Click Here to purchase from Amazon Climbing the ladder in stilettos. – 10 Strategies for stepping up to success and satisfaction at work

Author: Lynette Lewis

ISBN:13:978-0-8499-0186-7: 10:0-8499-0186-3

Making changes in your working life is easier said than done. You can wait for recognition and promotion, but it won't necessarily happen unless you start being proactive. A career coach could be an option, however Lynette Lewis' book might save you money and get you ahead in your job.

Lewis herself can look back at a colourful marketing career and has worked as a senior marketing leader for the National Women's Initiative at Deloitte & Touche in New York City. She has organized over 200 workshops and draws on 20 years of experience.

Her book lays out 10 strategies and includes exercises. The first strategy is to find meaning and purpose in work. Lack of meaning and sense of purpose can make people unhappy. We spend most of our life working so it's prudent to ensure that the job we do is satisfying. Why are we working and what do we actually do? Lewis helps the reader think about her own purpose in life and gives her the tools to create her own purpose statement for both life and work.

In chapter two she talks about 'personal wholeness' - being mentally and physically healthy. She explains this by comparing wholeness to people who are "wounded" or in other words have problems and issues. This can take on a variety of forms, from people who are easily offended to people with addictions. Most people you encounter at work have issues, however the way we deal with them determines the working relationship we'll have. Therefore the aim is to become whole, to become resilient and change the way we treat "difficult" people.Lack of appreciation and dealing with nagging dissatisfaction is discussed in chapter three. Discovering gifts in the most unusual places or situations, learning a more positive take on things and creating your own personal benefits work plan, helps the reader focus. Chapter five talks about marketing yourself and involves creating your own personal brand and following four principles of promotion.

The sixth chapter deals with making the leap from a great idea to making the dream come true and involves creating your own board of directors, i.e. people who can help you turn your dream into reality. Chapter seven concentrates on leadership and how to lead people in a positive way so they achieve their full potential and use their passion.

The strategies discussed include implementation of creative tools such as a team building day and one-to-one meetings. Public speaking can help with highlighting yourself and chapter eight advises on how to become a confident speaker. 

Sometimes it is helpful to know someone who can help you with advice and in chapter nine Lewis explains how to identify a suitable mentor and making the most of a mentoring relationship.

The best plans do not always come to fruition and life throws surprises at you, but according to Lewis these surprises can become useful or even gifts along your career path. She lists seven important principles including endurance, satisfaction and uniqueness that help you stay on track and embrace surprises.

Women who have chosen a career in the corporate world can learn a lot from Lewis' proposed strategies. Her book is written in an easy-to-follow style and her own anecdotes and those of other career women illustrate her points. It's up to the reader to give those exercises a go and get proactive.

The above review was contributed by: Helen Kaut: Helen has an MA in art history, English and philosophy and she has been working as a freelance journalist since 2001. Since 2002 she has been based in Cardiff, Wales. Helen writes in German and English and has been published in the German media as well as in TheTimes, The Guardian and Sec-ed. She writes about education, careers, health, cats and animal welfare. To read more of Helen's reviews CLICK HERE

Click Here to purchase from Amazon Climbing the ladder in stilettos. – 10 Strategies for stepping up to success and satisfaction at work