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Fitting In, Standing Out: Finding Your Authentic Voice at Work
How to become a stronger leader and a better teammate.Whatever your role or job, you need to find the sweet spot where you can fit in with your team, yet still have the ability to express your true opinions in a way that will be heard and accepted. This book is about finding that sweet spot.It is an essential read for anyone who:- wants to make sure they are heard, regardless of rank or position- is currently going through induction into a new team or organisation- is on the fringe of a team, struggling to have impact- leads a team and wants to ensure each member can play an effective role- runs a company and wants to ensure the culture is conducive to authentic leadership at all levels.
277 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 26, 2015
About the author
Harold Hillman
5 books5 followersHarold Hillman is the Managing Director of Sigmoid Curve Consulting Group. The sigmoid curve is an algebraic formula that shows how growth and momentum are best sustained by disrupting the status quo. Hillman's personal and professional experiences exemplify the curve, which has been the catalyst for numerous adventures in his life's story.
Based in New Zealand since 2003 and now a New Zealand citizen, Hillman coaches business leaders and executive teams to appreciate the strong relationship between leadership and learning. He believes that the best leaders are also the most skilled learners.
Prior to Sigmoid, Hillman served in senior executive roles with Fonterra, Prudential Financial, and Amoco Corporation.
Trained early in his career as a clinical psychologist, he moved in the direction of leadership and management development after serving on the faculty at the United States Air Force Academy.
Hillman earned his EdM from Harvard University and a PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh.
An optimist who believes that change is a gift, Hillman lives every day through the prism of opportunity and possibility.
Based in New Zealand since 2003 and now a New Zealand citizen, Hillman coaches business leaders and executive teams to appreciate the strong relationship between leadership and learning. He believes that the best leaders are also the most skilled learners.
Prior to Sigmoid, Hillman served in senior executive roles with Fonterra, Prudential Financial, and Amoco Corporation.
Trained early in his career as a clinical psychologist, he moved in the direction of leadership and management development after serving on the faculty at the United States Air Force Academy.
Hillman earned his EdM from Harvard University and a PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh.
An optimist who believes that change is a gift, Hillman lives every day through the prism of opportunity and possibility.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 25, 2015
A copy of my review as posted for the Bookseller's Association NZ 14 Oct 2015:
I wish for many things in life – an abundance of money, the perfect wedding, my novels published and successful, good health, wealth, not necessarily in that order of course, but reading this self-help book by former American and now New Zealand citizen Harold Hillman has me wishing for two things:
That I had read this influential work before leaving a job that just wasn’t working out, and
That my former boss, the owner of that business I left, would read it and start utilising the exercises within to make my former workplace the unified success it truly could be.
Fitting In Standing Out, from the author of The Impostor Syndrome, is designed to help the reader whether employee, manager, owner etc, determine where they currently sit on the continuum of the workplace dynamic, and how to find the ‘sweet spot’, the place where your authentic voice at work is.
Using case studies, Hillman highlights four needs for business relationships to work effectively – Trust, Affiliation, Affirmation and Growth – those of the business, and those of the employees. The trick is learning how to both fit in and how to stand out. The ‘when’ is important too. And apparently, it’s all about the give and take. Employees need to learn to be good at both, and so do the heads of any business. How well do you adapt and adjust when you start a new job? How well do you induct and introduce a new member of staff? Both are equally important in getting a workplace efficient and humming.
As well as case studies, the book comes equipped with activity sheets to help the reader work out where they stand in their current workplace and where they may need help to achieve what they really want to achieve in the workplace.
All in all, this is a great book. It truly is one that should be introduced into the workplace, starting at the very top with the owner or boss. Be authentic in your approach, walk your talk, and inspire others to do the same. Go out and get this book and make it part of your business practise today.
I wish for many things in life – an abundance of money, the perfect wedding, my novels published and successful, good health, wealth, not necessarily in that order of course, but reading this self-help book by former American and now New Zealand citizen Harold Hillman has me wishing for two things:
That I had read this influential work before leaving a job that just wasn’t working out, and
That my former boss, the owner of that business I left, would read it and start utilising the exercises within to make my former workplace the unified success it truly could be.
Fitting In Standing Out, from the author of The Impostor Syndrome, is designed to help the reader whether employee, manager, owner etc, determine where they currently sit on the continuum of the workplace dynamic, and how to find the ‘sweet spot’, the place where your authentic voice at work is.
Using case studies, Hillman highlights four needs for business relationships to work effectively – Trust, Affiliation, Affirmation and Growth – those of the business, and those of the employees. The trick is learning how to both fit in and how to stand out. The ‘when’ is important too. And apparently, it’s all about the give and take. Employees need to learn to be good at both, and so do the heads of any business. How well do you adapt and adjust when you start a new job? How well do you induct and introduce a new member of staff? Both are equally important in getting a workplace efficient and humming.
As well as case studies, the book comes equipped with activity sheets to help the reader work out where they stand in their current workplace and where they may need help to achieve what they really want to achieve in the workplace.
All in all, this is a great book. It truly is one that should be introduced into the workplace, starting at the very top with the owner or boss. Be authentic in your approach, walk your talk, and inspire others to do the same. Go out and get this book and make it part of your business practise today.
Read
March 10, 2020Some good insights on authenticity. My favourite quote is “Fitting in is largely about respecting others. Standing out is largely about respecting yourself.”
November 18, 2015
I really enjoyed this and I wish I'd read it back two jobs ago! I like how easily understood it was. The case studies broke the book up a bit with some storytelling, and genuinely interesting characters - in which I saw a whole host of co-workers (and me) from the past.
This is one of those really good books for switching on self awareness, and I think it'll be a useful check-in every so often throughout my career. A must read for people managers, and those feeling like they don't fit the culture, their messages aren't getting through, or they don't have anything worth speaking up about at work.
This is one of those really good books for switching on self awareness, and I think it'll be a useful check-in every so often throughout my career. A must read for people managers, and those feeling like they don't fit the culture, their messages aren't getting through, or they don't have anything worth speaking up about at work.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews