See Jane Lead: 99 Ways for Women to Take Charge at Work (Hardcover)

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Key Phrases: mistakes women make, meeting your expectations, coaching tips, Mary Kay, Los Angeles, Mary Ann (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The latest from the bestselling author of Nice Girls Don't Get Rich delineates the attitudes and obstacles that keep women from reaching the top, and provides effective strategies for using and overcoming them. Though many of the book's premises polarize the sexes, they do so in the service of sound advice and strategy, including how to articulate a vision, when to take risks and never to underestimate the power of the "likability quotient." As for the promised list of 99 tips, they're spread throughout the book, springing up in the midst of Frankel's occasionally long-winded text (e.g., six page of former employees' praise for deceased makeup entrepreneur Mary Kay Ash) and are grouped according to utility ("Creating High-Performing Teams," "The Leader as Coach," etc.). Tips are bolstered by familiar-seeming anecdotes and exercises (team effectiveness surveys, self-assessment tests, a communication-style classification quiz), but Frankel effectively teaches women-without turning soft or saccharine-they needn't give up charm, compassion or a nurturing nature in order to kick ass. Though much of Frankel's hard-earned wisdom could benefit the Dicks of the business world just as well as the Janes, this businessgirl-power manifesto is passionate, well-researched and authoritative.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

Lois Frankel, a popular speaker, delivers her newest advice inventory just as if she were presenting at a conference. The listener is immediately engaged in practical advice and anecdotes that make a lasting impression. Frankel remains upbeat even when she shares her worst career and personal mistakes. Businesswomen, as well as homemakers and others, can use the leadership tips provided, as well as share them with their daughters to make a difference in their lives. Using her best coaching tone, Frankel cajoles, challenges, and commiserates with women leaders and would-be leaders while providing solid strategies to follow to improve oneself. Bonus materials, which the listener can print and use with or without the audiobook, make this audio presentation as worthwhile as a seminar. D.L.M. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 07] --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Business Plus (April 11, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446579688
• ISBN-13: 978-0446579681
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #456,175 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good for what it is, May 14, 2007

By	Cathryn (Davis, CA USA) - See all my reviews

I bought this book because I thought it was a book on current leadership practices aimed at women who want to understand how their gender may be influencing their leadership style. After reading it I can say that some women would find my first sentence to be true. I do not happen to be one of them; however, I do not think it is fair to judge the book against my expectations.

This book is aimed at women who need encouragement that they have the skills needed to be a leader. Dr. Frankel gives many examples of how the general life-skills women tend to develop in US culture (eg., organizing a carpool) can be translated into the workplace. While the book does give a rather general overview of the elements of leadership in the workplace the coverage is superficial.

That having been said, I do think that the book is very positive and encouraging and would be very helpful to women who need a bit of help seeing that they really do have what it takes to be a leader.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The View from a Positive Slant, July 10, 2007

By	John Matlock "Gunny" (Winnemucca, NV) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

In her previous books Ms. Frankel tended to write from a negative viewpoint. She would say something like here are a hundred things you shouldn't do. She got tired of interviewers asking if she was advising women to be mean and nasty, some even used the dreaded 'B' word:[...] This time she has turned her writing around to the positive side and points out 99 things that women should do.

What I found to be the best two chapters in the book are towards the end. Chapter 8 is Women as Entrepreneurs. Early in the chapter she gives a short self-assessment test. It's pretty good, but I think leaves out two all important questions: 1. Can you stand to have anyone over you as a boss, and 2. In your own mind do you really have a choice or is this something you have to do. Most entrepreneurs I know would put the answer to these questions at the top of their decision tree.

And then there's Chapter 9, Raising Our Daughters to Lead. Little girls are often taught that they fit professions like nurse, stewardess or something else that isn't at the top. But there's no reason they shouldn't be told that they should be the doctor, not the nurse, and if you want to work on an airplane, fly the damn thing, don't serve drinks.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Career advice from an expert, April 17, 2007

By	armchairinterviews.com (Minnesota) - See all my reviews

Lois P. Frankel challenges the assertion that in order to succeed in the business world, women must adopt traits that are historically considered masculine. Through her own studies, Frankel has determined that the characteristics typically associated with the female psyche are, in fact, the same traits that make women more qualified for leadership roles. In See Jane Lead: 99 Ways for Women to Take Charge at Work and in Life, Frankel explains her reasoning and provides a plan for women to take advantage of the instincts they may have once believed to be a hindrance to their careers.

A quiz allows women to determine which aspects of leadership can be personally strengthened. Frankel then spends a chapter elaborating on each aspect, enabling you to create a plan of action to take advantage of these skills. She encourages the reader to skip straight to the chapters that are most relevant to their personal needs and spend more time studying the techniques listed.

Frankel's advice doesn't end with career advancement. Adequate time is also spent transferring the lessons of leadership to successful parenting. She punctuates her tips with short bios of influential women who may or may not be well known, but who made their way into leading roles by taking advantage of their feminine qualities. A helpful reading list follows the main content.

See Jane Lead should resonate well with women everywhere. For centuries, women have managed the intricacies and conflicts of raising a family, leaving them well-qualified for influential roles in the workforce. Frankel brings to light the barrier of self-doubt that women frequently create, and shows why it is critical that women step up to the plate and fall into their natural roles as world leaders.

Lois P. Frankel, PhD is a prominent life coach and the author of Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office: 101 Unconscious Mistakes Women Make That Sabotage Their Careers; Stop Sabotaging Your Career: 8 Proven Strategies to Succeed--In Spite of Yourself; and Overcoming Your Strengths: 8 Reasons Why Successful People Derail and How to Get Back on Track, among others.