Basic Black: The Essential Guide for Getting Ahead at Work (and in Life)
When I found this book, I thought maybe I’d glean a little bit of work advice, like how to recover professionally when I accidentally closed the door on the GMs forehead (putting my hand over my security badge so he wouldn’t know my name and running away might not have been the best choice, but hindsight is 20/20). But I knew I didn’t care about how to become president of the company, so I figured it would be a quick skim of a read.
But the advice offered in this book fits all people at all levels of corporate America and beyond. It’s really a manual for knowing what you want in life and being confident enough to go after it. I think women tend to be apologetic if we ask for what we want or we worry that if we tell people what to do we may be viewed as “bitchy.” I’m pretty sure men don’t worry about this kind of thing. Here is Black’s advice for how to “be direct without being overbearing”:
- Focus on being respected rather than being liked. Respect is in your control, being liked is not.
- Be aware of the fine line between humor and sarcasm – Learn to recognize the difference between a funny remark and a cutting remark.
- Don’t communicate through hints – say what you mean. It’s frustrating for the people who work with you to try to guess at what you want.
- Trust that your comments will be received in the spirit they were delivered – in other words, stop worrying about how people will take things, and say what you need to say.
Black says you should orchestrate and expect your own success- in whatever you do: your work, your business, your relationships, parenting, everything. This book will remind you that you are powerful enough to get what you want, and it will give you practical tools to take action.
