Office Politics : The Women's Guide to Beat the System and Gain Financial Success

by R. Don Steele

The corporate world is a world dominated and controlled by men. Don Steele has prevailed in that world for 30 years. He tells women honestly and bluntly how that world really works and what they must do to succeed. His sound methods and real-world advice are mandatory for every young woman just starting out, all women stalled in their careers and any woman returning to the office.

Hardcover

First published December 1, 1994

Reviews

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a product of its time I’m sure this was ok, but in current times it’s terrible mansplaining and largely irrelevant (with small exceptions for negotiating tips)

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published in 1994 “Office Politics,” by R. Don Steele is a potentially offensive and radical social comment upon the times. Aimed at women in the 90’s and taken with a strong grain of salt the “Woman’s Guide to Beat the System,” is still quite helpful, if you learn to ignore the chaff.

Stylistically it reads more like strident advice one would give a sister, but with nuggets that suggest changing jobs as often as possible your first five years in the work force – due to the 10% increase you ask for with each change, giving you an 40% advantage in your salary above those who simply float with cost of living. 'Office Politics' for all it's shortcomings may in fact be the best professional advice ever published.

Other interesting grains include asking for two months when transferring jobs to “train and wrap up loose ends,” only to give two weeks notice and spend the other month and a half on a beach drinking or when switching jobs to use a sick mother to buy you several weeks to see if you like the new job, never giving notice until you have to “move” to take care of her. Not potentially something you could do these days, but eye opening in the possibilities for ways for self-payout before employer-payout.

The book was a bit belated for me as much of it was advice I'd already gleaned through trial and error, interviews learning to wear blue or green (trusting colors) and when working for women, checking the website for their “uniform” of choice, paying special attention to the jewelry they wore – emulating when possible. Never wearing nail polish or heavy perfume and keeping eyes bright with light eye shadow.

While no one can argue that Mr. Steele is not a misogynist (look up his YouTube videos, seriously) but some of his advice is still very very good, especially for women who believe their boss with reward them with a raise, or who are simply lost as to why they can't find jobs.

While I absolutely adored many parts of this book and would encourage others to read it, it does come with a heaping load of outdated BS -however finding it at a used bookstore I was quite happy with the change it provoked in my life, especially for just $5.

[Judy]

interesting take on feminism: very feminist in some ways, and claims to be anti-feminist. Fascinating.