If you struggle to communicate with others, you may find yourself lagging in the business world. In fact, of all the so-called “soft” skills, communication may be the most pivotal to your personal and professional success. Take the results of a Resume Templates survey from 2025, for instance: The survey ranked communication as the top job skill hiring managers wanted to see in candidates, above resilience and adaptability.
Of course, improving your communication skills means committing to working on several key engagement areas. And one of the simplest ways to start is to read books by expert communicators.
Below are four must-have works for your communications-focused library. Each one concentrates on a different communications arena and includes specific ways to make lasting improvements over time.
If you’re already a leader, you may want to read and discuss these books with your team as part of a broader “book club” campaign. That way, you can apply new principles to your own communication style and coach your direct reports as well.
1. “The Story Effect” — Danielle Krischik
As humans, we tend to appreciate hearing a good story. Yet many leaders find it challenging (and maybe impossible) to put on their storyteller hats. In “The Story Effect”, Danielle Krischik reveals the secret sauce to unlocking anyone’s ability to become a riveting narrator.
Krischik is a masterful and authentic leader-storyteller herself (she says you can thank her mother, who passed along her talent for connection to her daughter), and her words will keep you riveted chapter after chapter. But she doesn’t just rely on her experience or expertise. Krischik turns to evidence-based research to show the science behind the stickiness and transformative power of stories.
You’ll especially appreciate that Krischik doesn’t merely focus on teaching you how to become stronger in this art. On the contrary, she illustrates how to help those around you bring out their unique stories to strengthen your team. In this way, she gives you the tools to use “The Story Effect” as a leadership playbook.
2. “Crucial Conversations” — Joseph Grenny, Kerry Patterson et al.
Now available in its third edition, “Crucial Conversations” has become a communications bestseller. What’s made this book such a fan favorite among aspiring and existing leaders is its focus on using persuasion and other positive techniques when approaching complex or challenging discussions.
If you’re someone who’s accustomed to business books with executive-speak language and layouts, you’ll appreciate the lighter narrative approach that “Crucial Conversations” takes. Certainly, the topic is heavy, but the prose sounds natural, like you’re reading advice from a trusted friend.
As a final note, be sure to keep a copy handy. You never know when someone will ask you to talk about a serious subject, and this work can help you prepare for the hardest of sit-downs.
3. “Made to Stick” — Chip Heath and Dan Heath
Leaders spend a lot of time making pitches. They pitch ideas to potential investors, their peers, their teams, and sometimes even the public. However, not all pitches are “Made to Stick”, as Chip and Dan Heath might say. Only those that stimulate the curiosity, memory, and imagination of listeners take hold — and take flight.
The authors have identified six principles that all sticky ideas share. After sharing them as a group, they dive into how to put each into practice. You may be surprised at how obvious, yet little-used together, the principles are.
Be forewarned that as you read over the many strategies for making your ideas stickier, you’ll wish you had known them before. You’ll think of failed projects and realize, “If I’d used these techniques, I’d have had better buy-in and support.” However, you can leverage those reflections to strengthen your future communication methodologies.
4. “Talk Like TED” — Carmine Gallo
Most professionals have to give speeches now and then. Yet public speaking isn’t always a leader’s most intuitive “soft” strength. That’s where “Talk Like TED” can become a trusted resource.
Author Carmine Gallo has spent time amassing and distilling TED Talk observations and advice from some of the business world’s most dynamic presenters for this book. But you don’t have to be ready to deliver a speech in front of hundreds of people to use those tips. Actually, you’ll find yourself turning to them when prepping for smaller meetings and events.
It’s worth mentioning that this work has special relevance if you’re planning to give a virtual speech. Grabbing the attention of online listeners requires special skills. This book will help you feel more secure and comfortable when engaging with virtual audience members.
Even if you rate your communication skills as excellent, you can always improve. And all of these books will put you on the path to becoming a more proficient, intuitive conversationalist.
Photo by Volodymyr Hryshchenko; Unsplash
