The Power of Choice by Michael C. Hyter Summary

The Power of Choice provides strategies for underrepresented professionals to advance their careers through efficacy—making deliberate decisions to take ownership of their growth. It emphasizes personal responsibility, self-confidence, and leveraging relationships in challenging workplace cultures, offering actionable steps to overcome systemic barriers.

This book is ideal for professionals from underrepresented groups navigating corporate challenges, managers aiming to foster inclusive leadership, and individuals focused on self-driven career development. It’s also valuable for executives seeking insights into equitable talent management.

Yes—the book combines practical advice with real-world examples from Hyter’s career as a Fortune 1000 advisor and Chief Diversity Officer. It’s particularly impactful for those seeking actionable frameworks to turn workplace adversity into opportunities.

Efficacy here means strategically investing time and energy into actions that maximize career impact. Hyter outlines it as a four-part process: self-awareness, deliberate choice-making, consistent execution, and accountability.

Hyter argues that underrepresented professionals must proactively open doors through relationship-building, skill mastery, and visibility-seeking—while acknowledging systemic barriers. The book balances personal agency with calls for organizational change.

• “Your career is a series of choices, not a series of chances.”
• “Efficacy isn’t about working harder—it’s about working with clarity.”

These emphasize intentionality over luck and strategic effort over mere busyness.

While The Power of Inclusion focuses on organizational strategies for diversity, The Power of Choice targets individual empowerment. Together, they provide a dual perspective on systemic and personal approaches to equitable career growth.

• The Efficacy Matrix: Prioritize tasks by impact vs. effort.
• The Choice Continuum: Evaluate decisions based on short-term sacrifices vs. long-term gains.
• The Relationship Pyramid: Cultivate mentors, sponsors, and allies strategically.

Some reviewers note the book places significant onus on individuals to overcome systemic barriers, potentially underemphasizing organizational accountability. However, Hyter balances this by acknowledging structural inequities.

With ongoing debates about equity in AI-driven workplaces and remote work dynamics, Hyter’s principles of adaptability, strategic networking, and self-advocacy remain critical for navigating modern career landscapes.

Yes—the book’s emphasis on transferable skills, reinvention, and leveraging existing networks provides a roadmap for professionals transitioning industries or roles.

• Atomic Habits by James Clear (habit-building for success)
• Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg (gender-specific career strategies)
• The Memo by Minda Harts (intersectional career advice)