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The Girl's Guide to Power and Success

Susan Wilson Solovic

AMACOM, 2001

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Author and consultant Susan Wilson Solovic tells how working women can be more effective in top positions and move up the career ladder. She highlights the differences between male and female styles, and cites ways that women often sabotage themselves by showing weakness and a lack of confidence in how they speak and act. Using examples and diverse quotes, she illustrates what women should do to express the power they have, which is the key to being taken seriously as a leader. Solovic challenges many overly optimistic beliefs about how things have changed for women in the U.S. workforce and backs up her assertions with recent statistics and research. getAbstract highly recommends this book, which provides a welcome strategic reminder that is clearly directed toward businesswomen – though why call them girls? Oh, that’s a little irony from the author or, at least we hope so.

Summary

The Myth of Achievement

Women have not moved as far ahead in the workplace as many people believe. Many women are held back by expectations others hold about them and by their own inability to understand power and how to leverage it. For example, most women suffer from the "good girl" syndrome, so they try to be too nice, limiting their ability to compete effectively in the business world. To be truly successful, you have to exercise your power. This means turning off negative messages and "shoulds," and pursuing what you really want. Be willing to take risks courageously and to seek excellence.

Despite major progress toward increased equality, long-held societal attitudes continue to hold women back. Many people are still ambivalent about women in the workplace. Some still feel that a woman’s place is only in the home. Since relatively few women have made it to high positions, successful women are seen as unusual. Then, too, women face the long-standing view that men are superior in business.

Since physical strength is less important in the information age, today’s critical skills are not gender-related. Men and women can possess the major abilities - knowledge...

About the Author

Susan Wilson Solovic is president of Susan-Says and a consultant, columnist, and public speaker who deals with women’s issues. Although she was educated as an attorney, Solovic’s career has included television news broadcasting and an executive level marketing position at a Fortune 400 company.

The Girl's Guide to Power and Success

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The Myth of Achievement

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