Her Corner Office: A Guide To Help Women Find A Place And A Voice In Corporate America

Rating:
Summary: Sensible, Specific, and Caring Advice
Review: What's with the corner office? I recently read another book in which Lois P. Frankel explains why "nice girls don't get the corner office." Probably not until World War II were most adult women in the United States allowed to combine full-time employment with marriage and/or parenthood. Even then, many of the women relinquished their jobs to men after the war ended. They, their daughters, and their granddaughters were again strongly encouraged to accept the role of a subordinate, deferential, compliant, cooperative, "Stepford-ish" role in the home, in the community, and even in the workplace.

According to Frankel, "Attempts to act counter to this socialized role are met with ridicule, disapproval and scorn." She goes on to observe, "Whether it was Mom's message -- 'Boys don't like girls who are too loud.' -- or, in response to any angry outburst, a spouse's messages -- 'What's the matter? Is it that time of month?' -- women are continually bombarded. with negative reinforcement for acting in any manner contrary to what they were taught in girlhood. As a result, they learn that acting like a 'good girl' is less painful than than assuming more appropriate behavior for adult women (and totally acceptable for boys and adult men.)"

In this volume, Trudy Bourgeois offers "a guide to help women find a place and a voice in corporate America." Presumably for many of those who read this book, her advice will help to achieve those objectives. The book is sensibly organized and well-written. In her Introduction, she offers four practical suggestions as to how to get the most out of her book. I presume to add a fifth which I think is more important than any of the four: Be totally committed to achieving your objectives (whatever they may be) and to investing as much time and energy may be required of you (whatever barriers and obstacles you may encounter). Success demands an effective collaboration of heart, mind, and soul. I agree with Henry Ford: "Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right."

Bourgeois includes a number of reader-friendly sections (e.g. exercises in which to record responses to key points within the text) while urging her reader to purchase a notebook or journal whose sole purpose is to accumulate whatever thoughts, feelings, anxieties, dreams, fears, goals, etc. the reader may have, first while reading her book and then, especially, when attempting to apply Bourgeois' advice...and not only in the workplace. Presumably Bourgeois shares my admiration of what Eleanor Roosevelt once said: "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."

I have a few minor quibbles. Yes, yes, I realize that Bourgeois uses the corner office as a status symbol. However, the challenge for any executive (male or female) is to become indispensable to her or his organization. More often than not, however, that will not be accomplished in a corner office; rather, "where the action is." Specifically, offsite working closely with clients to serve their needs, solve their problems, and strengthen relations with their customers. Down on the shop floor (or its equivalent) helping associates to strengthen their skills and increase their productivity. Out in the marketplace evaluating the competition, looking for the earliest signs of emerging trends (i.e. paradigm shifts), and cultivating prospective new clients.

Who will derive the greatest benefit from this book? Although it was written primarily for women, I think anyone -- male as well as female -- above the age of (let's say) 16 will find substantial value in it. Also, many men in senior-level executive positions will welcome Bourgeois' guidance because they also want to help women "find a place and a voice in corporate America." I also highly recommend this book to another group: male as well as female students now preparing for -- or only recently embarked on -- a career in business.

... If my daughter were to read this book and then ask me what my own career advice to her would be, here it is: "Don't stop with a corner office. Own the building!"...