Review of The Smartest Person in the Room
Posted: 24 Aug 2021, 09:55
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Smartest Person in the Room" by Christian Espinosa.]
The Smartest Person in the Room by Christian Espinosa is a book that teaches its readers people skills. It focuses on people in the technical field especially those working in cybersecurity. Christian Espinosa writes that most technical people have a high IQ and low emotional intelligence (EQ). He emphasizes the importance of people in cybersecurity having good relationships with each other and with workers from other departments in an organization. Espinosa notes that there needs to be collaboration both at the departmental and organizational levels for data protection to be successful. He identifies communication as a gap that prevents effective collaboration. He states that technical people are poor communicators because they use technical jargon on purpose so that other people think that they are smart.
The book identifies major weaknesses of technical people in cybersecurity; they are poor communicators, they come up with over-complicated solutions and they do not listen to other people's opinions. Espinosa says that they do this because they want to be recognized as the smartest person in the room. He states that it does not have to be this way, that technical people can improve on their emotional intelligence and enhance their job performance. Espinosa also notices that employers in cybersecurity avoid employing people with talent, who appears to be smarter than them. Instead, they employ people who lack talent so that they can talk over them.
The book teaches technical leaders the effect that their ego has on the industry. It also teaches them how to look out for talent and passion when hiring people. Furthermore, it encourages those who want to get into cybersecurity to do it for their passion, not just the money. Espinosa suggests 'secure methodology' as a way to enhance the people skills of technical people in cybersecurity. The methodology composes of 7 well-elaborated steps that organizational and technical leaders can use to improve the emotional intelligence of their team. Each step consists of some activities which make learning practical.
The positive aspect of the book is the expansive explanations that the author gives at each step of the secure methodology. The book is also very well organized. Espinosa sets apart his personal experiences from the rest of the book by using a distinct margin and font. The distinction makes the book attractive and fun to read. Moreover, the book contains a lot of information placed in good order.
The negative aspect of the book is an insignificant example. He speaks of his COO being a fan of Star Wars and having a costume. It would be better if the author elaborated more on this example so that readers can understand its connection with the book. The other negative aspect is that secure methodology when applied may not work because people at most times are unmotivated to change.
I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars because getting someone to change requires a lot of determination from within the person. Simply telling people to engage in some activities in the office may not bring about the required change. The failure may come as a result of some people being dishonest in their responses thus making the activity futile. For example, employees can be dishonest in the 7 levels of deep exercise.
I recommend this book to people who want to create a change within themselves to live better in society. The book not only applies to technical people in cybersecurity but also those struggling with people skills, especially at the workplace. Technical leaders in cybersecurity will find the book useful because it teaches the importance of hiring talented people as opposed to those with paper qualifications. Students that would like to work in the field of cybersecurity will find the book useful. They will learn the importance of having a passion for cybersecurity as opposed to being attracted to it because of the money.
******
The Smartest Person in the Room
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The Smartest Person in the Room by Christian Espinosa is a book that teaches its readers people skills. It focuses on people in the technical field especially those working in cybersecurity. Christian Espinosa writes that most technical people have a high IQ and low emotional intelligence (EQ). He emphasizes the importance of people in cybersecurity having good relationships with each other and with workers from other departments in an organization. Espinosa notes that there needs to be collaboration both at the departmental and organizational levels for data protection to be successful. He identifies communication as a gap that prevents effective collaboration. He states that technical people are poor communicators because they use technical jargon on purpose so that other people think that they are smart.
The book identifies major weaknesses of technical people in cybersecurity; they are poor communicators, they come up with over-complicated solutions and they do not listen to other people's opinions. Espinosa says that they do this because they want to be recognized as the smartest person in the room. He states that it does not have to be this way, that technical people can improve on their emotional intelligence and enhance their job performance. Espinosa also notices that employers in cybersecurity avoid employing people with talent, who appears to be smarter than them. Instead, they employ people who lack talent so that they can talk over them.
The book teaches technical leaders the effect that their ego has on the industry. It also teaches them how to look out for talent and passion when hiring people. Furthermore, it encourages those who want to get into cybersecurity to do it for their passion, not just the money. Espinosa suggests 'secure methodology' as a way to enhance the people skills of technical people in cybersecurity. The methodology composes of 7 well-elaborated steps that organizational and technical leaders can use to improve the emotional intelligence of their team. Each step consists of some activities which make learning practical.
The positive aspect of the book is the expansive explanations that the author gives at each step of the secure methodology. The book is also very well organized. Espinosa sets apart his personal experiences from the rest of the book by using a distinct margin and font. The distinction makes the book attractive and fun to read. Moreover, the book contains a lot of information placed in good order.
The negative aspect of the book is an insignificant example. He speaks of his COO being a fan of Star Wars and having a costume. It would be better if the author elaborated more on this example so that readers can understand its connection with the book. The other negative aspect is that secure methodology when applied may not work because people at most times are unmotivated to change.
I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars because getting someone to change requires a lot of determination from within the person. Simply telling people to engage in some activities in the office may not bring about the required change. The failure may come as a result of some people being dishonest in their responses thus making the activity futile. For example, employees can be dishonest in the 7 levels of deep exercise.
I recommend this book to people who want to create a change within themselves to live better in society. The book not only applies to technical people in cybersecurity but also those struggling with people skills, especially at the workplace. Technical leaders in cybersecurity will find the book useful because it teaches the importance of hiring talented people as opposed to those with paper qualifications. Students that would like to work in the field of cybersecurity will find the book useful. They will learn the importance of having a passion for cybersecurity as opposed to being attracted to it because of the money.
******
The Smartest Person in the Room
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon