10 Books to Develop Essential Skills for Working from Home
Working from home isn’t just about getting your tasks done; it’s about mastering a whole new set of skills. From staying on top of projects to communicating effectively with your team, there’s a lot to juggle.
Luckily, there are some proven guides out there that can help you thrive. Check out these ten must-read books to level up your remote work skills.
1.“Remote: Office Not Required” by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson
- What it’s about: Written by the founders of Basecamp, this book is packed with tips on how to excel in remote work. They cover everything from staying productive and motivated to building a strong remote work culture.
- Perfect for: Anyone new to remote work or looking to improve their current setup with practical and insightful advice.
- Might not be your thing if: You’re after detailed technical advice or highly specific tools and software recommendations.
Remote: Office Not Required by David Heinemeier Hansson & Jason Fried
Working from home can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. In this book, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson of Basecamp cut through the noise to show why embracing a virtual office makes sense. They tackle the challenges head-on, offering practical tips to make remote work not just doable but advantageous. From expanding your talent pool to improving work-life balance, they argue that the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. Whether you’re a manager worried about team cohesion or an employee seeking more flexibility, this book provides clear, actionable advice to help you thrive while working from home.
2. “The Remote Work Revolution” by Tsedal Neeley
- What it’s about: Neeley dives into the strategies and tools you need to nail remote work. She backs everything up with solid research.
- Perfect for: Those who want to understand remote work best practices.
- Might not be your thing if: You prefer more story-driven advice.
3. “No Hard Feelings” by Liz Fosslien and Mollie West Duffy
- What it’s about: This book explores how to handle emotions at work and create a positive remote work environment. It provides insights on boosting emotional intelligence, managing stress, and fostering healthy communication while working remotely.
- Perfect for: Anyone looking to boost their emotional intelligence, improve soft skills, and create a more positive and productive remote work environment.
- Might not be your thing if: You’re after more technical skills and specific remote work tools.
No Hard Feelings: Emotions at Work and How They Help Us Succeed by Liz Fosslien & Mollie West Duffy
Dealing with emotions at work can be tricky, but ignoring them isn’t the answer. In this book, Liz Fosslien and Mollie West Duffy provide a practical guide on how to harness your emotions to boost creativity, collaboration, and productivity. With lively illustrations and real-world examples, this book combines insights from behavioural economics and psychology to help you express your feelings constructively. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, jealousy, or insecurity, you’ll learn to bring your best self to work and thrive in your professional life.
4. “Virtual Freedom” by Chris Ducker
- What it’s about: Chris Ducker shows you how to delegate tasks and manage virtual teams effectively. He provides practical advice on outsourcing, leadership, and building a successful remote team, helping you free up your time to focus on what truly matters.
- Perfect for: Entrepreneurs and managers of virtual teams looking for guidance on effective delegation and team management.
- Might not be your thing if: You don’t have team management responsibilities or are looking for more general remote work advice.
Virtual Freedom: How to Work with Virtual Staff to Buy More Time, Become More Productive, and Build Your Dream Business by Chris C. Ducker
In this book, Chris Ducker tackles the common entrepreneurial trap of trying to do everything solo. He offers a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to building a business with the aid of virtual staff, breaking down the process from deciding what tasks to outsource to effectively hiring, training, and managing virtual assistants. This book is perfect for small business owners, consultants, and online entrepreneurs looking to grow their businesses without burning out, by leveraging affordable and efficient virtual teams. Ducker’s insights and resources make it clear that you don’t have to be a superhero to achieve your business dreams.
5. “The Long-Distance Leader” by Kevin Eikenberry and Wayne Turmel
- What it’s about: Learn how to lead remote teams effectively with practical tips on communication, trust-building, and management. Eikenberry and Turmel provide actionable strategies to navigate the challenges of leading from a distance, ensuring productivity and cohesion within remote teams.
- Perfect for: Managers and team leaders looking for guidance on how to manage and support their remote teams successfully.
- Might not be your thing if: You’re not in a leadership role or are looking for general remote work advice.
The Long-Distance Leader: Rules for Remarkable Remote Leadership by Kevin Eikenberry & Wayne Turmel
Kevin Eikenberry and Wayne Turmel tackle the unique challenges of remote leadership, offering essential guidance for leaders managing teams from afar. They break down the remote leadership role using their 3 O model: focusing on self-leadership, engaging others without physical presence, and leveraging the right tools and processes to achieve team goals. As face-to-face communication gives way to technology, this book provides practical strategies to overcome isolation, frustration, and stress, ensuring leaders and their teams remain effective, connected, and productive in a remote working world.
6. “Work Together Anywhere” by Lisette Sutherland and Kirsten Janene-Nelson
- What it’s about: This book offers a roadmap for creating a productive and connected remote work culture. It provides practical advice on improving teamwork, communication, and collaboration in a remote setting, ensuring that remote teams stay engaged and effective.
