Books are a great way to learn new techniques to train and connect with your employees. Topics can range from practical business practices... to more subjective insights into human behavior... to laser focused research and case studies. Either way, books provide extensive opportunity for professional development and business growth. We put together this list of the 18 best books on employee training written in the last 10 years. Click through for the full list to help your business grow.

1. For Better
EMPLOYEE
TRAINING
18
BOOKS

2. When your days are full of
work, it can be tough to find
time to properly train and
connect with employees.
This is common across all industries.

3. Training is about giving
employees the tools they
need to succeed.
DON’T SKIP IT.

4. Dozuki has created software tools
that leverage the lean philosophy
of standard work.
We help hundreds of companies
train their employees more efficiently,
by empowering them to create standard
training instructions and processes.

5. As part of our own internal growth,
we’ve become experts on workplace
training and development.
To save you time, we compiled a list of our
favorite books on employee training.

6. Let’s explore some of the most
effective, best reviewed, and our
ALL-TIME FAVORITES
18 BOOKS

7. 1 Telling Ain’t Training
by Harold D. Stolovitch and Erica J. Keeps
Myth-busting research and ready to use
tools are packed in this lighthearted and
entertaining read.
The book follows its own advice by being
engaging from page one and offering
multiple ‘try-it-yourself’ exercises.

8. 2
Revolutionize Learning and Development:
Performance and Innovation Strategy for the Information Age
by Clark N Quinn
Sometimes the old methods are no longer
relevant in today’s tech-savvy world.
This book outlines steps for avoiding the
pitfalls of outdated learning solutions, and
how to rethink and redesign training.

9. 3 The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business
by Charles Duhigg
Exploring the edge of scientific research that
explains why habits exist and how we can
change them.
See how “keystone habits” have transformed
into success for legends including Martin
Luther King Jr. and Michael Phelps.

10. 4
Training on Trial:
How Workplace Learning Must Reinvent Itself to Remain Relevant
by James and Wendy Kirkpatrick
Unfortunately, most training programs
don’t have a significant impact on business
results, and training professionals often
fail to make a case for their value.
“Training on Trial” seeks to find the truth
about why training misses the mark, and
how to make the case to preserve training
budgets in tough economic times.

11. 5 Employee Training & Development
by Raymond Noe
Striking a balance between real company
stories and research, this book provides a
structured framework for establishing a
training and development program.

12. 6 Design For How People Learn (Voices That Matter)
by Julie Dirksen
Making a enjoyable learning experience
is harder than it seems, this book aims to
make it easier.
Using the key principles behind education
and memory, it will guide you through
creating engaging materials that emphasize
knowledge retention and sharing.

13. 7
The Gamification of Learning and Instruction:
Game-based Methods and Strategies for Training and Education
by Karl M. Kapp
Learn how to apply game-based systems
to your training program.
Peer-reviewed studies and corporate
examples are outlined to show how
combining instructional thinking with
game strategies can increase learning,
retention, and application.

14. 8
Getting Your Money’s Worth from Training and Development:
A Guide to Breakthrough Learning for Managers and Participants
by Andrew McK. Jefferson, Roy V. H. Pollock and , Calhoun W. Wick
A practical guide to help you get the most
from learning and development programs.
Highlights include how to create an
environment that promotes a transition
from student to participant, and how to
build a program from the ground up.

15. 9
Transferring Learning to Behavior:
Using the Four Levels to Improve Performance
by Donald L Kirkpatrick and James D Kirkpatrick
Kirkpatrick’s four-step model for
evaluating programs—reaction, learning,
behavior, and results—originated in 1959,
and continues to be the go-to approach
for evaluation in business and
academic realms.
Don’t miss the dozen best-practice case
studies highlighted throughout the book.

16. Carrots and Sticks Don’t Work:
Build a Culture of Employee Engagement with the Principles of RESPECT
by Paul L. Marciano
Clear advice and instruction on engaging
employees and inspiring them to reach
high levels of productivity, satisfaction,
and enjoyment.
Dr. Marciano’s proven RESPECT model
empowers users with turnkey plans and
solutions for training programs that put
people first.
10

17. How to Measure Training Results:
A Practical Guide to Tracking the Six Key Indicators
by Jack Phillips and Ron Stone
Justifying the existence of training
programs by quantifying their value is
challenging, but this book can help capture
the value that training provides a company.
Following the five step process for
measuring your training program to
ensure future success.
11

18. Make Talent Your Business:
How Exceptional Managers Develop People While Getting Results
by Wendy Axelrod
This book flips the concept of training on
its head. Rather than making training a
separate event, it implores managers to
integrate training into day-to-day work
to see better results, retain talent, and
improve coaching.
Research cited includes case studies from
Intel, Kraft, Merck, Marriott, Wells Fargo,
and more.
12

19. Bridging the Soft Skills Gap:
How to Teach the Missing Basics to Today’s Young Talent
by Bruce Tulgan
Focusing specifically on incorporating a
younger workforce into your company,
this book provides 92 step-by-step flexible
lesson plans to effectively train and engage
young employees.
13

20. 101 More Ways to Make Training Active (Active Training Series)
by Elaine Biech
Highlighting new, dynamic strategies for
active participation, this book includes
a collection of strategies and activities to
improve your training program.
Guides, curriculum, and 20 how-to lists
are included to help get started right away.
14

21. Training Design Basics (ASTD Training Basics)
by Saul Carliner
By going back to the basics, this book
focuses on the skills and craft of building
training instruction from the ground up.
15

22. The Learning and Development Book
by Tricia Emerson and Mary Stewart
Written for experienced learning and
development professionals, this book is
designed to improve effectiveness and
reduce stalled efforts.
Each chapter contains a “nugget of
wisdom” and is self-contained, making
it easy to fit into your busy schedule.
16

23. High Impact Learning:
Strategies For Leveraging Performance And Business Results From Training Investments
by Robert O. Brinkerhoff and Anne M. Apking
Every organization aims to provide
employees with learning and development
opportunities that targeted to their needs
and produce measurable business results.
In this book, the authors illustrate a
comprehensive, proven, and practical
approach for bridging the gap between
employee and organizational goals and
launching training initiatives of visible and
lasting impact.
17

24. The Six Disciplines of Breakthrough Learning:
How to Turn Training and Development into Business Results
by Calhoun W. Wick, Roy V. H. Pollock and Andy Jefferson
Compiling new research on learning
transfer, corporate case studies, interviews
and specific tools, this book provides
insights into proven training programs
as implemented at dozens of Fortune 500
companies.
18

25. Books are a great way to
learn new techniques to
train and connect with
your employees.
But, there are other options.

26. For more training, standardization,
and lean-focused content:
VISIT THE DOZUKI BLOG