She recently left the following comment on my post Making a "BIG" Mistake at Work:
I sort of disagree with the advice to apologize. I think women have to be careful especially because we have a tendency to apologize for things in ways that our male colleagues would not. There's a way to take responsibility without really accepting blame. I ranted about this a long time ago, but the incident that inspired the rant is still fresh in my memory: Why Women Apologize and other ridiculous generalizations.She's right you know. I should not have recommended apologizing and am removing it from my post. It is bad advice. Years ago when I was a young woman just starting out in the work world I cried after an engineer yelled at me for not paying his contractor bills in a timely fashion (the company did not have the money). After that episode, I did a lot of reading on women in the workplace. I repeatedly read advice discouraging women from apologizing in the workplace. On the day of my "BIG" mistake my boss just looked at me when I said I was sorry. Instead of apologizing after making a mistake I need to own them, don’t make excuses, fix them and move on.
I was so impressed with Frau Tech's advice and support I asked if she would recommend a couple of career books. She did so in her post A Little Light Reading. She recommended:
Games Mother Never Taught You
by Betty Lehan Harragan:I read this book originally published in 1978 when I was in my twenties. After reading Frau Tech's posts covering the book here, here, here and here, I plan on rereading this book. I also think the book would be a great book club selection for a group of working women.
It's Always Personal: Emotion in the New Workplace
by Anne KreamerWhile reading Daniel Goleman's book Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ
, I was surprised to learn my emotional IQ was not nearly as high as I had thought. I am definitely going to read Anne Kreamer's take on the subject. And yes this is the same Anne Kreamer who wrote Going Gray: What I Learned about Beauty, Sex, Work, Motherhood, Authenticity, and Everything Else That Really Matters which I blogged about here.Thank you Frau Tech. I do have one regret though – not discovering your blog sooner.
One of my goals for 2012 is to put together a list of career books for women. Do you have a favorite career book to recommend?
Aww thanks for the link love. We professional women have to stick together. Actually your request reminded me that I really need to READ more. So that's a good thing. Maybe I'll have more recommendations in a year from now!
ReplyDeleteFT,
ReplyDeleteNo problem. I have to tell you I stopped in at the library to pick up a copy of Games Mother Never Taught You, I instantly recognized the cover. I own this book. Too bad I never opened it again after initially reading it in the mid-eighties.
Also, I agree we professional women need to stick together. I continuously observe women not supporting each other in the real world; very discouraging.