- Perfect for: Anyone wanting to improve teamwork and communication in a remote work environment, looking for strategies to build a cohesive and productive remote team.
- Might not be your thing if: You prefer solo work and are not interested in team-based strategies and collaboration.
Work Together Anywhere: A Handbook on Working Remotely Successfully for Individuals, Teams, and Managers by Lisette Sutherland & Kirsten Janene-Nelson
An essential guide for thriving in the remote work landscape. Packed with practical advice and hands-on materials, this book provides a blueprint for employees, managers, and teams to work effectively from anywhere. It covers advocating for remote options, maximising productivity, fostering teamwork, and securing confidential data. Whether you’re a manager looking to optimise resources or an employee seeking better work-life balance, this book is your go-to resource for navigating and succeeding in the modern remote working world.
7. “The Art of Working Remotely” by Scott Dawson
- What it’s about: Dawson shares his personal journey and practical tips for successful remote work. He offers relatable advice on overcoming the challenges and leveraging the benefits of working remotely, drawing from his extensive experience.
- Perfect for: New remote workers looking for relatable and practical advice on how to thrive in a remote work environment.
- Might not be your thing if: You’re looking for more structured, corporate advice focused on formal business strategies.
The Art of Working Remotely: How to Thrive in a Distributed Workplace by Scott Dawson
A must-read for anyone navigating the world of remote work. With insights drawn from Dawson's 21-year journey, this book offers practical advice on setting up an effective workspace and adopting behaviors that lead to success. Whether you're working from home, a coworking space, or a coffee shop, Dawson’s anecdotes and tips will help you thrive in a distributed workplace, ensuring you perform at a high level even when you're not physically with your colleagues.
8. “Distributed Teams” by John O’Duinn
- What it’s about: O’Duinn gives insights on building and managing distributed teams, with practical tips on communication, collaboration, and maintaining team cohesion despite geographical distances.
- Perfect for: Managers and leaders of remote teams who want to enhance their team management skills and improve remote collaboration.
- Might not be your thing if: You’re working solo and do not have team management duties.
Distributed Teams: The Art and Practice of Working Together While Physically Apart by John O’Duinn
An essential guide for anyone navigating remote work. Drawing on over 28 years of experience, O’Duinn offers practical advice and best practices for thriving without a daily commute and preventing burnout. This updated edition includes insights from the COVID-19 shift to remote work, featuring interviews with professionals across various industries. It's packed with actionable tips to help individuals and organizations maintain team culture, improve resilience, and leverage remote work as a competitive advantage.
9. “Surviving Remote Work” by Sharon Koifman
- What it’s about: Koifman covers everything you need to know about thriving in a remote work setup, from creating an efficient home office to maintaining mental health. He offers a comprehensive guide to help you navigate the challenges and maximise the benefits of remote work.
- Perfect for: Anyone looking for comprehensive advice on remote work, covering all aspects from practical setup to emotional well-being.
- Might not be your thing if: You’re after very niche advice focused on specific remote work issues.
Surviving Remote Work: How to Thrive as a Leader and Entrepreneur in the Remote Age by Sharon Koifman
This is your go-to guide for mastering the challenges of the remote work era. Packed with practical tools, strategies, and real-life examples, this book helps leaders and entrepreneurs keep company culture alive, onboard new employees effectively, manage distractions, and choose the best communication technologies. With a humorous and conversational style, Koifman, the founder & CEO of DistantJob, shares his 20 years of remote work experience, ensuring you avoid common pitfalls and achieve remote excellence. Whether you’re a seasoned remote worker or new to the scene, this book offers invaluable insights to help you thrive in the remote age.
10. “The Ultimate Guide to Remote Work” by Zapier Team
- What it’s about: This guide offers an all-in-one look at remote work best practices, with tips on tools, communication, and productivity. It compiles the experiences and insights of the Zapier team, making it a comprehensive resource for both remote workers and managers.
- Perfect for: Those wanting a thorough guide to remote work, including practical advice on managing tasks, using tools effectively, and maintaining productivity.
- Might not be your thing if: You prefer books with a more personal, narrative style, as this guide is focused on practical and actionable information.
The Ultimate Guide to Remote Work by Zapier Team
Zapier is a 100% distributed company with over 800 teammates across 40 countries. Here are their tips for how to make remote work a success.
Enjoyed our recommendations? Don’t stop here! Check out this handpicked list of books on:
- How to improve your productivity
- How to handle burnout
- How to avoid distractions
- How to manage your time
- How to boost your creativity
- How to maintain a work-life balance
- How to keep your mental health in check
- How to balance family and work responsibilities
- How to deal with loneliness when working remotely
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