cover image  Work with Me: The 8 Blind Spots Between Men and Women in Business

Work with Me: The 8 Blind Spots Between Men and Women in Business

Barbara Annis and John Gray. Palgrave Macmillan, $27 (272p) ISBN 978-0-230-34190-6

In this must-read, Annis (an expert on workplace gender issues and chair of the women’s leadership board at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government) and relationship expert Gray (author of the bestseller Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus) examine how and why men and women think differently at work, and what we can do about it. As the authors write, “In pursuit of gender sameness, we’ve painted ourselves into a corner.” By exposing and eliminating our blind spots, Annis and Gray argue, we can improve our gender intelligence and therefore our individual and organizational effectiveness. In the first section, the authors examine eight gender blind spots that emerged from their own research, and that are supported by data and research from outside institutions. The blind spots are humorous, but the examples of how we misinterpret each other will hit home. Compelling stories from individuals bring the data to life, and facts on gender are included throughout. Even more useful is the book’s second section, which offers examples of gender intelligence at work, plus practical advice on how to build trust and improve communications. Pragmatic and timely, this joint offering by two complementary experts—one from Mars and one from Venus—promises to be a game changer. Agent: Carol Mann, Carol Mann Agency. (May)