A Woman's Framework for a Successful Career and Life

Book review-A Woman's Framework for a Successful Career and LifeBy james e Hamerstone and Lindsay Musser Hough
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​Even this book is written to target at women readers who are just entering or re-entering the workforce, I found its helpful to read through as a working mother and also use this book as a guideline to reflect my own communication, professional brand image, leadership style and negotiation skills. It is also useful for me as a mentor to help women at work as a coach and a mentor.
The book is light to carry and I would recommend even if you are just stepping into a new role in your existing organisation as an experienced career woman to read.
Some key notes for myself which I would love to share below:
Build your board- personal board of advisors comprises a variety of individuals who are wiling to support you in the achievement of your career goals-current/past mentor, sponsor, peer mentor/buddies, advisor outside o your organisation.
Sponsor- A sponsor takes on responsibility for a persons career and as a result, overtly or quietly takes action on his or her behalf. 
A sponsor is someone who actively promotes you in your organisation and is willing to do  more than just give advice and teach you the ropes. 
A Powerful champions willing to take a bet on a young talent, go out on a limb for him/her and advocate for the next promotion. Sponsors are the people that propel and protect high performing employees through the treacherous shoals of upper management.
Phases of mentoring.-Kram’s phase of mentoring describe the four stages through which most mentoring relationship progress: initiation, cultivation, separation, redefinition (e.g  turn into friendship, sponsor)
Building a brand: to craft your own brands start by taking invent. Consider the basic components:

• Appearance and presence
• Professional experience
• Personal interest
• What others say about you.

Communication:
Apologising is generally not in or of itself a bad idea. But in traditional organisation, apologies may lead to a women being perceived as weak and as a result, limit her influence and opportunities.
Try to change the following situation do not require an apology:

• A flight is cancelled for a planned client pitch-> It is so frustration our flight was cancelled.
• A conference room is double-booked for a meeting you are leading.-> It appears the room is double-booked. Let me go see about an alternative.

Negotiation: Good tips to answer common compensation questions:
One of the reasons I am interested in another position is because I believe, based on my talents, accomplishments, and work ethic, that I am underpaid where I am right now.
Leadership: Transactional versus Transformational Leadership styles
Traditional: think control on the top of pyramid  -> Perform at the lower layer of the pyramid
Transformational leadership and employee involvement, employee empowerment, total quality management and team concept.- The lower level employees are empowered to make dictions about how to best achieve the organisational goals.
Culture:
Leadership has a number of components, a few of which are :

• Ability to connect with others
• Integrity and trust
• Authenticity
• Confidence
• Energy
• Sincerity, be authentic
• Positivity
• Work-Life Fit

Stop trying got be perfect and let go of the guilt, Seven Principles of the Money Guilt-Free Philosophy by Julie Boat:

1. You must be willing to let some things go
2. Parenting is not a competitive sports
3. Look towards the future and at the big picture. Don’t become overly hung up on there and now
4. Learn when and how to live in the moment
5. Get used to saying yet more often and being able to defend your no
6. Laugh a lot, especially with your children
7. Make sure you set aside specific time to have fund a s a family

Hope this helps!