Book Recommendations

I always get inspired when I read more about how we empower ourselves more as women in the workplace and our personal lives. Here is a selection of some of the books that have inspired and educated me in recent times.

Work Like A Woman – Mary Portas

Mary Portas is a great advocate for women in the workplace, as well as business in general. When her book came out a few years ago, I couldn’t wait to get my mitts on it. She calls it a manifesto for change to both the corporate space and society as she talks about her own learnings and the development of her own feminine leadership. Having played by the known corporate rules of resilience, aggression and competitiveness and achieved a lot, she realised that she could only do that for so long and she decided to listen to her own natural, feminine instincts and qualities to build her own successful businesses. Through using those more feminine qualities around collaboration, empathy and instinct, she has built a place to work that not only gets results but feels good to be part of. Great examples of alternative working models that work.

Playing Big – Tara Mohr

I absolutely love this book, mainly for the message it brings which totally aligns with my belief about women and their personal empowerment. This is just such an important book in terms of really getting to grips with those key issues that hold women back and keep us small. Tara really goes into the common issues that many women face when it comes to leadership and creating a sense of who they really are and the impact they want to have in the word. It touches on areas such as our inner critic, how to work with self-doubt and how to tap into our own personal callings. What I love about this book is that it’s not just about the corporate world and traditional leadership models, this is a call to action for any woman who wants to achieve more for herself in any area of her life.

Why Men Win At Work – Gill Whitty-Collins

I wasn’t sure about the title of this when I first picked it up but it was recommended by quite a few people so I thought I’d give it a go. I’m so glad I did because despite giving off a masculine vibe, the book is written by a wonderfully warm and easily readable author. Gill also wants men to read this book as much as women so she works well with great statistics and insights but presents them in a really digestible way. So a great one for seeing the reality of the working world laid out in front of you. It builds on some of the themes in Work Like a Woman and illustrates really clearly where the inequalities exist, to begin to answer the questions as to why women continue to fall off at those top leadership positions. The ultimate stat that really sticks out for me from her book is that only 7% of top leadership positions, globally and across all sectors, are held by women. She also talks about the need for men to step up and to acknowledge what they can do to support women in the workplace and that inequality in the workplace isn’t just a women’s issue.

“I am a mum of two and I have been running a business since 2011. I thought I was ok doing everything myself – looking after my children, running the household and running my business, but I was getting to the stage of feeling exhausted all the time. I completed the coaching programme with Jo and it has changed so much for me. I realise now that I don’t need to be super woman. I need to understand and prioritise my own needs and collaborate with my family and friends to get help and support. Not only do I feel more in charge and energized, but I also don’t feel guilty for asking for help or delegating more jobs to others. After my coaching with Jo, I am no longer a super woman but I am a happy, calm mum and a successful business woman. Thank you Jo!“

Jana Page

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