New Rules of the Game: 10 Strategies for Women in the Workplace by Susan Packard

When it comes to succeeding in the workplace, there is no shortage of advice for women. But Susan Packard’s book, New Rules of the Game: 10 Strategies for Women in the Workplace, provides a concise and comprehensive guide. Her strategies helps women in all industries, roles and levels of experience to increase their success in the workplace.

The cornerstone of Packard’s approach is understanding the power dynamics in the workplace and how they are affected by gender. She believes that women can gain an advantage by being proactive in negotiating what they want and need in the workplace. Packard encourages women to embrace the concept of intuitive power, which refers to the ability to draw upon their strength, knowledge and experience to make smart decisions in the workplace.

Packard’s strategies include finding meaningful mentors, developing interpersonal skills, creating and cultivating relationships with key players, creating effective resources for yourself, setting and executing clear goals, managing equity and resources, leveraging relationships, gaining power and influence, using data to make decisions, and maintaining confidence.

The first strategy is to find meaningful mentors. Packard emphasizes taking the initiative in forming a mentorship relationship—identifying potential mentors, scheduling meetings and developing an ongoing relationship. Mentors can provide invaluable advice and help guide women in their career paths.

The second strategy is to develop interpersonal skills. Packard suggests honing communication, negotiation and problem-solving skills—uniquely important areas for women in the workplace— to increase the likelihood of success.

The third strategy is to create and cultivate relationships with key players. Packard emphasizes building relationships with not just the people in the office, but also those who could eventually help or influence you later on.

The fourth strategy is to create effective resources for yourself. This means building your own network, having access to important information, and managing your own reputation, both in- and outside the company.

The fifth strategy is to set and execute clear goals. Packard provides a roadmap for setting and achieving goals. Her guide encourages creating smaller objectives that build up to bigger goals, tracking progress, and using data to create accountability.

The sixth strategy is to manage equity and resources. Packard stresses the importance of understanding the value of salary, advantages and privileges—and how to negotiate for the best leverage.

The seventh strategy is to leverage relationships. Women should identify key relationships that could bring about new opportunities and learn how to foster them.

The eighth strategy is to gain power and influence. This includes learning how to articulate a vision, knowledge of the company’s structure, and staying up‐to‐date on the latest trends and technologies related to the job.

The ninth strategy is to use data to make decisions. Packard stresses the importance of understanding, aggregating, and effectively presenting data within organizations.

Finally, the tenth strategy is to maintain confidence. Packard encourages women to find their inner power, develop courage, and never be afraid to take risks in the workplace.

By implementing Packard’s strategies, women can gain the power and confidence to truly succeed in the workplace. With these strategies, the goal of achieving success is attainable.