Project Management Life's (PML)
Book Recommendation of the Week
Every GREAT project manager knows that the journey of learning never ends! Each week, we feature a must-read book designed to inspire fresh ideas, sharpen your skills, and fuel your passion for growth.
Week of June 3, 2025
Emotional Intelligence
Why It Can Matter More Than IQ
Why it’s a game-changer?
This book highlights the power of self-awareness, empathy, and relationship management in leadership. Project success depends on more than technical skills and this book helps project managers build emotional intelligence to lead teams effectively, manage conflict, and navigate complex interpersonal dynamics.
Week of May 27th, 2025
The Lean Startup
A How Today’s Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses
Why it’s a game-changer?
Perfect for project managers working on innovation or new initiatives. This book introduces a build-measure-learn cycle that minimizes risk and accelerates results. The author teaches how to validate ideas early, pivot effectively, and create value through continuous improvement – empowering project managers to lead smarter, leaner projects in uncertain or evolving environments.
Week of May 20th, 2025
To-Do List Formula
A Stress-Free Guide to Creating To-Do Lists that Work!
Why it’s a game-changer?
As project managers, we LOVE our to-do lists. This book aligns with how our brain processes tasks and priorities. It offers simple, actionable strategies to reduce overwhelm and increase daily focus, turning a project manager’s day from a state of chaos into a clear plan of attack. To-Do List Formula empowers project managers to boost their efficiency and lead with greater confidence.
Week of May 13th, 2025
How to Retire
20 Lessons for a Happy, Successful, and Wealthy Retirement
Why it’s a game-changer?
This comprehensive guide to navigating retirement blends financial planning insights with practical lifestyle advice, covering everything from building sustainable income streams to aligning your time and values in retirement. Project managers should manage their retirement like a long-standing project and start setting themselves up for success well in advance.
Week of May 6th, 2025
Good to Great
Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t
Why it’s a game-changer?
This book explores why certain companies achieve exceptional, sustained performance while others plateau. Project managers play a huge role in achieving greatness by building high-performing project teams, fostering strategic focus, and leading with humility and determination. Applying these principles can help project managers not only deliver successful projects but contribute to lasting organizational excellence and transformation.
Week of April 29, 2025
Unleash Your Meeting Potential
A Comprehensive Guide to Leading Effective Meetings
Why it’s a game-changer?
Project managers spend a significant amount of time planning, leading, and following up on meetings in order to move our projects along successfully. This PMP-written guide provides a full meeting methodology with valuable insights on what to do before, during, and after every project meeting to get the most out your key stakeholders.
Week of April 22, 2025
Crucial Influence
Leadership Skills to Create Lasting Behavior Change
Why it’s a game-changer?
Crucial Influence offers some powerful strategies to inspire lasting behavioral change through influence. The book leverages six sources of influence – personal, social, and structural to address challenges and drive meaningful outcomes. This is an essential change management guide for project managers that aim to motivate their teams and navigate complexity. Use this tool to master influence techniques so you can lead more effectively and create sustainable success with your projects.
Week of April 15, 2025
Executing Excellence
Actionable Insights from 10 Savvy Project Managers
Why it’s a game-changer?
This book is a treasure trove of wisdom and practical guidance from a diverse group of experienced project managers. These professionals share their knowledge and lessons from years of hands-on experience.
Find actionable insights to help you thrive in the world of project management.
Week of April 8, 2025
Eat That Frog
21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time
Why it’s a game-changer? This book offers practical strategies to overcome procrastination and enhance productivity by focusing on priorities and tackling your most challenging tasks first. Time management techniques are shared that will help project managers in managing competing priorities and tight deadlines. This will help boost productivity and lead your teams toward timely and successful project outcomes.
Week of April 1, 2025
Surrounded by Idiots
The Four Types of Human Behavior and How to Effectively Communicate with Each
Why it’s a game-changer? Surrounded by Idiots offers a new perspective on how to adapt your communication and collaborate effectively with your stakeholders based on four, distinct behavior types. These include Reds (dominant), Yellows (inspiring), Greens (supportive) and Blues (analytical). This tool can be used for improving team dynamics, stakeholder communication, and conflict resolution. Project managers can build stronger teams, and tailor their communication to individual needs.
Mindset
The New Psychology of Success
Why it’s a game-changer? In this book, Dr. Carol Dweck shares how those with a growth mindset are more likely to flourish than those with a fixed mindset. Project managers that foster a growth mindset demonstrate stronger leadership, more adaptable teams, and better project outcomes overall.
Week of March 25, 2025
The Ikigai Way
A Simple Path for Living a Life of Purpose
Why it’s a game-changer? The Ikigai Way will allow you to align your career with your true self by integrating Ikigai into your daily routines and strategic thinking. Project managers will learn how to harness their passions and skills in ways that not only benefit their professional growth, but also their personal satisfaction.
Release Date: March 25, 2025
Week of March 18, 2025
Start With Why
How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action
Why it’s a game-changer? Start With Why focused on the importance of understanding and communicating purpose – a critical element for project success. If you’re looking to inspire your teams, engage your key stakeholders, improve decision-making, and create a sense of ownership, this book will provide a framework to clarify purpose, lead with inspiration, and build alignment.
Week of March 11, 2025
How to Win Friends & Influence People
The Only Book You Need to Lead You to Success
Why it’s a game-changer? You’ll find timeless principles for building strong relationships, fostering collaboration, and effectively leading teams. The book’s core philosophy focuses on empathy and understanding and will equip project managers with the interpersonal skills needed to inspire trust, resolve conflicts, and create positive, productive team environments.
Week of March 4, 2025
Crucial Conversations
Tools for Talking When Stakes are High
Why it’s a game-changer? Mastering tough conversations is a superpower every project manager needs. This book offers practical tools to navigate high-stakes discussions with confidence, clarity, and grace—whether you’re managing a team conflict, negotiating with stakeholders, or advocating for your ideas.
Psst…it’s great for managing personal conversations too.
Disclosure: PML may provide affiliate links to products or services that the PML Admin Team feels would be beneficial to our fellow project management colleagues and friends. In some cases, PML may be compensated for purchases made, at no cost to you. This is used to support the costs and growth of the PML Tribe community given that we are a volunteer organization, and we promise to continue to provide valuable content as we grow.
