Break Your Own Rules How to Change the Patterns of Thinking that Block Women's Paths to Power

by Flynn, Jill; Heath, Kathryn; Holt, Mary Davis

• ISBN13: 9781118062548
• ISBN10: 111806254X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2011-09-13
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass

Summary

Research shows that women hold just 11% of executive officer positions today - a number that has not changed substantially for 30 years. But with women making up half the workforce, they offer a vast, largely untapped source of talent for companies willing to buck the trend. While gender bias is certainly a factor, there is another key factor: how women think and the assumptions they make that are within their own control, and that can be changed. This book distills the six faulty assumptions - or "rules" - many women follow that get in the way of their path to leadership and power, and the correlating new rules that will clear that path: Old: Focus on Others vs. New: Take the Lead and Take the Credit Old: Play it Safe vs. New: Trust Yourself to Take Risks Old: Seek Approval vs. New: Proceed Until Apprehended Old: Be Modest vs. New: Project Power Old: Work Harder than Men vs. New: Be Politically Savvy Old: It's All or Nothing vs. New: Sustain Your Success Break Your Own Rules is based on over 1,000 interviews conducted over the last five years with women in Fortune 1000 firms, as well as each authors' direct client work. It also includes many stories from high profile women including Ann Moore (CEO, Time Inc.), Susan Ivey (CEO, Reynolds American), Sharon Allen (Chairman, Deloitte), Carol Bartz (CEO, Yahoo) and others, and reveals how any woman can improve her odds of success at the highest levels.

Author Biography

Jill Flynn, M.Ed., is managing partner of Flynn Heath Holt Leadership (FHHL), a consulting firm dedicated to developing women leaders. Previously she was SVP at Wachovia (now Wells Fargo).

Kathryn Heath, Ph.D., is managing partner of FHHL. Previously she was SVP and director of First University at Wachovia (now Wells Fargo).

Mary Davis Holt, M.B.A., is managing partner of FHHL. Previously she was SVP and COO of Time Life, Inc.

FHHL's clients include Deloitte, Avery Dennison, National Geographic, the U.S. State Department, and TIAA-CREF.

Table of Contents

Foreword xiii
by Sharon Allen, Chairman of the Board, Deloitte, LLP

1 OurVision 1

2 Break Your Own Rules 11

3 Take Center Stage 19

4 Proceed Until Apprehended 41

5 Project Personal Power 57

6 Be Politically Savvy 79

7 Play to Win 103

8 It's Both-And 125

9 Stand Together and Close Ranks 147

Notes 157

Reading List for Women Leaders 165

Acknowledgments 167

About the Authors 169

Index 173