Swim with the Dolphins

February 27, 1995
Citing profile-interviews with more than 200 woman managers in top corporations--Tellabs, Hewlett-Packard, Coca-Cola, Xerox, MTV, Westinghouse et al.--Glaser and Smalley (More Power to You) here describe the new business world in which gregarious, caring women (dolphins) successfully counteract the perceived harsh and entrenched management attitudes of men (sharks). ``Being female is no longer a hindrance. It's an advantage,'' stress the authors, who have discovered a broad range of humane and productive innovations in job orientation, team building, quality control, stress defusing and so on that women workers, largely through qualities traditionally ascribed to females, have effected in the workplace. Being ``leaders'' rather than ``bosses,'' the authors find, most women show firm but fair and good-humored guidance, are patient listeners and negotiators and ``make decisions from the heart as well as the head.'' They seem, moreover, to share power readily, admit mistakes and welcome new ideas. An inviting and enlightening guide that businessmen should read.

March 15, 1995
To the mind's eye, the dolphin suggests the image of a friendly sea animal as opposed to the predatory shark, which may attack in a rush of fury. Glasser and Smalley (coauthors of More Power to You, Warner, 1992) successfully use the characteristics of these sea creatures to convey the differences between the management styles of women (dolphins) and men (sharks). In the 1980s, there was a widespread belief that women climbing the proverbial corporate ladder had to behave like the men who had preceded them. With the changing business environment of the 1990s, according to the authors, women are succeeding on their own terms. This informative, well-written book comprises interviews and specific profiles of successful managers. Here we learn important lessons from women who share similar stories. Although the focus is female-oriented, both genders can benefit from reading this book. Recommended for public and academic libraries.--Belinda Wise, SUNY-Farmingdale

March 15, 1995
Glaser and Smalley differentiate among sharks, guppies, and dolphins. Their point? That the teamwork, nurturing, and listening abilities common to most women (and, of course, to dolphins) now serve them well in corporate America. The stress here is on using those skills. A profile of one of the more than 200 female executives interviewed for the book (having shattered the glass ceiling being the primary qualification for being interviewed) begins each chapter; so, for instance, Karen Himle, vice president of corporate communications for the St. Paul Companies, talks about the unwritten rules for beginning a new management job, which are then articulated in the chapter that follows. Virtually every topic indispensable to good managers is covered, from an analysis of innate tools to the how-tos of getting a promotion. What's unusual is the clarity of instructions, explaining exactly what women need to do in order to move up the business ladder. ((Reviewed Mar. 15, 1995))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1995, American Library Association.)