Testimonials
This book is for you if…
Foreword
Preface
Introduction
Boxing in or unboxing?
How scientific is the book?
What if I am not like other women?
What you will gain from the book
Part I - Differences and Value
Chapter 1 - Vive la Différence
Different at work
Designed for men
Asking a fish to climb a tree
What organisations are doing isn’t working
What you are doing isn’t working
Not so silly after all
Reflection
Key takeaways
Chapter 2 - Working Style
Gender science on competition
In the way or value
Nice in the way of career progress
Buy-in
Fast and clear decisions
Working together
Reflection
Key takeaways
Chapter 3 - Finding Security
Gender science on security
Solve or avoid
Nice or victim
Victim and friendships in the way of career progress
Less tension
Issues are sorted
Working together
Reflection
Key takeaways
Chapter 4 - Taking Decisions
Gender science on decisions
People focus in the way of career progress
Best practice and past experiences
Hard evidence
Working together
Reflection
Key takeaways
Chapter 5 - Thinking
Gender science on thinking
Thinking in the way of career progress
Vital in uncertain and complex situations
Fast decisions and solutions
Working together
Key takeaways
Chapter 6 - Empathy
Gender science on empathy
Care in the way of career progress
Strong relationships
Strong position
Working together
Reflection
Key takeaways
Chapter 7 - Bonding
Bonding: how it works
Female bonding in the way of career progress
Better products for women
Better products for men
Working together
Reflection
Key takeaways
Part II - Gender-Smart Working
Chapter 8 - Speaking Up
We need your unique value
Your observations are unique
Are you invisible?
Your experiences don’t fit
Self-promotion isn’t ‘nice’
Building your self-belief
Facing your fear
Helping others
Reflection
Key takeaways
Chapter 9 - What to Speak Up about
Consultative working style
Tend and befriend
Focus on people
Big-picture thinking
Empathy
Framing and managing expectations
What you need from your manager
Reflection
Key takeaways
Chapter 10 - Be Gender Smart at Home
Be gender smart in your relationship
Be gender smart when raising children
Your home and work persona
Reflection
Key takeaways
Chapter 11 - Scaling Up
The world could be a better place
The image of women is changing
Organisations need you
Your role in scaling up
Your organisation’s role in scaling up
Reflection
Key takeaways
Summary table of gender differences
Summary table of behaviour at work
Summary table of business value
Summary table of gender-smart team and leadership behaviour
Further Reading
Acknowledgements
About the Author
For two decades Inge Woudstra MSc worked in international business in mostly male-dominated environments including Shell and Siemens. She has always been on the lookout for answers on what it is that is holding women back and found them in neuroscience and gender difference. Inge then followed her heart and now works with organisations, women and leaders to create a better gender balance.
This book so resonates with me.
*Helena Morrissey, CEO Newton Investment Management, Founder 30%
Club*
Thought leadership on gender balance.
*Vanessa Vallely, Managing Director, WeAreTheCity and author of
Heels of Steel*
How should women get on in the workplace? Do they need to lean in
or is it employers or society that needs to change? The reality, of
course, isn’t that simple. Inge Woudstra has done a fantastic job
of unravelling some of the complexities. She explains the science
behind gender diversity in an engaging and readable way that you
will find difficult to put down. Women, fathers, managers – this
book is brilliant and will help everyone who reads it.
*Ben Black, Managing Director of MyFamilyCare*
Be Gender Smart shines a much-needed laser beam on the myriad
benefits women bring to organisations while highlighting invaluable
insights into what the most successful women have learned climbing
the ladder. Her pragmatic, highly readable and fact-based book is a
great addition to the arsenal of tools leading companies and
ambitious women need in their toolkit. This book will be helpful to
those companies and leaders of both sexes who recognise that more
diverse teams and companies are more productive and innovative and
will be where people want to work in the future economy.
*Kate Grussing, Founder and Managing Director of Sapphire Partners,
a leading UK search firm*
We all like to think that the old gender wars are over, but
unfortunately, despite the huge strides of feminism, we’re not
living in an equality utopia yet. Inge Woudstra’s book is a useful
guide to any woman setting out on a career in or out of the
corporate jungle and is crammed with sensible, humane advice. I
would recommend it – and indeed her – to anyone keen to
progress.
*Eleanor Mills, Editorial Director of The Sunday Times*
The title says it all… This book does what it says on the cover. It
unlocks potential… However, don’t be fooled into believing this is
a book just for women. It’s about talent. If you are a current or
aspiring leader this book is for you regardless of gender.
*Heather Jackson, Founder and Chair of An Inspirational Journey and
The Balanced Business Forum*
It is important for women to believe enough in themselves so that
they feel able to play from their strengths. However, after 15
years of developing women leaders and hoping for change I can
clearly see what a big job we all face. This is because I have now
had the experience of watching my three daughters being socialised
into the world of work and hearing about the struggles and pitfalls
still facing young working women in a male-dominated world. I
recommend Be Gender Smart to all women who want to succeed on their
own terms, become aware of the challenges they may face and how to
rise above them.
*Tracey Carr, Founder of eve-olution and My Best Year Ever*
Be Gender Smart not only offers a fascinating insight into the
differences between men and women and how these differences
function within a corporate environment but also provides useful
tips and points of reflection on how to use such differences to our
benefit. Inge’s book draws you in from the start and helps explain
many issues that both men and women face on a day-to-day basis. Be
Gender Smart is a true light-bulb moment and I have no hesitation
recommending this book.
*Sarah-Jane Butler, Founder of Parental Choice Limited*
I am loving your book; I think it is an excellent, informative,
challenging and encouraging read! You should be proud of it.
*Liz Lugt, Speaker, Trainer and Business Mentor*
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