I'd Rather Be in Charge
A Legendary Business Leader's Roadmap for Achieving Pride, Power, and Joy at Work
By: Charlotte Beers
Published: January 31, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 256 pages
ISBN-10: 1593156820
ISBN-13: 978-1593156824
Publisher: Vanguard Press
"We women are not comfortable being "little men," and we don't like being boxed into what is considered womanly at the expense of being seen as leaderly", writes successful CEO and former Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy, Charlotte Beers in her glass ceiling smashing and empowering book I'd Rather Be in Charge: A Legendary Business Leader's Roadmap for Achieving Pride, Power, and Joy at Work. The author describes how women can reach their full career potential and achieve leadership roles in even the largest corporations.
Charlotte Beers recognizes that many women have internal barriers, and modes of behavior, that hold them back from realizing their full potential. The author shares her personal story of her rise to CEO of more than one major company, as well as in the highest ranks of government. Charlotte Beers offers her own experience in overcoming obstacles, and for breaking through the glass ceiling, to guide women toward top leadership roles. With women better educated, and with more jobs skills and experience than ever before, the author provides a blueprint for women to be their best authentic selves in their careers. Charlotte Beers teaches women how to inspire, influence, and lead others to create and fulfill their own destiny.
Charlotte Beers (photo left) points out that even though women comprise over half of the workforce, they are still very underrepresented at the highest corporate leadership levels. The author understands, from the experience of thousands of women, that hard work, high educational attainment, and experience are simply not enough to enter the top leadership positions. Charlotte Beers presents an additional empowering component for women, in the form of building strong and productive relationships.
Charlotte Beers also takes some positions that run counter to conventional wisdom, that while provocative, will change the conversation and further empower women. Some of these concepts include:
* Despite advances for women, they have an even harder path to leadership than ever before
* Women possess all of the needed skills, but lack the ability to communicate those skills
* What works at home, as wife and mother, will not work in corporate leadership roles
* Women need to change how they see themselves in the workplace
* Women must change the perceptions of those around them to show their true abilities
For me, the power of the book is how Charlotte Beers combines her personal story of her rise to the summit of her profession, with empowering advice for other women to reach the top leadership roles in their companies. Charlotte Beers has no fear of making a few waves, and taking some unconventional stances, in her quest to help women achieve success. The author pulls no punches as she describes the realities of the corporate world, its demands for leaders, and how women can and should be part of the highest decision making levels.
Charlotte Beers points out how women have very often created their own barriers, and when combined with the environment in many corporate workplaces, women are often left on the outside looking in. Rather than be stopped by both the glass ceiling, and by their own self-imposed barriers, Charlotte Beers offers proven techniques and strategies for women to break down those barricades, and assume leadership positions. Throughout the book, Charlotte Beers provides quick takeaways to assist in the learning process, as women become their best authentic selves as leaders.
I highly recommend the groundbreaking and very engaging book I'd Rather Be in Charge: A Legendary Business Leader's Roadmap for Achieving Pride, Power, and Joy at Work by Charlotte Beers, to any women who are seeking a straight talking, and experience based guide to achieving top leadership roles in any organization. This book will transform a woman's career into one of leadership, inspiration, and influence.
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