Hardball for Women: Winning at the Game of Business

Rating:
Summary: If You Want to Be a Successful Businesswoman, Read This!!
Review: This book was recommended to me during my first year of MBA school when I was trying to understand the men I was forced to work with and their seemingly impossible behavior. It unravels the game of office politics and sets forth an achievable and sensible set of behaviors to guide all working women on the path to success. Now after having acheived my second promotion in two years post-MBA working in a male-dominated industry, I credit much of my success to playing by the rules of the game of business as set forth in this book (being an avid golfer doesn't hurt, either!) The rules are designed by men and based on the rules of their childhood games, rather than ours. Neither way is better, it's just different, and in order to survive in the business world and be successful it is imperative that women understand the rules of the game in order to be effective players. Your mother doesn't teach you these rules, neither do MBA professors nor your male colleagues. You must get this valuable information from somewhere, and this book is an excellent resource. This book is my work "bible" and I find myself referring to it often depending upon the particular work challenge I'm facing at the time. Kudos to Pat Heim. No working woman who aspires to be successful in business should be without this valuable and insightful guidebook to a man's world.

Rating:
Summary: If You Want to Be a Successful Businesswoman, Read This!!
Review: This book was recommended to me during my first year of MBA school when I was trying to understand the men I was forced to work with and their seemingly impossible behavior. It unravels the game of office politics and sets forth an achievable and sensible set of behaviors to guide all working women on the path to success. Now after having acheived my second promotion in two years post-MBA working in a male-dominated industry, I credit much of my success to playing by the rules of the game of business as set forth in this book (being an avid golfer doesn't hurt, either!) The rules are designed by men and based on the rules of their childhood games, rather than ours. Neither way is better, it's just different, and in order to survive in the business world and be successful it is imperative that women understand the rules of the game in order to be effective players. Your mother doesn't teach you these rules, neither do MBA professors nor your male colleagues. You must get this valuable information from somewhere, and this book is an excellent resource. This book is my work "bible" and I find myself referring to it often depending upon the particular work challenge I'm facing at the time. Kudos to Pat Heim. No working woman who aspires to be successful in business should be without this valuable and insightful guidebook to a man's world.

Rating:
Summary: Learn to play hardball--woman style
Review: This review is a collaborative writing project completed by a ENGL/227 class at DeVry University in beautiful Colorado Springs, Colorado.

This book teaches you how to be a team player as well as a leader. Playing hardball doesn't mean being ruthless or heartless. Highlights include using nonverbal cues to your advantage, using "power talk" to come across as confident, and making the most out of criticism. The only thing we would change is the book's cover design. It is very outdated. All in all we would recommend this book to all professionals, men and women. :)




Rating:
Summary: Good guidance for Women
Review: Working in a male-dominated company in a male-dominated field (sales) I had noticed some of the behaviors mentioned in this book. However, "Hardball" gave me insight into WHY I saw these behaviors and how to deal with them. The book is getting a little dated (the power suit/skirt is out, the power suit with slacks is the choice of women executives these days) but still very good information. You must keep in mind that not ALL men think this way - as with all generalizations you have to keep flexible and adapt to the situation. A must read for any woman who is mystified by the behaviors she sees around her and wants to move up in the corporate world.