MicroSkills: Small Actions, Big Impact, is a business self-help book published in April 2024 by HarperCollins

  • MicroSkills is built on one core, easy-to-learn principle: every big goal, complicated task, healthy habit, and, yes, even what we think of as character traits, can be broken down into small, learnable, skills that can be practiced, and incorporated real-time. We call these: MicroSkills.

    1. MicroSkills for Self-care

    2. MicroSkills to Manage a Task List

    3. MicroSkills for Polished Communication

    4. MicroSkills to Build and Maintain your Reputation

    5. MicroSkills for Becoming a Subject-matter Expert

    6. MicroSkills to Learn your Workplace Culture

    7. MicroSkills to Be a Team Player

    8. MicroSkills to Grow Your Network

    9. MicroSkills for Navigating Conflict

    10. MicroSkills to Actively find New Opportunities

  • Each chapter is structured in the same format so you can learn our approach and practice until it becomes rote.

    1.Personal stories

    2.Why the MicroSkill is important

    3.Normalizing the Difficulty of Change

    4.Concrete “how-to” Critical Actions

“MicroSkills is a must-read for anyone entering the workplace, especially if you feel like an outsider. This isn’t just about being more productive, it’s the bigger task of understanding how we work, how to work with others, and how to become more effective at both. This book is an essential roadmap to leveling up both in and out of the office.”
— Minda Harts, author of The Memo: What Women of Color Need to Know to Secure a Seat at the Table
“MicroSkills is more than just a book, it’s a practical, evidence-based road map intertwined with real-life stories of leaders’ journeys to being more productive and successful in the modern workplace. Landry and Lewiss will leave you feeling inspired and motivated to chart a better path forward for yourself and your people regardless of your occupation or profession. We highly recommend MicroSkills for anyone striving to advance their career—and any organization and leader ready to improve critical workplace skills at every level.”
— David G. Smith, PhD, and W. Brad Johnson, PhD, coauthors of Good Guys: How Men Can Be Better Allies for Women in the Workplace
“A remarkably practical book, MicroSkills offers dozens of simple practices that will help anyone be more effective at work. It’s a how-to-guide that spans the realms from verbal communication and compelling writing to relationship building, logistics simplification, and even self-care. It is a rare book that provides this level of concrete actionable advice.”
— Amy C. Edmondson, Novartis Professor of Leadership, Harvard Business School, author of Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well
“I was blown away by MicroSkills! The book is prescient and brilliant; the practical advice immediately applicable. Where so many books about success and habits are written by men, I most appreciate how the authors centered the experiences of women, people of color and other underestimated professionals, so each page is inclusive and relevant to all. By sharing personal stories and how the authors applied MicroSkills to succeed in medicine, they’ve created a success manifesto that applies to all facets of life, from personal to professional. Brava!”
— Ruchika Tulshyan, author of Inclusion on Purpose: An Intersectional Approach to Creating a Culture of Belonging at Work
“Adaira Landry and Resa Lewiss have put together an incredibly comprehensive book—that’s also fun to read! They cover the most critical skills needed to navigate the workplace, providing clear and practical steps along the way. Readers will no doubt feel empowered with Landry and Lewiss as their able guides.”
— Amy Gallo, author of Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone (Even Difficult People) and cohost of HBR's Women at Work podcast