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Connie Glaser, Barbara Steinberg Smalley Swim with the Dolphins: How Women Can Succeed in Corporate America on Their Own Terms Buy this title or join our Management Literature Club and have a chance to GET IT FREE! |
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by Robert Morris Swim with the Dolphins is one of the most valuable books executives can read as they attempt to understand which strategies for interpersonal relations will be most effective during the new century. Co-authored by Connie Glaser and Barbara Steinberg Smalley (and published by Warner Books), Dolphins explains “how women can succeed in corporate America on their own terms.” The chapter titles suggest how the book is organized:
Some readers of my commentary may conclude, at this point, that Dolphins is for and about women only. That would be a serious mistake. It offers substantial value to both men and women but for quite different reasons. For example, consider what the authors say about “sharks”: [They] are stern taskmasters who relish power. Their approach is strictly top-down, leaving no doubt whatsoever about who’s in charge. They bark orders to their subordinates, expecting obedience and loyalty in return.... In fact, because sharks think with their heads, and not with their hearts, they are oblivious to employees’ needs and desires.Now consider how Glaser and Smalley characterize “dolphins”: Supremely gifted motivators. Excellent communicators. Acutely intelligent. Warm-blooded and friendly.... In contrast to sharks, dolphins prefer operating in webs rather than in hierarchies. They seek respect (rather than obedience) from subordinates and recognize that loyalty cannot be commanded; it must be earned.... Dolphins are extremely intuitive and constantly tuned in to employees’ needs and desires.In general, for whatever reasons, men have tended to behave more like a shark, historically their role model. But men are not sharks. Nor are all dolphins in the world’s oceans female. We know enough about dolphin communities to appreciate their superior communication skills, their sonar-like sensitivity, their ability to cooperate and collaborate, their insatiable curiosity, and their commitment to each other’s welfare. As humans who have had direct contact with them already know, they are also playful creatures. The authors of Dolphins urge all of us (men and women) to set aside gender-based stereotypes (e.g. hunters and gatherers, Mars and Venus) because they are demeaning to those thus characterized. Within organizations today, both males and females face challenges which “sharks” can no longer chew through. In the most respected organizations, the most successful organizations, in companies which continue to dominate their industries, shark-like behavior is simply not tolerated. Why? Because (a) it is probably illegal, (b) it is demonstrably ineffective, and (c) it is flat-out dumb. There is another great value of Dolphins, which deserves brief comment. Within the fourteen chapters, the authors include various checklists of strategies which will help any executive to succeed. In Chapter Ten ("Win-Win Negotiating”), the authors provide and then explain various “tips”:
To a significant extent, Dolphins is a “what to do...what not to do” guide for women who are determined to succeed in corporate America. For that reason alone, it is a stunning achievement. But as already indicated, I think the book’s importance transcends narrowly defined (albeit legitimate) gender issues. My hope is that men who read it will understand themselves better, will also better understand the women with whom they are associated, will recognize the potential benefits of dolphin-like behavior (theirs as well as women’s), and commit themselves to working with women to eliminate all barriers to such behavior. Order Swim with the Dolphins here. Find the full list of Robert Morris's Business Nuggets featured by Eastbook.com here.
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