Stepping Up: Women's Guide to Career Development [Paperback]

"This book will be of tremendous assistance to women in business as well as being great fun to read." - Nikki Beckett, Chief Executive, NSB Retail Systems Plc. "An essential read for any woman in business." - Joy Kingsley, Managing Partner, Pannone & Partners. "It is an invaluable insight into the lives of women who have succeeded, against many odds, in achieving positions of power. Not only for those who wish to follow in their footsteps but a comfort to those who "made it" to know there are like-minded women out there." - Hilary Meredith, Managing Partner, Donns Solicitors. "Stepping Up" is your practical and comprehensive guide to getting the most out of your career and life. Based on original research material and interviews with women across Europe, it explodes the gender myths that hold women back. It details strategies for overcoming everyday challenges, such as handling the difficult manager, bullying, and conquering stereotyping. High-flying women such as Dianne Thompson of Camelot, the Rt. Hon. Tessa Jowell, Minister for Employment, Welfare to Work and Equal Opportunities, and Nikki Beckett, Business Woman of the Year 2000, pass on advice on career management and how to be successful without sacrificing your personal life. The book is packed full of information on how to develop key skills such as leadership, teambuilding and delegating. In addition, it looks at impression management and networking, giving practical tips on how to increase your visibility and gain promotion. Pragmatic and realistic, "Stepping Up" provides a framework for career and life planning that all women can use.

Features interviews with female CEOs from companies in the UK Europe and America.
Lots of stories anecdotes from women at all levels in their career development.
Tips on how to network effectively and increase your visibility.

Want to know the success secrets of top women and the advice they would give if you could ask them? Then this is the book for you. Based on research with some of the UK's top women leaders and on conversations with women managers from around the world this book draws together a wealth of wisdom about how to manage your career.

And two years on from publication I am gratified to know that the ideas I wrote about in this book are still very current. In my work with corporate women I constantly hear of the continued struggle for recognition among talented women who have the skills and experience but lack the confidence and impression management skills to get to the top. In simple terms, they don't know what they don't know. If you aspire to move your career forward this book can help in specific practical ways. Ever wondered why others (your male peers) are getting ahead of you? You need some impression management skills. Having problems getting your share of air time in meetings? Then you can learn how to act more powerfully and credibly to get your agendas listened to. Feel left out of the loop and ill informed about what's going on? You need to get networking and the book can show you how in ways that are not 'creepy'. Want a pay rise, a promotion or some personal development? The book will show you how to get them. Here is some of the feedback from my readers:
"The book has frankly been my bible ever since (I bought it)."
"I used your book this year to request a pay rise...The strategy worked well and I was awarded exactly what I asked for."
"It's a great book - so easy to read and full of useful tips and advice. I love it."
The book also contains exercises and action plans for the reader to complete - because writing down your goals is a first step to achieving them. Research shows that only three percent of people do this - the most successful people. Want to join them? Buying this book could be your first step.

Nadine Houghton runs her own consultancy firm advising small companies on marketing and business development. Based in London, she is an Associate Member of the Federation of image Consultants and runs personal image workshops to help both men and women to improve their personal image and develop their careers.