Book Review: 'Short Poppies can Grow - Confidence at Work' by Jacky Dakin & Kathryn McEwen

Based on confidence building anecdotes that people have shared with the authors, two Australian psychologists assisting people in the workplace, this book proclaims to bring together proven strategies and ideas for people to look and act confidently at work - simply put, to grow taller poppies. These confidence-building strategies target common issues such as how to make an impact; speak out at meetings; deal with difficult colleagues; overcome nerves; sell your ideas; move out of your comfort zone and; ask for a pay-rise.

Perhaps the most important message that I took on board from this self-help book was the importance of using positive ‘self talk’. As the authors point out, in discussing the importance of an optimistic outlook in general, ‘one of the critical elements of optimism is positive self talk. Self talk is the little voice in your head that never stops. Whether we are reading, listening to someone or watching TV, we are continually mentally talking to ourselves and automatically responding to this. What we say to ourselves about a situation directly determines how we feel and how we react."

Now, without trying to invoke too much of my personal analysis, I think this little voice in our heads is probably one of the major inhibitors to why so many people are unable to embark on the process of working smarter instead of harder to develop in the workplace and work themselves up that career ladder. Dakin and McEwen manage to explain this common issue in a thought-provoking way and provide useful advice for overcoming the bad habit of doubtful and negative self talk, transforming it into more positive thinking.

Short Poppies can Grow is a great tool for increasing confidence in the workplace as well as in more general. The chapters of the book can easily be read separately and are divided according to topics such as confidence-building, anger management, influencing other people, promoting yourself etc. The interactive layout of the chapters makes it easy and fun to read as each section includes helpful explanations, case studies, witty quotes, useful exercises finished off with a recap to highlight the key points made.  

The best part is the amount of ‘aha’ moments (those things you really know deep inside but need to be reminded about) while reading it and, believe it or not, I have found myself in an uplifting mood whenever finishing a chapter or two. Based on my inspiring experience while reading it, I would definitely recommend having this book on your bedside table as an easily accessible avenue for some pep-up talk for those times when you’ve had a bad day at work or feel a bit down in general. On that note, I would like to conclude by giving you a taste of the many thoughtful quotes used in the book:

"Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent" Eleanor Roosevelt

Anne-Marie Balbi