Book Review: Smart, Not Loud: How to Get Noticed at Work for All The Right Reasons by Jessica Chen

This month, I picked up Smart, Not Loud: How to Get Noticed at Work for all the Right Reasons by Jessica Chen.

I went through my typical process of looking over the new releases by women that I can relate to.

I read the reviews off of Amazon. Immediately I thought that this would be a nice change from the typical money-related books that I often pick up from the new release section.

I thought the book description was similar to some thoughts I have on how to get noticed at work without being obnoxious.

Someone once called my daughter a “silent leader” a few years ago and I thought on it for quite some time, as I hadn’t heard the term before. I do believe that this is a pretty spot on description of my own management style.

All that being said, I wanted to hear what Jessica Chen had to share and how it could benefit me, so I downloaded the book to my Kindle.

My Initial Feelings

There’s a bird’s-eye view of Cultural Dualities at Work at the beginning of the book that I found very interesting.

It takes Quiet Culture vs. Loud Culture behaviors and looks at them at a high level.

I knew when I picked up this book that I wasn’t a quiet person when it came to how I carry myself at the office. However, I definitely am not part of the loud culture when it came to “Handle Wins“. I have an issue with allowing others to notice my accomplishments.

Anxiety overcomes me when people even mention something great I did. I knew then that this book may be able to help me with my personal struggle.

At the end of Chapter One, Chen states:

Success in the workplace isn’t about being loud if we’re quiet. Success is about finding a balance between our Quiet Culture upbringing and Loud Culture environment, so we can get noticed for all the right reasons.

I didn’t have a quiet culture upbringing. However, that definitely does not mean that this book cannot help me overcome some (what I consider) personal workplace flaws.

So I kept an open mind and kept reading.

I will say that Jessica Chen writes like she is speaking to you. I sometimes get annoyed with the readability of newer releases, but that was not the case here.

The End of Each Chapter

At the end of each chapter of Smart, Not Loud, we are giving a short section called “Bottom Line” where we see bullet points. The bullet points recap some of the most important take-aways from each chapter.

As a reader that sometimes has to refocus and go back, I really appreciated this section.

It solidifies that I took away the most important aspects of each chapter. If I was lost reading this section, I knew I needed to go back.

What Smart, Not Loud Helped Me Realize

I need to become more comfortable with compliments.

I can talk all day about how great other people are. How the people around me really are the ones that made whatever happen. I can quickly identify an individual’s superpower and talk about it all day.

Why can’t I talk about my own superpowers?

I’m so critical of myself. Why can’t I be proud of my accomplishments? Why do I feel like when I do something fantastic, I can’t share with anyone?

There are a few reasons for this, but there is one main takeaway I have from reading this book.

I should be celebrating my wins with myself and others.

At the end of every day, I’m going to write down what was my greatest accomplishment and then take a moment to be proud of myself.

I’m not going to hesitate sharing when I’ve done something great at work.

This is going to take some baby steps, but I see the benefits now in celebrating my own wins.

Benefits of Reading

Smart, Not Loud is somewhat of a guide book.

It’s helping you become a leader and stand out for all the right reasons.

I truly felt like it takes you step-by-step with the right moves in difficult situations.

For example, in Chapter 5: Building Credibility, Gaining respect and trust, it teaches us the following:

I love how this book takes everyday situations and gives you a step-by-step guide.

I want to share more with you but I don’t want to give too much of the book away.

The benefits of reading will vary from person to person, as we all have our own challenges and upbringing.

I will say that I found something in every chapter that I could relate to.

I absolutely loved Chapters 6: Advocating for Ourselves:

Quiet Culture traits think either asking once is enough or that working hard alone will get us there.

Jessica Chen then goes on to give guidance on how to pivot your thinking and actions to get what you want in the workplace. There are some great tips in this chapter!

Something For All

I’m not an introvert at work. I didn’t grow up in a quiet culture.

However, I gained a lot from this book. Even for people who think they know how to do all of the right things, this book is for you. As Chen states in her Final Thoughts section:

So, for leaders who want to build a more inclusive team, know that there are different ways people engage, spend time, handle wins, and manage conflict, much of which is shaped in our earliest years. Acknowledging this diversity is how we can create a better workplace for all.

I took that to heart.

The chapter on public speaking was brilliant. Not just for people who speak softly, but generally great guidance if you want to advance your career (and who doesn’t).

I want my kids to read this as I believe it’ll greatly benefit them in future endeavours.

Final Thoughts on Smart, Not Loud

Overall, great tips on becoming a better communicator!

I do think you will get the most out of this book if you grew up in a quiet culture. However, I most definitely did not and learned a few tips that will help me in different settings.

I thought it was overall a nice break from the typical money books that I read.

If you’re struggling to ask for an increase or promotion at work, this book may be just what you need for an extra boost of confidence.