Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office: Unconscious Mistakes Women Make That Sabotage Their Careers
When I was offered the chance to read and review Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office by Dr. Lois P. Frankel, the first thing I thought was, “Will this be any different than the many empowering women books I’ve read this year?” Boy, was it. Talk about unique and impactful. In fact, whether you’re working outside or in the home, this is a book that you need to read. Let me tell you why.
For starters, any author who encourages you to read the chapters that correspond to the answers to your self-assessment is in it for their readers. Lois is. She rolls out this solutions-dense guidebook with a challenge to move beyond victimization and face obstacles head-on, then thoroughly equips you with the tools to do so. The historical summary about the trends facing women in the workplace is followed by an intensive questionnaire that unearths your unique challenges.
The notion of the nice girl versus the winning woman is spot on. It’s genuinely an ingrained dilemma. But yes, there is a happy harmony, and this book shows you how to achieve it.
Each chapter focuses on the unconscious mistakes a woman can and often does make that sabotage careers and dreams. There are one hundred of them. They are short and to the point, define the mistake with clarifying examples, and end with detailed coaching tips designed to help you avoid or resolve the issue. Again, what makes this book stand apart from its peers is the brevity of chapters—thank you—dense with solutions ranging from overworking and overtalking to being camera-ready, lazy, intolerant, and wishy-washy. Some are surprisingly blunt, but that’s what a coach does—tell you the hard truths that you know deep down you need to hear. Applying these suggestions and formulating healthy career habits is how you move past the baggage, overcome obstacles, and accelerate your career goals. Entering into a new phase of my career, this book was the perfect solution. The downside? Why oh why wasn’t it written back when I was in college?
If you are looking to surprise a woman or an upcoming career professional in your life, this book makes the perfect gift. In fact, if I were still working as a higher-education career counselor, I would insist that every young woman read this book as part of their success curriculum.
As far as a solution? Well, if you’re struggling with any area in your career path, I highly recommend this book.
Book and Image Courtesy of Hatchette Book Group
