Playing Hardball: Are you Winning at the ‘Game’ of Business?

I’m re-reading a management classic-Pat Heim’s Hardball for Women. Originally published in 1992 and the revised in 2005, this book is a classic review of the socialized differences between men and women and how that difference influences women’s career success. I picked up this book because of my on-going research into the bullying phenom thinking I might find some assertiveness-training and confidence-building insights. Well, I forgot about all that great research on gender differences and am impressed at their relevance today.

Here are some ‘hardball’ lessons boys learn when they participate in group sports:
Don’t challenge the coach
There’s always someone above me and below me
The guy on top gets all the privileges.

And girls learn:
We’re all equal, so the power is dead even.
Decisions are discussed and negotiated.
Everybody is equal. And, my favorite –
Power is always shared

If this research is only 50% true 27 years after publication, the facts are going to have a significant impact on our successes and on workplace bullying.

Because, if you think you have to be on top and you have to win, you’re going to do whatever it takes to stay there and if you think everybody is equal, then you’re going to get trounced. It’s time for a reality check and time to get real about how to handle yourself and your careers.

Time for some confidence building!!