The 12 Best Books on Motivating Employees in 2025

Are you in search of the best employee motivation books?

No matter what kind of leader you are, understanding how to motivate your staff is necessary for the success of your organization.

The right kind of motivation can help increase productivity, drive innovation, and build a strong team culture. It also inspires employees to go the extra mile and stay with the company for longer.

In this article, let’s see the 12 best books that can help you motivate your employees. Reading these books can help you unlock a new level of productivity and success in your team.

The 12 Best Books on Motivating Employees

Here are some of the best employee motivation books that you should read. They are available on Amazon. If you want to get them, the respective links are given below each description. Alright?

So, let’s go!

(Note: I earn a small commission when you make a purchase using these links at no extra cost to you.)

#1. Why Motivating People Doesn’t Work…and What Does, Second Edition: More Breakthroughs for Leading, Energizing, and Engaging

By: Susan Fowler

Who’s it for: Managers and leaders looking to motivate their employees

This book by Susan Fowler will help you understand why traditional motivating techniques often don’t work and what drives people in the workplace. It provides powerful ideas that you can use to engage, energize, and motivate your employees in modern business settings. With this book, you can understand the secrets of motivating people in a way that truly works.

Get it on Amazon

#2. Manager’s Guide to Motivating Employees

By: Anne Bruce

Who’s it for: Leaders and Managers of all levels

This book is written specifically for today’s busy leaders and managers to motivate their staff. It looks at the latest research on employee motivation, analyzes effective communication techniques, and offers practical tips for creating an engaging workplace environment. By reading this book, you will learn the best strategies to motivate and engage employees effectively.

Get it on Amazon

#3. Trust and Inspire: How Truly Great Leaders Unleash Greatness in Others

By: Stephen M.R. Covey and David Kasperson

Who’s it for: Leaders seeking to inspire their teams

This is one of the amazing books on motivating employees. In this book, the authors outline the key principles of trust-based leadership. They also explain how you can use them to build a team that is inspired by the mission, believes in its abilities, and works together towards great results. In short, this book will help you create an environment where employees feel valued and empowered.

Get it on Amazon

#4. Chief Inspiration Officer: How to Lead the Team Everyone Wants to Be On

By: Val Ries

Who’s it for: Leaders looking to create an inspiring workplace culture

Written by Val Ries, this book teaches you how to create an inspiring workplace culture that motivates employees and allows them to realize their full potential. Leaders get practical advice on how to foster collaboration, creativity, and enthusiasm while providing effective feedback and recognition for hard work. By applying these strategies, you can build a positive team culture and unlock the power of working together towards common goals.

Get it on Amazon

#5. The Extraordinary Coach: How the Best Leaders Help Others Grow

By: John Zenger and Kathleen Stinnett

Who’s it for: Leaders, managers, and coaches

This book is written by two of the most forward-thinking leadership gurus today. Here the authors offer strategies to help you unlock potential in others and develop an extraordinary team. Also, they give you practical tips to coach employees effectively, give performance-driving feedback, and inspire goal achievement. By mastering these techniques, you can empower staff, and foster ownership within the team.

Get it on Amazon

#6. Boosting Employee Motivation and Engagement: A Competency-Based Approach to Increasing Employee Performance by Focusing on the Work Climate

By: Wesley E Donahue

Who’s it for: Leaders and Managers looking to improve their organization’s performance through a competency-based approach

This book provides an in-depth view of how organizations can build a better work climate by focusing on employee competencies. Here the author shares actionable ideas for improving job performance and creating a rewarding work climate. So, you will learn how to create a high-performing organization that consists of a motivated and engaged workforce.

Get it on Amazon

#7. The Motivation Toolkit: How to Align Your Employees’ Interests with Your Own

By: David Kreps

Who’s it for: Leaders and Managers who need to align their employees’ interests with organizational goals

In this book, the author provides valuable insights into how managers and leaders can align their goals with that of their employees. Here you will learn how to create a strategy for motivation and reward that will keep your team focused on achieving your objectives. Additionally, you will gain the expertise required to assess employee performance and create a tailored approach that meets everyone’s needs.

