A must for every woman who is stymied by professional roadblocks and barriers, Hardball for Women decodes the male business culture and shows you how to use its rules to get ahead and stay ahead.Exploring from the ground up how boys and girls are taught to behave, author Pat Heim uses her extensive experience in the business world and a wide variety of research to show you how your behavior is interpreted to determine whether you are strong or weak, clear or vague, ambitious or passive, and, ultimately, promotable or not.Then she shows you how to understand the game of business and how to build on that understanding to succeed in your career. You'll master the following skills: how to lead men, and how to lead women; how to turn criticism and praise to your advantage; how to display confidence and power even when you feel frightened and powerless; how to be on either end of an attack during a business meeting and still remain cordial later; how to offer help so you're not seen as obstructionist; how to take risks; how to distinguish between the male and female version of a "team player;" how to work with people you don't like; and how to hide your vulnerability.The goal of Hardball for Women is to let you act rather than react, to help you see the rules that men play by and use them to meet your own goals, to make you feel comfortable, even exhilarated, with playing the competitive game. This book will give you the strategies that have worked to bring success in business. Read Less