Women Leading

Citation

Hayward, S. (2005), "Women Leading", Leadership & Organization Development Journal, Vol. 26 No. 8, pp. 688-689. https://doi.org/10.1108/01437730510633773

Women Leading, with its front cover picture of a sharp‐suited woman attempting to hammer through the proverbial glass ceiling (on which several suited men are standing), seemed at first sight to be either a feministic analysis of the achievements of women, or a heavy, analytical account of how women are breaking through glass ceilings in commerce and business. It is, in fact, neither of these, and I am not sure really whether that leaves me relieved or disappointed!

So, what is Women Leading? The book is a collection of musings and discussions by journalist and broadcaster Sue Hayward, about the role of women in the workplace and the barriers they face in trying to achieve management positions. It is written in a light, easy‐to‐read, journalistic style, and is peppered with personal anecdotes, interesting stories from interviewees and media references (for example, Hollywood films such as Working Girl and What Women Want, are quoted). Light on management theory, Women Leading is not a manual or a textbook for learning about leadership qualities and in that sense, is probably not essential reading for aspiring women managers. It does, however, offer a fascinating insight into female (and male) leadership and raises many questions – probably more than it answers.

The book is made up of 11 chapters detailing issues such as the changing role of women, skills needed in the workplace today, women in the media and women on the international stage. There is a strong international flavour to the book and Hayward has clearly done her research; she quotes from media sources and company reports from around the world. Her sources are eclectic and she does not restrict herself in anyway; she is just as likely to quote from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development as from a “flirt coach” in Morecambe. This lends a rather quirky quality to the book, but it does undoubtedly lead to a fascinating book in which you feel no stone is left unturned in her quest for understanding women leaders.

It is not just the workplace that comes under Hayward's scrutiny. She examines relationships both in and out of work and explores the way attitudes to divorce, marriage and sex have changed the way women are perceived and are empowered in the workplace. The final chapter, Simply the Best, is the most inspirational part of the book, in which Hayward quotes from a range of successful women leaders who outline their recipes for success. My only disappointment with this chapter was that I felt that more than 13 successful women could have been located; brief snippets from conversations with 50 women leaders would have been far more inspirational.

Overall, Women Leading is a fascinating, well‐written and well‐researched book that will make any reader, male or female, think and analyse their role and aspirations more closely.