WE – Men, Women and The Decisive Formula for Winning at Work, reviewed

By @SimonCocking review of WE – Men, Women and The Decisive Formula for Winning at Work by Rania H. Anderson.

It’s been proven that mixed gender teams deliver higher results, make better decisions, and understand clients and the market better. In the new book,WE: Men, Women, and the Decisive Formula for Winning at Work, author Rania Anderson explains, “It’s clear that the underutilised, but decisive formula for winning at work is equity, collaboration, and shared equal leadership between men and women.” WE, is the first hands-on guide to this critical formula meant to equip both male and female business leaders with the tools to recruit, retain, and advance high-calibre women.

Anderson, the President of The Way WoMEN Work, is dedicated to equipping male business leaders with the skills they need to intentionally advance women. She explains, “Most men want to support women at work, but they tell me that they don’t know how.” In WE, Anderson presents an actionable blueprint to help men transform the way they work with women to improve their own results.

 As Dominic Barton, Global Managing Partner, McKinsey & Company, writes in the book’s Foreword, “It is about what you can do to make your workplace more inclusive and diverse – and, in the process, more effective, more profitable, and more successful.”

Things are moving fast in terms of what is considered acceptable and not acceptable in terms of office behaviour between member of staff. Anderson’s book is a carefully considered walk through ideas and methods to achieve best practice in the work environment. In someways it has always been clear what is and what is not acceptable in the office and at work. The #metoo movement was only publicising the fact that the behaviour was unacceptable and needed to be talked about. It was not that the actions were ever acceptable, but rather that people had been pressurised into not discussing what had happened for fear of career damaging implications. Now there is a great willingness to confront and name unacceptable actions.

Anderson has some good ideas and solutions, and pointers to help address unconscious biases too, and strong business reasons for why it makes sense to get the most out of your female employees too. Overall this is a fast and rapidly evolving area in terms of getting more people onboard with an awareness of what is and is not acceptable. Thankfully too, in some countries and cultures as the older generation move aside it does allow space for newer ideas and attitudes to take hold, and not just accept the previous status quo.

A useful book to read, even or perhaps especially if you think there are no issues in your own workplace around this topic.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Rania H. Anderson is an international speaker, an executive coach, the founder of The Way WoMEN Work, the cofounder of a women’s angel investor network, and a committed mentor. Sought after by Fortune 100 companies, entrepreneurs and leaders for her practical advice and tangible insights, she transforms the way men and women work, lead and succeed together. Rania is also the author of Undeterred: The Six Success Habits of Women in Emerging Economies. To learn more, visit: www.TheWayWoMenWork.com.