YOUR REVIEW YOUR REVIEW
The Upstander Leader
by Jessica Hickman
Be your own Leadership Coach
by Karen Stein
“ The company I work for has really invested in the education and training of our workforce to create a culture where people feel empowered and supported to call out behaviour that ’ s below the line and disrespectful . So , I was excited to read this book it didn ’ t disappoint . By sharing her story of bullying and harassment in the workplace ( which ultimately led to her hospitalisation ), Jessica has created a book that all people , not just leaders , should add to their toolkits . It ’ s written in a relatable way and as you navigate through the chapters you ’ re shown the impact of the ‘ bystander effect ’ – then you ’ re offered a five-step model to assist with developing a speak-up culture . There are exercises throughout the book , which I really enjoyed – they gave me an opportunity to stop , digest what I ’ d read and then reflect on my own behaviours throughout my career . For me this was a real eye opener and something that I found very valuable .
As an EA , quite often you become a sounding board for your team ; people trust you and they feel comfortable to open up . This book shows you how to recognise bystander behaviour not only in yourself but in others , and how to take action . It will challenge your way of thinking teach you what to look out for , how to handle a situation before it becomes toxic and how to create change – skills that all EAs should add to their repertoire . This book now has a permanent home on my desk and already has post-it notes sticking out of it with little reminders on how I can do better .”
Melinda Buckingham is an EA at BMA
“ I was drawn to this book because EAs often have to manage up , which requires covert leadership skills . Be your own Leadership Coach acknowledges that few of us have innate leadership qualities , so we must work to develop them . But it also concedes that coaching is out of reach for many of us as it requires significant investment .
There are a multitude of leadership and coaching books out there but this one has stood out considerably . What resonated with me the most was the author ’ s emphasis on developing one ’ s own leadership style , enabling the reader to lead with authenticity rather than employing someone else ’ s method . Stein provides very clear and practical guidance through instruction and self-coaching exercises , prompting reflection and challenging you to set and achieve realistic , value-driven leadership goals you ’ ll be motivated to achieve .
Something I ’ d never considered before was building my own board of directors , consisting of coaches , mentors and sponsors . Prior to reading this book , I thought single individual could fulfil all those roles but Stein clarifies you need a team of different people to provide distinctly different perspectives and support your leadership journey .
This is not a book you can simply read and absorb a few key points . To get the most out of it , you must put aside time regularly to reap the benefits of self-reflection and course correction .”
Jordan Bryan is operations coordinator at University of Melbourne
Summer Issue 2024 | Executive PA 65