What’s on your reading list at the moment?
If you’re on the lookout for a book to read to help you learn more about internal communication and the world of work, we’ve got you covered.
I regularly recommend books to All Things IC’s clients and have been sharing reading lists on my blog for 15 years.
I’ve included some of the newest books on the market, it’s wonderful to see publishers investing in internal communication. Long may it continue!
All of the books I’ve chosen are ones I personally recommend and are out now. Many are available to order and start reading today, as they have Kindle versions.
Regular readers of my blog will know my own book, Internal communication strategy: design, develop and transform your organizational communication was published by Kogan Page in April 2024. Thank you to everyone who has bought or gifted a copy over the past few months. Seeing it top best-selling charts around the globe is something I’m incredibly proud of, as it means it’s in the hands of internal communicators.
This is the book I wish existed when I was working in-house. It draws on my experience of working in this field since 2003 and has been designed to support and encourage internal communicators.
Seven of the books I’ve featured are Kogan Page books and I have a special offer for you. Use the code RACHELMILLER on the Kogan Page website to save 20% off any of their titles.
Tip: It’s worth looking at the other publishers’ websites as they often have deals and sales.
Learn about listening
Leading the listening organisation: creating organisations that flourish. By Dr Kevin Ruck, Mike Pounsford and Howard Krais.
Rachel Miller attending the launch of leading the listening organisation
This is the book on listening we’ve been waiting for. Kevin, Mike and Howard’s book combines their academic and professional backgrounds to create a comprehensive guide to listening inside organisations.
“Leading the Listening Organisation reveals not just the practices and processes that underpin effective listening but also the leadership characteristics and mindsets necessary to create resilient organisations that feel fair to work in, where people want to speak up, and where new ideas can flourish. It is based on extensive international research with leaders across over 500 organisations before, during, and after the pandemic. The authors bring decades of international experience and expertise in communicating with employees across public, private, and third sector organisations. Rich in practical tools, processes, and working frameworks and brought to life with case studies and insights from leaders and communicators, this book provides a complete guide to understanding the barriers to, and implementation plans for, leading a listening organisation.”
I particularly like the listening capabilities and the practical application. It was published by Routledge in December 2023 and I enjoyed attending its launch (pictured) to celebrate the book’s publication. I’ve heard the authors speaking at various events over the years. I love their passion for helping internal communicators to comprehend the importance of listening.
The book is available via your favourite book shop or the publisher’s website.
Further reading via the All Things IC blog: Read Dr Kevin Ruck’s article about the listening skills and responsibilities senior leaders need.
Learn about the future of work
Remote not distant: design a company culture that will help you thrive in a hybrid environment. By Gustavo Razzetti.
I’ve recommended this book to so many clients and comms friends. As the leader of a geographically dispersed and hybrid team myself, I’ve found this book invaluable.
It was published in June 2022 by Liberationalist Press. Razzetti is a business culture design consultant and introduces concepts around hybrid culture, ways of working and collaboration. If you’re grappling with hybrid working, this is the book for you.
“The pandemic taught many businesses a very valuable lesson — those who don’t adapt will get left behind. Some businesses managed to not only survive but actually thrive in a remote and hybrid work model. Remote, Not Distant unveils the secrets behind successful remote workplace cultures and provides actionable tools for senior leaders, managers, team members, and consultants. Authored by top culture thought leader Gustavo Razzetti, this book provides a clear roadmap to understanding, adapting to, and succeeding in a hybrid workplace.”
Available today via Amazon (affiliate link) or your favourite book shop.
Further reading via All Things IC. Online course: An internal communicator’s guide to hybrid working.
Internal communication in the age of artificial intelligence. By Monique Zytnik.
Monique is based out of Berlin, Germany, and I featured her in my own book this year as an expert view. She’s one of the nicest people in the wonderful world of internal communication and it’s been fantastic to get to know her more over the past year.
Her book was published in May 2024 and states: “The book reveals a modern, multilayered approach to internal communication. It’s a practical guide for business leaders and communicators, filled with global case studies, behind-the-scenes insights and stories from industry experts. You’ll learn what basics must be done brilliantly, how to engage with communities and why an immersive communication mindset is needed to help you prepare for the future.”
Internal communication in the age of artificial intelligence is easy to read and you’ll want a notebook to hand as it’s full of useful ideas. Congratulations Monique on such a timely book. It was published by Business Expert Press and is available via Amazon (affiliate link).
Further reading via the All Things IC blog: Listen to Monique and Rachel in conversation via the IABC podcast.
Learn about diversity, equity and inclusion
Building a culture of inclusivity: effective internal communication for diversity, equity and inclusion.
