Breaking Barriers with 'Pushback': Strategies for Smart Women

📖"Pushback: How Smart Women Ask – and Stand Up – for What They Want" is a comprehensive guide empowering women to effectively negotiate for their professional wants and needs.

WHAT YOU'LL FIND HERE:

1. Is  'Pushback' for you?

2. What is 'Pushback' about?  

3. Idea Express: How to put three (3) concepts (Advocacy, Gender Dynamics, and Negotiation Strategies) to work for you today! 

BONUS: The most interesting concept in 'Pushback' & how to grow your LinkedIn network by one (at the bottom of the article)!

i. The links to Amazon are affiliate links

1. IS  'PUSHBACK' FOR YOU?

“Your career and your life are all about choices. Not asking is a choice; asking and acquiescing to something you hate is a choice; and surely, asking and getting what you want represents a choice.”

• Businesswoman: "Pushback" offers strategies to navigate gender biases and assert your needs in the corporate world.
• Career coach: This book provides valuable insights into women's professional challenges, improving your coaching methods.
• Female student aspiring for a leadership role: "Pushback" empowers you to advocate for yourself, preparing you for future leadership roles.
• Human resources professional: The book offers insights on gender dynamics in the workplace, aiding in the development of equitable practices.
• Male leader seeking to understand his female colleagues better: "Pushback" helps you understand female colleagues' challenges, fostering an inclusive work environment.

2. WHAT IS 'PUSHBACK' ABOUT?

"No matter what pushback situation you find yourself in, the greater impact is often larger than what you see. What you advocate for right now will have an effect on your future.”

"Pushback: How Smart Women Ask – and Stand Up – for What They Want" by Selena Rezvani is a pragmatic guide for women in the professional world. It identifies barriers to assertive negotiation and provides effective strategies to overcome these obstacles, spotlighting real-life success stories from accomplished women. The book goes beyond negotiation tactics, emphasizing mindset shift, resilience, and self-reliance. Although intended for women at any career stage, it also offers valuable insights for managers, leaders, and HR professionals about the unique challenges women face in the workplace. Intriguingly, the book suggests that as much as 60% of career success can come from simply asking for what you want. So, how many opportunities have you missed by not asserting your worth?

3. IDEA EXPRESS: HOW TO PUT THREE (3) CONCEPTS* TO WORK FOR YOU TODAY!

1️⃣Advocacy

2️⃣Gender Dynamics

3️⃣Negotiation Strategies

*You'll find several more concepts in the book

1️⃣ ADVOCACY

"The more you can ground your argument in information that’s hard to refute, the more airtight your case. The hardest information to poke holes in is usually factual, quantifiable or historical."

In "Pushback," author Selena Rezvani argues that women must become their own best advocates, standing up and asking for what they want. By showcasing numerous case studies, she offers strategies on how to make strong requests, how to decline others’ requests when necessary, and how to not back down even when faced with resistance or pushback. This emphasis on advocacy encourages women to assert their needs and ambitions, whether they're negotiating a raise, a promotion, or setting boundaries.

Page-to-practice idea:

• Say you are an individual contributor in your team and you feel that your contributions aren't being noticed. Take the initiative to arrange a meeting with your superior to express your feelings, discussing your contributions, and seeking feedback. Advocate for yourself by stating clearly and assertively your need for recognition and potentially a role that better suits your capabilities.

Page-to-practice ideas specifically for you:

• Businesswoman: Ask for specific roles or projects that can spotlight your talents in front of the organization's leadership.
• Career coach: Coach your clients on the importance of self-promotion and claiming their accomplishments.
• Female student aspiring for a leadership role: Join leadership organizations on campus and volunteer for roles that highlight your potential.
• Human resources professional: Champion the recognition of female employees' contributions during performance reviews.
• Male leader seeking to understand his female colleagues better: Encourage your female team members to voice their achievements and ideas.

2️⃣GENDER DYNAMICS

"Speak like your counterpart speaks, and many times you’ll watch resistance melt."

