
Read the Room
Empathize at Work
Barnaby Mollett(Author)
Kogan Page Ltd (Publisher)
1st Edition
Published on 3. June 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
240 pages
978-1-3986-2650-8 (ISBN)
Description
Understanding others, having empathy and showing emotional intelligence are critical in the workplace.
Many entering the workforce often haven't been prepared with the tools and techniques to effectively develop these skills in a working environment, despite them being critical for success. Read the Room shows you how to build empathy and emotional intelligence to interpret meaning, manage relationships and think critically.
The transition from education to employment is one which widens the array of individuals you work with, report into and support, internally and externally. Once you understand how to work with empathy, you'll understand how to thrive in your new professional setting.
You don't have to have it all figured out. Work in Progress is a series for anyone building confidence at work, whether you're stepping into a new role, switching paths or figuring things out as you go. These books help you build essential skills like speaking up, navigating setbacks and working with mentors, all without the pressure. Straightforward and practical, they make sense of the things no one teaches you, like what "professional" actually looks like. No jargon. Just real advice to help you grow with confidence, at your own pace. Because learning how to work is part of the job.
Many entering the workforce often haven't been prepared with the tools and techniques to effectively develop these skills in a working environment, despite them being critical for success. Read the Room shows you how to build empathy and emotional intelligence to interpret meaning, manage relationships and think critically.
The transition from education to employment is one which widens the array of individuals you work with, report into and support, internally and externally. Once you understand how to work with empathy, you'll understand how to thrive in your new professional setting.
You don't have to have it all figured out. Work in Progress is a series for anyone building confidence at work, whether you're stepping into a new role, switching paths or figuring things out as you go. These books help you build essential skills like speaking up, navigating setbacks and working with mentors, all without the pressure. Straightforward and practical, they make sense of the things no one teaches you, like what "professional" actually looks like. No jargon. Just real advice to help you grow with confidence, at your own pace. Because learning how to work is part of the job.
Reviews / Votes
"By stepping into the shoes of bosses and stakeholders, the essence of empathy, you can turn human connection into your one of your greatest professional asset. This is an essential practical guide for building authentic bonds and navigating workplace dynamics across the entire work ecosystem." * Professor Kenneth Lee, Loughborough Business School and former Head of Equity Research (EMEA), Barclays Capital * "Read the Room is an essential blueprint for navigating the workplace ecosystem. It provides a systematic and practical toolkit every early career professional needs to build trust and empathise with colleagues, managers and stakeholders from day one. A must-read foundation for your long-term professional future!" * Jessica Noon, Recruiting Manager, Google * "In this practical, thoughtful guide, Barnaby Mollett shows us how we can all be more empathetic at work. Read the Room is essential reading, whether you're just starting out, or mid-way through your career. Mollett gives us a toolkit that will make us better colleagues, better leaders and, ultimately, better people." * Lewis Humphreys, Associate Director (Careers), University College London *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 132 mm
Thickness: 32 mm
Weight
211 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-3986-2650-8 (9781398626508)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Book
06/2026
1st Edition
Kogan Page Ltd
€27.50
Shipment within 10-20 days

E-Book
06/2026
1st Edition
Kogan Page Ltd
€15.99
Available for download
Person
Barnaby Mollett is a career coach, professional skills trainer and team leader experienced in supporting and engaging diverse groups of students, clients, and stakeholders in businesses and educational institutions. He's worked at a number of universities - the London School of Economics (LSE), University College London (UCL), and Imperial College London - following his own experience studying economics at the University of Cambridge - and is a Senior Fellow of AdvanceHE (SFHEA). Barnaby also works as a freelance career coach with clients globally, co-founded and chaired a national-level committee supporting career mentoring in higher education institutions, and has provided consultancy and insight to edtech and e-learning start-ups.
Content
Chapter - 00: Empathy in the Workplace;
Chapter - 01: Empathy Before the Workpalce;
Chapter - 02: Empathy in Professional Applications and Interviews;
Chapter - 03: Empathy at the Beginning;
Chapter - 04: Empathy as You Find Your Place;
Chapter - 05: Empathy with Colleagues;
Chapter - 06: Empathy with Your Boss;
Chapter - 07: Empathy with Stakeholders;
Chapter - 08: First Years in the Job;
Chapter - 09: Moving Up and On;
Chapter - 10: Conclusion;
Chapter - 01: Empathy Before the Workpalce;
Chapter - 02: Empathy in Professional Applications and Interviews;
Chapter - 03: Empathy at the Beginning;
Chapter - 04: Empathy as You Find Your Place;
Chapter - 05: Empathy with Colleagues;
Chapter - 06: Empathy with Your Boss;
Chapter - 07: Empathy with Stakeholders;
Chapter - 08: First Years in the Job;
Chapter - 09: Moving Up and On;
Chapter - 10: Conclusion;