Get it on Amazon

#8. Perfect Phrases for Motivating and Rewarding Employees, Second Edition: Hundreds of Ready-to-Use Phrases for Encouraging and Recognizing Employee Excellence

By: Harriet Diamond and Linda Eve Diamond

Who’s it for: Managers and leaders who want to recognize employee excellence

This book provides hundreds of ready-to-use phrases that are designed to encourage and recognize great performance. So, you will learn how to create memorable recognition moments, provide effective feedback, and reward coworkers for their successes. With the help of this book, you will gain the knowledge needed to maintain an engaged workplace and improve employee morale.

Get it on Amazon

#9. Growing Great Employees: Turning Ordinary People into Extraordinary Performers

By: Erika Andersen

Who’s it for: Managers looking to develop the talents of their staff

This book provides the tools needed to create an environment where employees can grow and develop their talents. Here you will learn how to recognize potential, provide meaningful feedback, offer opportunities for growth, and encourage collaboration. With this knowledge at your disposal, you will be well-equipped with the skills necessary to help your team reach its full potential.

Get it on Amazon

#10. Joy, Inc.: How We Built a Workplace People Love

By: Richard Sheridan

Who’s it for: Leaders and entrepreneurs looking to build a great company culture

In Joy, Inc., Richard Sheridan provides an inspiring look at how he built Menlo Innovations into a workplace that employees love. He covers how to foster collaboration, reward innovation, and remove barriers to success. He also offers valuable advice on how to create high-performing teams and the importance of building a vibrant company culture. If you want to create a productive workplace, this book is for you.

Get it on Amazon

#11. The Carrot Principle: How the Best Managers Use Recognition to Engage Their People, Retain Talent, and Accelerate Performance

By: Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton

Who’s it for: Leaders and Managers looking to implement an effective recognition program

The Carrot Principle provides an in-depth look at how one can use recognition to motivate employees. It shows the importance of recognizing achievements – both large and small, and how it can build trust between managers and staff. With its comprehensive overview of different types of recognition programs, this book is a must-read for those looking to get the most out of their staff.

Get it on Amazon

#12. The Power of Positive Leadership: How and Why Positive Leaders Transform Teams and Organizations and Change the World

By: Jon Gordon

Who’s it for: Leaders looking to create a positive workplace culture

In this book, Jon Gordon dives into the power of positivity in the workplace. He offers strategies on how to become a more influential leader and create an environment where workers can thrive. So, you will discover how to foster a culture of gratitude, enhance team collaboration, and create an environment where employees are motivated to do their best work.

Get it on Amazon

Want Some Unique Team Building Activities?

If you want to motivate your employees with some unique team building activities, you can get my new e-book:

The Busy Leader’s Guide of Unique Team Building Activities: 30 Fully Customizable Exercises That You Can Conduct with Any Group of Employees, Anywhere

Or Want Some Unique Leadership Development Activities?

If you want some unique activities to equip your employees with leadership skills, qualities, and mindset, you can get my new e-book:

The Empowering Guide of Unique Leadership Development Activities: 100 Fully Customizable Exercises That You Can Conduct with Any Group of Employees, Anywhere

Final Words

With proper knowledge, any leader can create an environment that fosters motivation and engagement. Hopefully, the above 12 books can provide you with the necessary tools and techniques to motivate your employees. That said, inspiring a team requires a clear understanding of the behaviors and personalities of its members. So, make sure to keep that in mind and observe individual needs as well. Good luck!

FAQ: Employee Motivation Books

You might have these questions in mind.

What are some good employee motivation books for new leaders?

Some of the good employee motivation books for new leaders are The Motivation Toolkit, Trust and Inspire, and The Power of Positive Leadership.

Are there any books on motivating employees in remote teams?

Yes! Why Motivating People Doesn’t Work…and What Does (Second Edition) by Susan Fowler is a great resource for remote teams. It offers practical advice on how to motivate team members in a virtual environment.

Are there any books on motivating employees in difficult times?

Yes! For motivating your staff during difficult times, you can read Chief Inspiration Officer, Growing Great Employees, and The Carrot Principle. These books offer strategies for keeping morale and motivation high during times of crisis.

Like this article on “The 12 Best Books on Motivating Employees”? Feel free to share your thoughts.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Get Our New E-Book

Facebook
Twitter

Get Our New E-Book

Cart (0 items)