Joanne Flynn, Managing Director and Founder of Phoenix Strategic Performance, recently co-authored the book, “The Female Factor: A Confidence Guide for Women.” Her 3-part chapter of the book entitled, “Spanning Generations as We Journey Ahead,” focuses on the issues of women in the workforce over the past 50 years, looking at what has changed, what has not, and what women can do to move their careers forward.
What is covered in her part of the book?
- The first section of the chapter is a 50-year retrospective of women in the workforce. As both a witness and player in this multi-decade journey, Joanne Flynn brings the past to life through ‘Glimpses,’ or intimate stories, representing the social and corporate reality during that period. She says that, “Today’s women need to understand the social and corporate history and backstory behind the generations of women who preceded them to appreciate what has come before, and how much more women must do.”
- The second section is a call to action for women in the workforce. It focuses on the “Fundamentals for the 2020’s: Career, Choices, Confidence and Control.” The call to action is for women to take control of their careers, manage their choices, and have the confidence to leap off glass ledges and break through glass ceilings. Women must be organizationally savvy and skilled to proactively take charge of their own careers from the moment they enter the workforce.
- The third section is a personal experience, “Seizing Control and Leaping from the Glass Ledge.” This story chronicles one woman’s career journey that went from waiting, hoping and relying on others, to managing and controlling her own career. She created her own corporate ladder designed to avoid glass ledges while staying relevant, decisive, tough and committed to her career and herself.
As Joanne Flynn writes, “I was compelled to be a co-author in this book because I feel that women in the workforce need to reframe and rethink how they approach and define career success. By sharing my story, and specific actionable takeaways for women in business, I hope that people who read my story will continue their career journey with choices, control and confidence.”
Another co-author of the book is Joanne Flynn’s daughter, Elyse Flynn Meyer, founder of Prism Global Marketing Solutions. Her chapter focuses on six strategies for taking control of the early career phases to ensure future success. Joanne Flynn says, “Elyse was always my inspiration for a better future for women in the workforce. I never dreamed that she would still be facing so many of the same issues we faced 30 and 40 years ago. I am so proud to see that she is carrying the message into the next generation.”
This book, The Female Factor: A Confidence Guide for Women, is designed for women internationally to embrace their unique qualities such as: empathy, compassion, genuine leadership, listening skills, collaboration, and communication. The purpose is to provide women with the information they need to feel confident in both their professional and personal roles. Other co-authors of this book include: coaches, consultants, psychologists, educators, and business leaders.
