Ask the Work at Home Expert Shawn Mason Spence, MA, is the owner of inPower Multimedia Group LLC which specializes in providing coaching and marketing support for entrepreneurs, writers and academic professionals. She is the author of "Just Work it!: 5 key steps to turning passion into profit" which is available at justworkit.net. Shawn is a speaker, former college instructor and writer for The Parenting Post. Question: I want to move up in my company, but I don't have the time to go back to school nor do I think that this will improve my chances for promotion. What can I read/study to improve myself, specifically my people skills, my presentation skills and my decision-making ability? Answer: It is great that you want to grow personally and professionally. How you choose to address your growth depends on your learning style and how you best receive and apply nee information. I love books and most books have an audio version for people who would rather listen to the book on the way to work or on their iPod while working out at the gym. For people skills, my favorites are How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie and Winning with People by John C. Maxwell. Honestly, anything by John Maxwell will do well for you during this personal development period. I also read a lot of books on working with a team, developing listening skills and communication skills. In order to get a top-notch education in these areas, you have to start with my favorite place-the library. I like fun, engaging, light, step-by-step books versus the more academic, full of research, impersonal type books. Read through the table of contents and the intro, as well as, check out some of the resources listed in the back. Any good piece of non-fiction will have a good reference section in the back and get all of the books in references section. Spend at least 20 to 30 minutes a day building yourself in the areas that you mentioned and be open minded as you get a custom designed MBA-Masters in Better All Around. Presentation skills could lead you to learn about wardrobe choices, public speaking, or Microsoft Powerpoint books. Decision making skills could lead you to books on building your confidence, overcoming fear, and project management. Now I want to leave you with my ABCs of moving up on any job, at any company: A - Attitude. If you look unsatisfied, unfulfilled, then no one would believe that you were interested in doing more with the company. Show a genuine interest in the needs of the company and see how you can meet that need. Look for opportunities to go above and beyond your job description, so that you can learn more. Make yourself invaluable. B - Be Better. Whatever you are currently doing on your job, be better than you have been. Learn about ways to improve by asking questions of your supervisor. Also, be approachable, be teachable. In this society of constant change, commit to be a lifelong learner, so that you aren't left behind because you haven't acquired new skills. C - Confident, not cocky. Don't overreact to what is going on around you. Know that you make a difference at the company simply by doing an excellent job. Stay out of the company drama and stay focused on your goal. Be careful as to whom you share your desire for a promotion with as well. They may not like what you're trying to do and sabotage your efforts.