The book delves into the often-unspoken gender dynamics that influence women’s experiences in the professional world. Rezvani highlights the common challenges faced by women, such as biases and stereotypes, and encourages women to navigate and overcome these barriers. She underscores the importance of understanding these dynamics not just for women, but also for men, to create a more inclusive and equitable work environment.

Page-to-practice idea:

• As a team leader, take conscious steps to foster an inclusive environment. Pay attention to the dynamics during meetings - are men interrupting women, or are women's ideas not being heard? Actively intervene to ensure everyone's voices are respected and heard equally. Encourage and facilitate open discussions about these issues to enhance everyone's understanding.

Page-to-practice ideas specifically for you:

• Businesswoman: Initiate a mentorship program within your organization, promoting gender equality and leadership development.
• Career coach: Implement strategies for your clients to navigate gender biases in their workplaces.
• Female student aspiring for a leadership role: Encourage inclusivity and respect in your groups, setting a positive example for peers.
• Human resources professional: Lead gender sensitivity workshops, fostering a respectful workplace.
• Male leader seeking to understand his female colleagues better: Actively solicit input from female colleagues and credit them during discussions.

3️⃣NEGOTIATION STRATEGIES

"As an active, equal participant in a negotiation, I encourage you to subscribe to the style of starting with an assertive opening number or request."

A significant part of the book is dedicated to providing women with effective negotiation strategies. Drawing on interviews with top-level executives and leaders, Rezvani offers practical advice on how women can successfully negotiate their salaries, promotions, and other professional benefits. These strategies are intended to empower women to overcome gender-based inequalities in the workplace and advance their careers.

Page-to-practice idea:

• Suppose you've been offered a job, but the salary is lower than you expected. Use negotiation strategies from the book such as doing your research on market rates, understanding your value, and clearly articulating your expectations. Remember, negotiation is not only about salary, but can also encompass benefits, working hours, vacation time, and other aspects of your work conditions.

Page-to-practice ideas specifically for you:

• Businesswoman: During salary discussions, bring evidence of your accomplishments to advocate for your deserved wage.
• Career coach: Help your clients prepare for salary negotiations by rehearsing dialogue and tactics.
• Female student aspiring for a leadership role: Apply these skills to negotiate internships, roles in organizations, or even coursework requirements.
• Human resources professional: Promote fair negotiation practices during recruitment, ensuring equality.
• Male leader seeking to understand his female colleagues better: Be receptive to negotiation requests from female employees, showing flexibility and understanding.

BONUS: THE MOST INTERESTING CONCEPT IN 'PUSHBACK

If I had to choose one thing, as a father of four girls, what I found most interesting is the discussion on advocacy. In particular, how advocating for oneself, a skill often overlooked, can significantly impact a woman's professional journey. By promoting self-celebration and driving conversations around one's achievements, women can navigate workplace dynamics more effectively.

Which of the concepts from 'Pushback' did you find most interesting or helpful?  

WHAT IS IDEA EXPRESS? WHY SUBSCRIBE?

"Idea Express: From Page to Practice" isn't just about book reviews, it's about transformation. We strive to transform each reader from a passive consumer of information into an active practitioner of the ideas they learn. Each review will equip you with three practical, actionable steps inspired by the book, which you can incorporate into your personal or professional life right away.

Our mission is to make the wisdom of books accessible and actionable for everyone. We explore a wide range of books, from self-help and business to history and philosophy, ensuring a well-rounded learning experience. It's not just about expanding your knowledge, but about catalyzing personal growth and inspiring positive action.

By subscribing to "Idea Express: From Page to Practice," you're joining a community of like-minded learners and doers. Along this enlightening journey, we invite you to participate, engage, and grow with us.

Hop aboard the Idea Express train, and let's turn the page to practice together! Click here to subscribe

HOW TO GROW YOUR LINKEDIN NETWORK BY ONE

It's always great to meet new professionals - feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn!

Did you know there are more than 100 cognitive biases?

We're covering them all! One new one each week. Connect with me to get notified when I publish the next one. Check out the first one in the series below and start discovering what they are, how to avoid them, and practical ways to use them to benefit your family, friends, and co-workers.