The New Advantage

The New Advantage, How Women in Leadership Can Create Win-Wins For Their Companies and Themselves, by Howard J. Morgan and Joelle K. Jay, Praeger 2016

I routinely dismiss "women's books" because I hate them.  Most "women's books" insult the reader with too much play on sympathy - "women deserve it, we've worked soooo hard for sooo long," or they don't get the context right, or they spend too much time recommending that women network with other women - what's the point when most CEO's are not women - don't expect female competitors to cooperate with your rise to power!   Get real.

BUT I LOVE THIS BOOK!  Finally a book that covers real women leaders in context, with specific recommendations. Here's what's great about this book, finally, someone is acknowledging that most companies want to advance women, and despite their earnest efforts, they're not getting results.  In fact the authors claim that despite significant investment in diversity initiatives, only 15% of the leaders in most fields are now women.  15%.  In a workforce that is 52+% female. 

Start with the self-assessment designed for readers to measure their success in each of the Nine Advantages (The Networking Advantage, The Balance Advantage, The Sponsorship Advantage, The Executive Presence Advantage, The Performance Advantage, The Recognition Advantage, The Advancement Advantage, The Feedback Advantage, The Awareness Advantage).  Pay attention to your high and low scores, and use the book to address deficits.

Next read a couple of the examples - Marissa Meyer, for one, a cautionary tale.  Or Elizabeth Keller or even Sheryl Sandberg. Watch for end of chapter "Key points" and "Questions for reflection" to reinforce the lessons and use them in reading groups.  I  also like "Starting a Collection of Great Ideas" (page 28) and "Ten Ways to Say No" (page 31).

Next, develop A Plan.  Your plan may include leaving.  Or if you are a mentor at a  company trying to promote valuable women who eventually leave, you'll also need A Plan.  The authors offer solid recommendations to realistically deal with the basics, including, how to:

*  form networks of power, advocacy and sponsorship

*  align personal goals with their professional goals

*  navigate the corporate culture

*  know your own value - and communicate it

*  acknowledge bias where it exists.

This is a tough assignment and not everyone wants to take it on.  But there are enough professional women who are technically well prepared but somehow not there yet who will appreciate this book.  And organizations and leaders who want to power up their operations with dynamic leaders who happen to be female will find the simple, hard-hitting recommendations invaluable.