Book SummaryShe Thinks Like a Boss, by Jemma Roedel

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of She Thinks Like a Boss

Have you ever wondered what qualities make a person successful? Are you looking for self-improvement strategies that focus on the unique challenges women face in the workplace? In She Thinks Like a Boss, Jemma Roedel defines the qualities of a successful person and offers tips for how to develop these traits. Though anyone can apply her leadership advice, she targets women in particular, arguing that they face unique challenges because of stereotyping, communication styles, and their beliefs about themselves. She aims to help women break through these barriers to become leaders in the business...

She Thinks Like a Boss Summary How to Be a Good Leader

According to Roedel, the ability to be a good leader is one of the most important qualities of a successful woman in the workplace. Good leaders guide and shape the people around them, and they help people in teams work together to reach common goals.

In this section, we’ll look at qualities that make leaders effective, including:

1. Remembering to look after yourself
2. Motivating yourself and others
3. Revealing your vulnerabilities
4. Knowing what kind of leader you are

Quality #1: Look After Yourself

Roedel argues that to be a good leader, you must remember to look after yourself in addition to taking care of others. If you give everything you have and work yourself too hard at your job, there’s a good chance that you’ll burn out, at which point you’ll be unable to help anyone else. Additionally, it’s important to set a good example for your team by showing them that you can be successful and still have a good work-life balance.

(Shortform note: While Roedel focuses on maintaining a good work-life balance, it’s important to consider [the many imbalances and gender norms that make it harder for women to do...

She Thinks Like a Boss Summary How to Communicate Effectively

Now that we’ve discussed the qualities of a good leader, let’s dive into another important aspect of being a successful woman in the workplace: being an effective communicator. Roedel begins by saying that men and women communicate in different ways. For example, women tend to be more open and receptive to others while men tend to dominate a conversation—this may be because women are socialized to put others’ needs first while men are not. Roedel writes that being conscious of such differences can help you become an effective communicator. In this section, we’ll explore three of her strategies for leveling the communication field:

• Not apologizing too much
• Speaking matter-of-factly and objectively
• Conveying authority with your physical presence

(Shortform note: On top of overcoming gender differences when it comes to communication, you may also have to work through cultural differences in a globalized workplace. In The Culture Map, Erin Meyer describes the two extremes of communication as [low-context and...

She Thinks Like a Boss Summary How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome and Cultivate Self-Confidence

In the previous sections, we examined Roedel’s strategies for successful leadership and communication. Now, let’s look at her advice for developing one of the traits that strong leadership and skillful communication hinge on: self-confidence.

In this section, we’ll define imposter syndrome and explore how it undermines self-confidence at work, particularly for women. Then, we’ll discuss Roedel’s strategies for combating imposter syndrome and cultivating belief in yourself.

How Imposter Syndrome and Other Self-Confidence Struggles Affect Women

According to Roedel, many women struggle with imposter syndrome in the workplace. Imposter syndrome can manifest in several ways:

• You may have trouble believing that you deserve the accolades you receive.
• You may feel like you’re a fraud, and you’ve tricked everyone into believing that you’re meant to be in your current position.
• You might fear that one day, the people around you will figure out that you’re not qualified to be where you are, and everything will fall apart when this happens.

(Shortform note: [Reframing can help you deal with the feeling that you’re a...

Shortform Exercise: Identify Success Strategies That Work for You

Roedel suggests many strategies to increase your success at work. To begin applying them, identify which of her suggestions might work best for you.

Which of the five qualities of good leadership that Roedel describes do you most need to work on? Why? (For example, you need to work on taking better care of yourself because you’ve been working so hard in your new leadership role that you’re in danger of burning out. Or, you want to work on showing more vulnerability as a leader because you’re having trouble connecting personally with your team members.)