Thank you to NetGalley for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

MICROSKILLS is my favorite kind of self-improvement and productivity book -- it has a clear structure, straightforward and no-fluff language, and best of all -- supremely actionable content. Love! I was a little wary of the book at first because it was written by two medical professionals and I thought it might skew towards that field, but I needn't have worried. This is a book that presents universally valuable insights. I only wish I'd had this book in my twenties.

The book presents 7-10 "microskills" each across 10 umbrella objectives (self-care, managing a task list, communicating with polish, maintaining your reputation, etc.) and for each skill presents:

1. what is the actual skill?
2. why do you need that skill?
3. what are the critical actions for this microskill?

For example, under Microskills for Self-Care, you have 1) Nourish relationships with people you trust and 2) Recognize the value of gratitude, among others.

The book doesn't go super deep into each skill so it's broader in its coverage than it is deep, and readers may find themselves wanting more detail on how to strengthen specific skills. Still, I thought the authors did a commendable job in terms of organizing and baselining a plethora of "adulting" microskills. As someone in her 40s and mid-career, this book feels too basic for me but I will for sure pick up a couple of gift copies for the new college graduates in my life.

*I received this ARC for free in exchange for an honest review*

Landry and Lewiss have created a compelling and well-thought out book for employees, managers, and businesses to better advocate for themselves and improve communication and workplace culture. Though these two authors use their time working at hospitals for anecdotes, it's clear that their experiences can be translated to any work environment from a cafe to a Fortune 500 company--even a library with a staff of 6 total people, which is where I happen to work!

Throughout this book, these authors offer an easy-to-follow structure to help you manage a task list, improve your communication, and navigate your network, to name a few. Each chapter is broken down into no more than 10 microskills, which then breaks this skill down into an anecdote, why we need this skill, why the skill is hard to achieve, and how to achieve this skill. These sections are incredibly important in that they are easy to follow and make these skills appear manageable.

Landry and Lewiss do an impeccable job in offering why the skill is hard to achieve--including personal fears, internalized oppression, and feeling vulnerable. Therefore, there is no blame for not having mastered these microskills. In their acknowledgement that learning these skills can be difficult, we as readers are relieved of the mental load of acknowledging our own roadblocks. This is what I found most compelling as I read the book. There were many times where I said to myself, "Yes! This is really hard for me!" and felt much more at ease in taking the next steps to better receive criticism and communicate. Not only this, but each example on how to achieve the microskill gives a direct example. They do not simply say, "Ask your supervisor for feedback"; they offer explicit examples on what types of questions to ask your supervisor and why they work.

It's clear they know what they're talking about, too, given all of the backmatter. If you want to read further on anything they discuss, you are sure to find plenty of resources and academic articles to choose from. At the end of each chapter, they also give you key takeaways and supplemental resources.

If you are like me and are always seeking ways to improve yourself both in terms of how you treat yourself, your work, and those around you, this is the book for you. This is not just a productivity book, or a book about workplace culture: it is a book, ultimately, about respect. Respect for your time, commitments, and beyond. This is an easy but worthwhile read. You might read other books that make you feel better after finishing the final page, but Microskills will actually make you be better.

Landry and Lewiss state in the introduction, "If you buy this book on a Friday, you will be better at your job by Monday." They were right.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

A book that does what it promised, helps you break down seemingly unmanageable tasks into doable micro tasks.

I can attest to their promise, "buy (and read) this book on Friday, be better at your job by Monday". Don't hesitate, this book will help you not only at your job, but implementing similar changes when you encounter issues in your daily life, works too.

I am an introvert, know that if you are too this is primarily a book on networking, if you are not up for that, then it will only help you minimally..

There wasn’t a lot of new material provided in this book. Essentially reinforces what most successful professionals have implemented in their routines. Overall a valuable refresher for professionals.

ARC was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.