Priya Bates is President and owner of Inner Strength Communication and co-founder of A Leader Like Me podcast. Based in Toronto, Canada, she is an Accredited Business Communicator and a Certified Strategic Communication Management Professionals. Advita Patel is the Director of CommsRebel, co-host of award-winning podcast, CalmEdgedRebels and A Leader Like Me. Based in Manchester, UK, she is a Chartered PR practitioner and a Fellow of CIPR. In 2022 she was named one of the top 100 Northern Asian British entrepreneurs.
- Building a Culture of Inclusivity, 2023, Kogan Page.
The publisher says: “Diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) have never been so important in organizations and yet many feel inadequately prepared. In this guide, the authors combine their expert knowledge to provide a practical approach to bridge this skills and knowledge gap for those delivering Internal Communications. Navigating DEI language can be difficult, but Building a Culture of Inclusivity will help Internal Communication professionals, HR and business leaders engage employees in driving culture change to ensure everyone feels valued and like they belong. This book provides a roadmap to manage tangible change consistently throughout the year and techniques that avoid inauthenticity. It also explains how to identify and move away from performative tokenistic actions and biases to help develop effective deliverables that help every colleague in their organization feel included.”
Further reading via the All Things IC blog about the book:
- Listen to Advita Patel talking about the book via the latest episode of my Candid Comms podcast: A candid conversation with Advita Patel.
- Interview with Priya and Advita for the All Things IC blog: Building a culture of inclusivity.
Learn about crisis communication
Amanda Coleman is my go-to expert on crisis communication. She’s currently on the verge of having her third book published with Kogan Page on the topic and I recommend her previous editions:
- Crisis communication strategies: prepare, respond, and recover effectively in unpredictable and urgent situations. Published 2023. Available via the Kogan Page website.
- Everyday communication strategies: manage common issues to prevent a crisis and protect your brand. Published 2022. Available via the Kogan Page website.
I had the pleasure of speaking with Amanda last year as part of her Ten Minutes With series. Our conversation is available via her YouTube channel.
I have an early copy of her third book as I will be endorsing it, I can’t wait to dive in!
Amanda is based in Manchester, UK and she’s a crisis communication consultant and Director and founder of crisis communication consultancy Amanda Coleman Communication Ltd. With over 20 years experience in emergency services communication, she is a fellow of both the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) and The Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA). She is an advisor for the Resilience Advisors Network, a Senior Associate of the Centre for Crisis and Risk Communication and the Chair of the UK’s Emergency Planning Society Communication Professional Working Group.
Learn about employee experience
Emma Bridger and Belinda Gannaway’s book Employee experience by design: how to create an effective EX for competitive advantage was published by Kogan Page in March 2024. It’s available via the Kogan Page website.
I featured Emma in my book and admire her approach. The partnership between Emma and Belinda is outstanding, this is such a valuable book for IC professionals.
Kogan Page says: “Delivering a great employee experience is crucial, but how can organisations create an experience that enables their teams to unlock their potential and thrive? Drawing on positive psychology and design principles, Employee Experience by Design is the practical guide for HR and OD professionals, business leaders and all those needing to create an employee experience that empowers people to perform at their best. This new edition sets out simple but effective steps any team or organization can follow. Sharing tools to measure employee experience (EX) and demonstrate return on investment, this book shows how to build a robust business case for employee experience and align EX activity with organisational strategy.”
This updated guide showcases EX design through a user-friendly framework covering all levels of EX, from company culture to people processes. This new edition is packed with tips, tools and examples from organisations, including ING, Expedia Group and Adeo. It is essential reading for anyone looking to develop a healthy, high-performing workplace where people can excel.
The people business: how ten leaders drive engagement through internal communications. By Annabel Dunstan and Imogen Osborne
You’ll discover a refreshingly honest perspective on the practices and challenges facing IC today. It includes tips for success, what the practitioners have learned along the way, and what remains challenging (a lot!). The People Business examines the evolution of internal communications “from a once poor relation of the communications mix to becoming a respected discipline in its own right.” That transformation is illustrated through 10 chapters of the book dedicated to outlining what good looks like (and a healthy dose of what not to do), when it comes to the practice of internal communication.
The book was published by the PRCA and Kogan Page in 2017.
Further reading via the All Things IC blog : Why you need to focus on the business of people.
Learn about communication
Ros Atkins’ the art of explanation is one of the best books I’ve read this year. I bought the Kindle version and loved it so much I bought the paperback so I could mark it up!
The cover states: “In this book, presented and journalist Ros Atkins, created or the BBC’s viral explainer videos, shares his secrets of working in high-pressure newsrooms, identifying the 10 elements of a good explanation and the seven steps you need to take for maximum clarity and impact.”
Keep this book close, you’ll want to read it again.
It is available today from Amazon (affiliate link) or your favourite book shop.
Learn about internal communication
Better internal communication: how to add value, be more strategic and fast-track your career. By Lesley Allman.
This book was published in 2021 by Rethink publishing and I wrote the foreword for it.
