Books by Melody Wilding

Authenticity, Identity, and Being Yourself at Work (HBR Work Smart Series)

by Harvard Business Review, Lily Zheng, Susan David, Talisa Lavarry, Melody Wilding

Just be yourself, right?

We're complex people. Professionally, we're recent graduates, employees, star performers, and first-time managers. But we're also best friends, devoted family members, sports fans, pet parents, social justice activists, or any other combination of these and other traits. How much of ourselves--from cultural self-expression, to thinking style and beliefs, to gender identity--should we bring to the workplace?

Authenticity, Identity, and Being Yourself at Work is filled with practical advice from HBR experts who can help you answer this and other questions like:

• What does authenticity really mean at work?
• How do I disclose personal information without oversharing?
• In what ways can I overcome feelings of imposter syndrome?
• What should I do when who I am conflicts with those around me?

This book will help you figure out how much of "you" to bring to work so that you feel more comfortable and confident in who you are and what you're bringing to your career.

Rise faster with quick reads, real-life stories, and expert advice. The HBR Work Smart Series features the topics that matter to you most in your early career, including being yourself at work, collaborating with (sometimes difficult) colleagues and bosses, managing your mental health, and weighing major job decisions. Each title includes chapter recaps and links to video, audio, and more. The HBR Work Smart Series books are your practical guides to stepping into your professional life and moving forward with confidence.

Managing Up How to Get What You Need from the People in Charge

by Melody Wilding

An indispensable guide to navigating power dynamics, building effective relationships with higher-ups, and earning more authority, freedom, and confidence at work—from one of today’s “most innovative career coaches” (Insider).

“Outstanding. Wilding's scripts and strategies show us a better way to get ahead at work.”—Greg McKeown, New York Times bestselling author of Essentialism and Effortless

Do you feel vulnerable to the whims of your boss, peers, or internal politics, pushing through each day with a nagging undercurrent of anxiety? Maybe you’re micromanaged, interrupted in meetings, saddled with busy work, or overlooked for career opportunities. But what if you could subtly teach those above you to value your ideas and treat you with respect—without ever changing your job title?

Human behavior professor and award-winning executive career coach Melody Wilding has helped thousands of clients advocate for their needs at work while navigating the minefield of office politics. In this clear, tactical guide, Wilding shows you how to operate from a position of power—even if you lack formal authority—to build the emotional intelligence, relational capital, and negotiation savvy to succeed in a world of competing stakeholders and remote work.

Drawing on real-life client stories and the latest research on trust and persuasion, Managing Up distills a vital skillset into ten key conversations, including:

• The Alignment Conversation: How can I get in my boss’s head to understand their needs, motivations, and goals?
• The Styles Conversation: Will I earn more respect from my manager if I get to the point quickly, or should I try swapping stories and building rapport?
• The Boundaries Conversation: How do I say no and push back with tact when my manager saddles me with yet another task?

Packed with time-tested strategies, detailed scripts, and transformative insights, this book is a must-read for professionals of all levels ready to reclaim control of their careers.