Hi,
I'm reading more this year.
Not in a "new year, new me" sort of way. And not because I've suddenly become a better person. More like my brain has turned into a goldfish and I'd quite like it back.
I used to tear through books. Now I'll read two pages, check my phone, forget what I just read, and somehow end up looking at something I don't even care about.
Apparently that's normal. About 30% of adults struggle to focus on reading for more than a few minutes. Fewer than 16% read for pleasure anymore. Which is a shame, because reading is one of the few things that still makes your brain slow down and behave itself.
So this year I'm committing to being a reader again. Less scrolling. More pages. Nothing too ambitious - a couple of pages a night will do.
But what to read?
If you've ever looked for books on key account management, you'll know the selection is grim. There aren't many. And most are dry, academic, or written by people who've clearly never managed an account in their lives.
So I made my own list.
The Account-Ability 2026 Reading List—ten books that are practical, relevant, and won't put you to sleep. I'll be reading along with you.
Let's get into it.
(and if you do pick up one of these books, hit reply and let me know what you chose!)
POV: You bought all the books but TikTok had other plans
The Account-Ability 2026 Reading List
Ten books that help with the stuff that actually matters—communicating without losing your mind, thinking strategically, proving your value with numbers, and not letting "no" knock your confidence. Basically, the job nobody trained you for.
📣 Communication Powerhouses
Because most days you're explaining things to people who don't want to listen, translating between departments that don't talk to each other, and trying to get everyone on the same page without losing your mind.
Leading Yourself — Elizabeth Lotardo
It's remarkably easy to waste energy getting wound up about things you can't control—broken systems, glacial processes, people who should know better but somehow don't. This book is about managing your reactions before they manage you. Especially useful for those weeks where everything feels harder than it should and you can't quite figure out why.
Exactly What to Say — Phil M. Jones
For when your day gets hijacked, preparation goes out the window, and you're suddenly in a conversation you didn't see coming. This is a simple toolkit of phrases that work in unexpected meetings, last-minute calls, or moments where you need the right words and your brain has gone blank. I'm re-reading it because this is exactly where things fall apart under pressure.
Supercommunicators — Charles Duhigg
KAM means working with everyone, everywhere, all at once—and not everyone is easy to deal with. Getting what you need often comes down to changing how you communicate in the moment, not what you're asking for. Influence beats authority every time. And reading the room can save you an enormous amount of unnecessary drama.
🧠 Strategic Thinking
Because being good at this job isn't just about talking a good game—you've got to think a good game too.
Think Again — Adam Grant
For the moment you realize you're getting a bit too comfortable. Not bad at the job—just stuck doing things the way you always have because, well, it works. This book shakes up how you think, keeps you curious, and makes sure you don't slowly slip into a version of the role that stops pushing you. Which is easier to do than you'd think.
Objections — Jeb Blount
If you've done this long enough, you're used to hearing "no." Price pushback. Budget freezes. People blocking things for reasons that don't quite make sense but somehow win the day anyway. This book helps you get more comfortable with that reality, so rejection doesn't hurt your confidence or stop you pushing for better results. Because it will happen. A lot.
Smart, Not Loud — Jessica Chen
For anyone who's ever wondered why doing good work hasn't led to better things—promotions, pay rises, more interesting projects. When you work on your own, a lot of what you do happens out of sight. This book is about helping the right people see what you're doing, without being annoying about it or turning into the office kiss-ass. There's a line. This helps you find it.
💰 Business Acumen Builders
Because relationships matter, but sooner or later someone's going to ask you to prove their value with numbers.
Financial Intelligence — Karen Berman
Do you sweat slightly when the conversation turns to numbers? Not because you're bad at the job, but because no one ever actually taught you how to think about money properly. This book gets you comfortable with the basics so you can hold your own, explain your value, and stop feeling like you're a step behind when ROI, margin, or pricing comes up. Which is more often than you'd like.
Unsticking Deals — James Muir
For anyone who's watched a "nearly there" opportunity slowly rot in the CRM while you try to stay optimistic about it. You did the work. The relationship's good. But nothing's moving and you're not entirely sure why. This book helps you recognize when momentum has quietly died, and more importantly, what to do about it. Without chasing, pushing, or pretending it'll magically fix itself next quarter when the budget "frees up."
🔁 The Relationship Lifecycle
Because winning the work is only the beginning. What happens next decides whether your job gets easier or steadily, relentlessly harder.
Selling With — Nate Nasrallah
For when you realize that having a good contact isn't the same as having real influence. Most KAMs work well with their champions but don't actually use those relationships to move the account forward. This book is about turning friendly access into real pull, without pushing too hard or accidentally messing up the trust you've spent months building. There's an art to it.
Onboarding Matters — Donna Weber
For anyone who's ever inherited an account and thought, "How on earth did it get this messy?" The truth is, whatever happens in onboarding sets the tone for everything that follows, whether you were there for it or not. This book helps you spot problems early, set expectations properly, and save your future self from months of unnecessary firefighting and apologizing for things that weren't your fault.
Take a Look
If you want to make reading a bit easier, or at least give yourself a fighting chance, here are three things worth checking out.
The KAM Club – Business Book Briefs
If time is your biggest blocker, these bridge the gap between reading a book and actually using the ideas. I do the heavy lifting—translating big concepts into practical KAM frameworks you can use on Monday. You listen and implement. Simple as that.
Browse the courses ↗
Bookmory (Reading Tracker App)
Reading feels different when progress is visible. If you like dashboards, streaks, and small wins that make you feel vaguely accomplished, this turns "I really should read more" into something that's actually fun and habit-forming. Turns out gamification works on adults too.
Apple ↗ Google Play ↗
James Clear on Building a Reading Habit
If you've ever felt guilty about the stack of unread books glaring at you from the bedside table, start here. This is about systems, not willpower—which is good, because willpower is unreliable and runs out by Wednesday. Pairs perfectly with our new mission to read more.
Read the article ↗
That's the list.
Ten books that won't waste your time. Pick one. Start reading. Tell me what you chose.
If you know a colleague who needs this list, share it with them.
Stay Account Minded.
P.S. If you’re ready to go deeper, The KAM Club is where I share the good stuff — step-by-step tutorials, proven templates, practical playbooks, book recommendations, and yes… even private coaching with me when you need it. Learn more here.