new roles. Because let's face it – the first days at a new job can be a whirlwind of information overload.

At BookPal we believe books are crucial to personal and professional development. How do we know this? Because businesses and organizations order books from us everyday for their onboarding and training initiatives! 

But the proof is also in the numbers. According to a survey from click boarding companies with an engaging onboarding program ended up retaining 91% of their first-year workers, and new hires with a well structured onboarding program were 69% more likely to remain with the company for up to three years. So take it from the experts that creating a successful onboarding program has been proven to increase employee engagement, employee retention, increased productivity, and better team communication. 

Introducing a book to your onboarding process is the perfect way to create a successful and engaging program. You can decide your onboarding and training books for employees of all levels and that align with your company’s culture and values. They are a fun and exciting way to get your new hires to learn more about your company and share their insights from their reading.

But need some help deciding which books could be a good fit? We are here to help! So put down that hefty employee handbook and get ready to pick up one of these books perfect for your employee onboarding and training!

Tried & True Classics

When in doubt why not look at the classics! Our customers have loved these tried and true books. There’s a reason why they are still bestsellers years after they’ve come out! These books have earned their accolades as some of the best employee onboarding and training books around. 

The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter by Michael D Watkins

Named one of the top 100 leadership and success books of all time, this updated bestseller provides essential strategies for leaders facing transitions at any career level. Offering practical tools and insights, Watkins guides readers through common pitfalls, helping them secure early wins and successfully navigate the challenges of starting new roles.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey

A timeless bestseller with over 40 million copies sold this book, hailed as the #1 Most Influential Business Book of the Twentieth Century, is an essential read for employees at every level. Celebrating its 30th Anniversary, this edition, enriched by modern insights from Sean Covey, continues to guide a new generation of leaders through transformative habits proven to work in both their personal and professional lives.

Strengthsfinder 2.0 by Don Clifton

Discover your team members’ top five talents through the upgraded StrengthsFinder assessment and access personalized action-planning tools. This book emphasizes the idea that focusing on developing one's strengths leads to more significant growth than trying to improve weaknesses, offering a valuable resource for individuals and organizations looking to uncover and harness their employees’ inherent strengths.

Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy Seals Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin

One of our bestsellers, former Navy SEALs and founders of Echelon Front, share the essential leadership principals they learned in combat and successfully applied to numerous organizations worldwide. This guide serves as a clea and purposeful leadership manual, providing necessary insights for individuals across diverse teams, making it a staple for businesses aiming to elevate their performance to new heights.

For Personal Success

Setting new hires up for personal and professional success is a pivotal aspect to employee onboarding. No matter at what level, you want to make sure your employees not only assimilate into their roles seamlessly but also thrive in the long term. From understanding the science of achieving your goals to cultivating a positive organizational culture, these books provide practical tools and wisdom to foster the growth and success of your newest members.

Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things by Adam Grant

#1 New York Times bestselling author Adam Grant challenges the obsession with innate talent and introduces a framework for surpassing expectations in his new book. From classrooms to boardrooms, Grant explores how building character skills and motivational structures, rather than relying solely on innate genius, enables individuals to rise to greater achievements and create opportunities for those often overlooked.

Clear Thinking: Turning Ordinary Moments Into Extraordinary Results by Shane Parrish

Farnam Street founder Shane Parrish unveils the tools to recognize pivotal moments that can alter our life's trajectory and reshape our responses to achieve desired outcomes. Get ready to break free from autopilot thinking for optimizing decision-making and living a more intentional life.

Optimal: How to Sustain Personal and Organizational Excellence Every Day by Daniel Goleman and Cary Cherniss

Explore how emotional intelligence can help individuals sustain peak performance and experience consistently satisfying days in this new release. Drawing on decades of scientific research, the book provides insights into setting realistic goals, building emotional intelligence, and creating an organizational culture that fosters engagement and productivity.

How Big Things Get Done: The Surprising Factors That Determine the Fate of Every Project, from Home Renovations to Space Exploration and Everything In Between by Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner

Delve into the reasons behind the failure of both large and small projects and how to set up your new hires for success. Through vivid examples, the authors emphasize understanding odds, strategic planning, team collaboration, and mastering the unknowns, offering a guide to achieving your most ambitious goals.

For Team Wide Success

Creating new teams in the workplace is essential for fostering collaboration, productivity, and a positive organizational culture. Effectively setting up teams involves not only assembling diverse talents but also providing the necessary tools and guidance for them to succeed together.

The Gift of Influence: Creating Life-Changing and Lasting Impact in Your Everyday Interactions by Tommy Spaulding

Your team can explore the profound impact each person can have on others, emphasizing the potential for positive change in our everyday interactions in this inspirational book. Through compelling stories of exceptional leaders and a practical recipe for leading a meaningful life, Spaulding offers essential insights for anyone seeking to make a lasting impact in their daily actions. 

The Culture Playbook: 60 Highly Effective Actions to Help Your Group Succeed by Daniel Coyle

Daniel Coyle distills insights from studying successful teams worldwide, offering sixty actionable tips and exercises to help teams build a cohesive and positive culture. Centered around the essential skills of safety, vulnerability, and purpose, the book provides practical guidance for you and your team to gain knowledge from.

Team Habits: How Small Actions Lead to Extraordinary Results by Charlie Gilkey

Learn about the impact of small, team-based changes that can have widespread effects across a company in this essential read. This book guides readers through practical exercises and a Team Habits Quiz to improve teamwork, fostering an environment where individuals can flourish and thrive.

Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection by Charles Duhigg

Charles Duhigg explores the art of communication by taking readers inside diverse scenarios illustrating how recognizing and navigating the three conversations (practical, emotional, and social) can lead to more successful connections. Help your team understand and leverage the hidden layers beneath every conversation, emphasizing that with the right tools, anyone can connect with others effectively.

Management & Leadership Onboarding

Moving up to a management/ leadership position is an exciting team within a company! As individuals step into these positions, they must navigate the complexities of guiding teams, making strategic decisions, and fostering a positive organizational environment. Make sure your new managers can confidently embrace their roles and help your workplace thrive.

All In: How Great Leaders Build Unstoppable Teams by Mike Michalowicz

Bestselling author Mike Michalowicz offers a comprehensive formula for building thriving teams in the face of contemporary workplace challenges, such as remote work, recruiting the right talent, and more. This book guides leaders at all levels in creating a cohesive and empowered team invested in the success and growth of the organization.

The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple (But Not Easy) by William H McRaven

Admiral McRaven, a decorated Navy SEAL and author of "Make Your Bed," shares leadership insights gathered over his four-decade military career in this new book. Drawing on experiences such as commanding combat operations, he imparts crucial lessons on traits like courage, adaptability, and strategic thinking, offering a clear-eyed treatise on the qualities that distinguish good leaders from the truly great.

Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t by Simon Sinek

In this classic, Simon Sinek explores the transformative power of great leadership by creating environments where people collaborate seamlessly, driven by trust and a shared sense of purpose. Drawing on real-world examples, get ready to share with your new hires the secrets of being an effective leader.

Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity by Kim Scott

A globally embraced concept, Radical Candor shares a transformative approach to leadership. This book, rooted in caring personally and challenging directly, offers a guide to creating a culture of Compassionate Candor, building cohesive teams, and achieving collaborative results, making it essential reading for successful onboarding and training.

Hopefully these book suggestions helped spark some inspiration on how you want to welcome your new hires in a fun and engaging way! If you are you looking for a specific title not on our list you can request a quote and one of our account managers will help get you the info you need. Happy onboarding and training season!