Lesley Allman MBA has over 20 years of internal communication and employee engagement experience. Most recently she has headed up Allman Communication, supporting leadership teams in over 50 major organisations, successfully helping them to develop and deliver strategic communication, transformation and culture change programmes. Prior to that she led in-house communication teams at Coors Brewers and Premier Foods where she played a key role in engaging and aligning employees behind each organisation’s purpose, vision, strategy and values. She is a Fellow of Institute of Internal Communication and her work has won numerous industry awards.
The publisher says: “Get the know-how you need to be recognised as a skilled strategic internal communicator. Everyone thinks they’re an internal communication expert, but it takes in-depth knowledge and skill to deliver the most engaging and effective internal comms. This practical handbook will help you to build this knowledge and expand your skillset, as well as providing guidance on how to be more strategic and develop your career. Read this book and learn how to: step up your knowledge, thinking and delivery, choose the right tools and techniques to deliver the best results and focus on what adds value and stop doing what doesn’t.”
It’s available today via Amazon (affiliate link).
Influential internal communication: streamline your corporate communication to drive efficiency and engagement by Jenni Field, was published by Kogan Page in 2021.
Jenni has nearly 20 years’ experience in communications and is based in Berkshire, UK. She has worked at Director level for numerous organisations including the global pharmaceutical company Perrigo. Jenni Field was the 2020 President of the CIPR, and is both Chartered and a fellow of the Institute. She has been quoted by The Times, Raconteur and listed on the Institute of IC’s 30 under 30, and Inspiring Workplaces top 101 influencers in employee engagement. She now runs her own consultancy, Redefining Communications, and speaks regularly for organisations and at industry events.
The publisher says: “As the title suggests, Influential Internal Communication proves just how influential internal communications (IC) is, and the measurable impact it has on an organization’s growth. For many organizations, IC often slips down the list of priorities when there are high pressure, high stakes business situations to cope with. This causes a sense of chaos and confusion within the organisation that will – eventually – permeate to external customers and clients. Influential Internal Communication presents a clear, adaptable methodology that will help readers understand, diagnose and fix their own communication challenges, thereby transforming the chaos into calm.”
It is available from Amazon (affiliate link) or the Kogan Page website.
Successful Employee Communications by Sue Dewhurst and Liam FitzPatrick
Sue Dewhurst worked as a senior internal communicator in house and as a consultant for over 20 years, before specialising in learning and development. She’s trained thousands of leaders and professional communicators and her models and frameworks are used in organisations worldwide.
Liam FitzPatrick is experienced in change management, PR and internal communications in-house and for major consultancies. He lectures on developing teams, research, and planning, and has served as an external examiner at UK universities. I featured Liam’s thoughts in my own book.
- Successful Employee Communications, 2022, Kogan Page.
The publisher says: “Communicating effectively is crucial to improving employee engagement, organizational culture, and performance. Learn how to focus your time and resources to make the most positive difference to your organisation and its people. Successful Employee Communications explores how to help organizations work with purpose, be better listeners and connect with employees who have higher expectations and new ways of working. Easy-to-follow frameworks and checklists will help you conduct an internal communication audit, develop and measure a communication plan, work with difficult news and behaviour change, and support leaders to be more effective communicators.”
Further reading via the All Things IC blog:
- Helping leaders to communicate – a steer from behavioural science by Liam FitzPatrick and Sue Dewhurst
- How to make IC add up – featuring the 1st edition of Successful Employee Communications.
You’ll see from the image I’ve also included Liam’s 2014 book with Klavs Valskov. Nearly a decade on, it’s full of IC advice which remains relevant today.
- Internal Communications: a manual for practitioners, 2014, Kogan Page.
And finally… my own book
I’m proud to have contributed to the growing field of internal communication books. Internal communication strategy: design, develop and transform your organizational communication was published in April 2024 by Kogan Page.
I refer to it constantly in conversations with clients and comms friends to help them discover communication theory, some of my own models and read examples from in-house peers.
Whether you’re just starting out, building a team, or developing an IC strategy, you’ll find advice and guidance to help you.
The MILLER Framework provides the structure for the book. I’ve analysed each stage in detail and highlighted expert views from the industry, so you’ll not only learn how to write an IC strategy, but how to implement it too. Discover why mindset, insights, logistics, leadership, evaluation and revision matter for internal communication and how you can apply them today to transform your work.
I hope you enjoy reading it as much I’ve loved writing it. To date it has sold 1318 copies over the past three months (excluding ebooks) and is available from your favourite book shop.
A limited edition featuring an additional foreword and All Things IC logo is available exclusively via the All Things IC website. I can sign and ship it to you or your team.
You’ll find the standard edition on Kogan Page’s website (don’t forget to use RACHELMILLER for 20% off), or order it via your favourite bookstore or online, including: Amazon (affiliate link), Waterstones, Barnes & Noble, Kogan Page and Foyles.
I hope you’ve found this article useful to discover what your peers are reading and what I’m recommending.