Amazing Women Rock - Better Learn the Unwritten Rules If You Want To Succeed In A Man’s World!

Better Learn the Unwritten Rules If You Want To Succeed In A Man’s World!

Executive coach Lynn Harris got tired of reading about the dearth of women in senior leadership positions.

Why, she asked herself, were women not making it to the upper echelons in the corporate world? And perhaps more important, WHAT could be done about it?

Tongue in cheek, Harris says there’s a lot of contradictory advice floating around about what women need to do to get to the top:

“People say women should be more assertive, but not so assertive that they are disliked. Be collaborative, but not so friendly that they lack credibility. Be more competent than their male colleagues, but in a way that doesn’t threaten the men. Be a role model for other women, but behave more like the men to succeed,” she points out.

“And obviously we also need a good sense of humor!” she quips.

A year ago, Harris set to work researching the lack of women in leadership issue. She unearthed what she calls the unwritten rules behind the popular theories that explain the often-inhospitable organizational environment in which women strive to become leaders.

Her soon to be released book (Unwritten Rules: What Women Need To Know About Leading In Today's Organizations) describes 1) what the unwritten rules are, 2) what women need to do to progress within organizational environments and 3) experiences of a handful of female “corporate refugees” who decided to opt out of the game.

“Women who arm themselves with a clearer understanding of the obstacles that female leaders face will equip themselves to manage their career paths more strategically,” Harris says. “This will enable them to make better-informed choices about their leadership styles and professional development.”

Harris interviewed me a few months ago for the third part of the book, which she was in the process of writing at the time.

I was intrigued by the project, and asked if I could turn the tables around and interview her. Much to my delight she agreed.

Since then, Harris has finished writing the book, she and I have become on-the-other-side-of-the-world friends (we even met for brunch this summer when I was in Montreal), and the book is in the final stages of editing.

I can’t wait to read Unwritten Rules, which Harris expects to be published in early 2010.

In the meantime, here’s what she told me about the project last spring:

Powered by Podbean.com

I'm a corporate refugee who started my own public speaking consultancy 10 years ago, after discovering (much to my chagrin), that I really didn't fit in a corporate environment.

I talk about my background and experience transitioning to being an "entrepreneur" in the longish interview (about 25 minutes), that Harris conducted with me. As I get a few requests to tell more about my own story, I've included that interview here as well:

How about you? Are you in an organisation? Have you experienced unwritten rules? What are they? Or have you climbed the corporate ladder without any hindrances? Please share your comments and/or experiences below :)

Set as favorite

Bookmark

Email This

Trackback(0)

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (3) Add Comment

Subscribe to this comment's feed

written by C Golar, November 13, 2009

I get frustrated - I have been told that I am a manager in responsibilities but not in name - I have been told that they do not know what to promote me to.
I have asked for advice and career guidance to make me promotable, from my last three managers and have gotten none.
I have been asked to step in and trouble shoot problems in the departments I have worked in with success in all cases & I get "extremely" positive performace reviews but no promotions.
I have worked 27 years for the company I am with, in several departments and watched others move up the ladder. Our CEO says we need more women managers - but I need to earn it! I'm truely wondering now, what more I need to do!!!

report abuse

vote down

vote up

Votes: +0

written by Susan Macaulay, November 13, 2009

I'd be frustrated too if I were you!

My solution was to opt out of the corporate world, and start my own business http://www.strike.ae/. I did that 10 years ago, and don't ever see myself going back to a 9 - 5 job.

And hey, I could promote myself if I wanted to, but there's no need, I'm already at the top of the heap! It's a heap of only one, but I've got no one to answer to or take responsibility for other than myself. It's not for everybody, but it works for me.

Maybe Lynn has some additional wisdom to share...

report abuse

vote down

vote up

Votes: +0

written by Lynn Harris, November 13, 2009

Dear frustrated
Sorry to hear about your situation. If you do a manager's job, without the title, it strongly suggests that you are being used. If three consecutive managers have ignored your requests for development I would say the chances of you getting promoted within this organization are pretty slim. I'm wondering why you stay? I think you will find chapter 4 of my book "Unwritten Rules" useful - it will help you do due diligence on your own capabilities and your own chances of promotion. It will also help you assess your company to see if it is an organization in which you are likely to get promoted. The book will be in print by January 2010. Good luck!

report abuse

vote down

vote up

Votes: +0

Write comment