Summer is in full swing, which means it's time to enjoy some free time in the sunshine - but not without staying on top of your HR career. Add these podcasts, TED Talks and books to your media list for the best of both worlds this summer.

Podcasts for Human Resources Professionals

• The Modern People Leader interviews CHROs, Chief People Officers and other HR professionals at the top of their careers. Along the way, hosts Daniel and Stephen Huerta discover and share success stories, challenges and best practices in human resources and related fields. If you've ever wanted to know how the best of the best handle their jobs, start here.
• Back to Work is hosted by Merlin Mann and Dan Benjamin, who bring a light-hearted take to some of the hottest tech topics in HR today. You'll learn about tools, platforms and apps that can help - or hinder - your work as a human resource professional. The combination of productivity tips, life insights and humorous tangents makes for a laid-back addition to your summer podcast list.
• In Building Better Managers , host Wendy Hanson focuses on the challenges of leadership and leadership development. Hanson, an executive coach, understands firsthand what it's like to build leadership. Each episode includes a special guest and conversation on a wide range of topics, including communication, conflict resolution and other essential skills. If you're looking to sharpen your skills as an educator, this podcast is for you.
• Dear Human Resources is hosted by human resources and leadership professor Marie-Line Germaine. Each week, top HR professionals and researchers take an in-depth look at their field of expertise, ranging from the most underrated leadership skills to top myths about recruiting.

TED Talks to Boost Your At-Work Spirits

• How to Reduce Bias in Your Workplace helps HR teams create more inclusive environments. As Kim Scott and Trier Bryant discuss, bias isn't merely a personal issue - it's an organizational one, with significant negative impacts on business success.
• In Why the Best Hire May Not Have the Perfect Resume , Regina Hartley challenges HR professionals to look beyond resumes - focusing instead on skills, resilience and adaptability as the must-have traits for today's workers.
• Simon Sinek's How Great Leaders Inspire Action is a TED Talk classic, and for good reason. In it, Sinek discusses why it's vital to understand why a company does what it does. Those who can inspire a sense of purpose - a "why" - can focus team efforts for outstanding results.
• Why We Hire 'Unemployable' People is the ideal TED Talk for anyone who wants to embrace new hiring practices but hesitates to do so. Mike Brady and Don Drew share their firsthand experiences hiring unconventional talent and the power of providing opportunities to those that other companies consider "unemployable."

Best Books for HR Deep Thinking

• HR From the Outside In: Six Competencies for the Future of Human Resources addresses an essential truth: The people you hire aren't the only ones whose skill demands are changing or who need to embrace lifelong learning. This book drills down to the essential competencies all HR professionals need in a changing landscape.
• The HR Scorecard is a classic of human resources reading. In it, Brian E. Becker, Mark A. Huselid and Dave Ulrich explain how HR professionals can quantify people, strategy and performance - to better understand their own work and to produce stronger results.
• The New HR Leader's First 100 Days is for any HR professional who has recently been promoted or who is aiming for a promotion. This book focuses on the first 100 days in a new role, giving new leaders a step-by-step method to a productive start.
• The Talent Delusion may have a provocative title, but its contents are engaging, accessible, and essential. Full of scientific facts on talent management, this book covers how to develop your team's capacities and skills, how to assess ability in candidates, and how to choose people who typical performance level outpaces that of their peers.

For Inspired Conversation and Action

Learned something new from your summer reading, watching or listening? Share it with your recruiter! Staffing agencies specialize in assisting HR professionals, and staffing partners love sharing tips and insights about the world of human resources.

Your staffing partner can:

• give you "what's next?" recommendations after you finish a book, video or podcast;
• help you turn ideas and inspiration into actionable steps to improve your staffing;
• analyze the skills required for each role and help you attract candidates who offer those skills;
• screen candidates and offer the most qualified candidates for your review; and
• keep you informed of trends and changes in staffing, hiring and workforce management.

To learn more, reach out to your staffing partner today!