The Velvet Hammer
Powherful Leadership Lessons for Women Who Don't Golf
By: Elaine Allison
Published: Oct 31, 2006
ISBN: 9780973906509
Paperback: 151pp
Publisher: Biblio Distribution
A velvet hammer is a woman who manages with grace and elegance, and who gets things done, is the philosophy of Elaine Allison, author of The Velvet Hammer: Powherful Leadership Lessons for Women Who Don't Golf. In her highly practical handbook for women managers at all levels of organizations, the author demonstrates how gender differences can be an advantage.
The key to success for women in management, says Elaine Allison, is the very gender differences between men and women. She writes that the brains of men and women are wired in different ways. As a result, women possess unique managerial strengths that elude many of their male counterparts. Not only are women generally superior at multi-tasking, but often at diplomacy, consensus building, and interpersonal relations as well. Instead of lamenting gender differences, the author believes they should be celebrated, understood, and embraced by everyone discussing leadership issues.
Acclaimed author and speaker Elaine Allison (photo left) sets out a series of 25 velvet hammer techniques for current and aspiring female managers and entrepreneurs. The management principles are arranged in an easy to follow manner, and are indexed for reference to employ on any occasion as required.
Combining the female management techniques with stories from her own business experience, the writer povides solid depth and background to the principles recommended. Whether it's her early experience as a young female guard at a men's maximum security prison, or managing former friends and peers at an upscale charter airline, the information is useful and readily applied to any business management situation.
For me, the real power of the book is twofold. First of all, the author provides solid evidence that women must adopt a leadership style different from that of the men in the business world. As she points out in the book's subtitle, women do not have to play golf to be effective managers. By embracing and using the gender differences provided through evolution, women can be highly effective and elegant managers.
The second strength of the book is the format. Providing self assessment charts and tests for women in management roles, Elaine Allison provides an accessible framework for diagnosing personal strengths and weaknesses. Along with the self study guides, the book provides a series of external websites, books, and resources for enhancing the effectiveness of managers of either gender. While the book may be written for women, the interpersonal skills concepts presented are useful for male managers as well.
I highly recommend The Velvet Hammer: Powherful Leadership Lessons for Women Who Don't Golf by Elaine Allison to all current and future women managers and entrepreneurs.
Your very success, as a women in management, may depend upon it.
