Advocating holiday shoppers to give gifts that keep on giving long after the season has ended, Hartford Business Journal compiled a list of business books that bestow knowledge, self-improvement and motivation.  

Click here to see the full list.

“There’s No Elevator to the Top” by Umesh Ramkrishnan, Portfolio, $25.95. How would you like to pick the brains of top executives to find out how they managed their careers? That’s exactly what Ramkrishnan, a noted executive recruiter did. Executives from Aetna, Coca-Cola, Dell, Fidelity, Lenovo, PepsiCo and other firms share what worked — and didn’t — for them.

The one thing that binds their stories: Building a career resembles rock wall climbing — going “up” by moving sideways, diagonally and sometimes even down to gain the toeholds and handholds of learning experiences.

Here are some key takeaways: Listening goes well beyond feedback. It’s an opportunity to show those around you that you acknowledge and appreciate their expertise, experience and concerns. Listening builds the highway leading to trust and respect, and adds the allies you’ll need on your climb.

The best time to advocate for change is when the company is doing well. It’s not a case of discarding what’s working; rather it’s an opportunity to leverage the momentum of a strong position to get to another level. Change emanating from strength yields more positive outcomes. When change is forced (i.e. when the firm is losing), it’s driven out of fear and lack of momentum; it’s rare that positive results come when backpedaling.

You can only play your A-game when surrounded by A-players. You need the best people to extract the best from you. They fill in your gaps and help eliminate your blindspots.

Written in an engaging, almost-conversational style, it feels like you’re having a lunch discussion with these movers and shakers.

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