While 50 percent of middle managers in America are women, they are practically nonexistent when it comes to top leadership positions, occupying less than 1 percent of the highest levels on most organizational charts. And you've probably heard many of the common explanations for this gap: women put family first, women aren't competitive, women don't want power, and so on.
In Her Place at the Table, the authors, all management consultants specializing in negotiation, argue that the above explanations ignore critical obstacles faced by many women today. They contend that women lack a presumption of credibility and competence when occupying leadership roles, and that their male colleagues receive this credibility automatically, so women must prove themselves worthy in different ways.
Based on a variety of interviews with female executives, this book offers a model for women leaders to use to achieve success in their organizations. For example, the authors recommend that women should capitalize on the superior relationship-building skills for which they are recognized.
Finally, Her Place at the Table outlines five steps that women can use to negotiate their way to success: gathering intelligence to make informed decisions, mobilizing backers, garnering resources, bringing people on board, and ultimately making a difference.—Mallory Stark