The Skills: From First Job to Dream Job - What Every Woman Needs to Know

by Mishal Husain

Overview

In The Skills, award-winning broadcaster Mishal Husain inspires, champions, and encourages women to make their ambitions a reality by focusing on practical skills that make a difference.

Gathering together advice for women of all ages, whether they are new graduates, working mothers, or simply seeking a career change, The Skills explains how to

• present yourself to maximum effect, in person and online;
• prepare for quick wins and big moments, and plan for long-term goals;
• gain confidence and authority;
• navigate the ups and downs of a long working life; and
• develop strategies for building resilience.

Drawing on Mishal’s experience, interviews, and experts and inspirational figures such as Hillary Clinton and Malala Yousafzai, The Skills will guide women in honing the abilities they need to thrive in whatever field they choose.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062933355
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	04/02/2019
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

Mishal Husain is one of the presenters of BBC Radio 4’s influential Today program and the television news on BBC One. Born in the United Kingdom, she grew up in the Middle East and was later educated at Cambridge University, where she studied law. She also has a master’s degree in law from the European University Institute in Florence.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

My journey to this book

Overcoming doubt

Finding my courage

Where We Are 19

Representation of women

Understanding the gaps

Socialisation

Growing Up Female 45

How we talk about girls and women

Stereotyping

Imagery

Reclaiming ambition

The Skills

Planning 63

Longer working lives

Role models and inspiration

Five-year plans

Learning from those around you

Preparation 77

Information-gathering

Critical thinking

Challenging your beliefs

Evaluations and judgements

Starting Out 95

Navigating the first years on the career ladder

Processes that build confidence

Breaks from work and re-establishing yourself afterwards

Speaking Up 115

Voice, clarity and emphasis

Public speaking

The written word

Standing Up 133

Body language

Occupying space

First impressions

The Digital You 149

Social media opportunities and pitfalls

Women in technology

Making the internet more representative

Trolling

Keeping Sharp 169

Apprehension and anxiety

The importance of practice

Focusing on the immediate task

Owning It 185

Big moments and high-pressure scenarios

Appraisals and evaluations

Making a pitch

Rising Up 199

Developing authority

Mastering your brief

Demonstrating your knowledge

Resilience 215

Dealing with scrutiny and criticism

Knockbacks and failures

Learning but not losing your nerve

Balance 227

Managing the different elements of your life

Banishing guilt

Thinking long-term

Afterword 243

Acknowledgements 251

Notes 255

Image credits 277

Epigraph sources 279

Index 283

Editorial Reviews

02/18/2019

BBC anchor Husain issues a well-meaning but familiar guide to success for early- and mid-career women. After 20 years in broadcasting, Husain still sometimes feels that her courage came “later in life than it might have”; here she sets out to tell the truth about self-doubt; in particular, about managing it and forging ahead despite it. A perennial question, she shows, is figuring out how to feel at home in a new role even when one feels out of one’s depth. Moreover, she adds, remaining imbalances in the treatment of male and female professionals add an extra layer of complication for women trying to ascend the corporate ladder. Husain gives some time to the current state of workplace culture and to the undermining messages young girls are given about ambition, before moving on to the skills women need to succeed, such as starting out, speaking up for oneself, managing one’s digital life, and building resilience. This is all decent, solid advice, but very little is new, which will make this kindly worded primer a hard sell for business book buyers. Agent: Grainne Fox, Fletcher & Company. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

A compelling primer on how women can forge a path to success. The practicality and clarity of Husain’s advice offers a source of new strength for women in the daily battle to both fulfil their potential and get their due in the workplace.” — Tina Brown, founder of the Women in the World Summit and award-winning journalist

“This book is a must-read for anyone (woman or man) who aspires to reach the top of their game.” — Miriam González Durántez

“From speaking up to rising up, this book is full of practical advice for young women ready to realise their full potential.” — Malala Yousafzai, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize

“A must-read.” — Christiane Amanpour

“With the confidence and authority of a woman who has both attained her dream job and loves it, she meditates on what it took for her – and other women – to work their way there. This is not a memoir; it’s more a feminist manifesto.” — Daily Mail (UK)

“This is the new go-to handbook for every working woman.” — Emerald Street (UK)

“Girls are often raised to think ambition is a dirty word. Mishal debunks that myth and shows us that when women reach for their dreams, it can empower us all.” — Katty Kay, bestselling coauthor of The Confidence Code

“An important book for anyone who wants to help women succeed.” — Booklist

From the Publisher

Girls are often raised to think ambition is a dirty word. Mishal debunks that myth and shows us that when women reach for their dreams, it can empower us all.

Katty Kay

A compelling primer on how women can forge a path to success. The practicality and clarity of Husain’s advice offers a source of new strength for women in the daily battle to both fulfil their potential and get their due in the workplace.

Tina Brown

A must-read.

Christiane Amanpour

This book is a must-read for anyone (woman or man) who aspires to reach the top of their game.

Miriam González Durántez

This is the new go-to handbook for every working woman.

Emerald Street (UK)

With the confidence and authority of a woman who has both attained her dream job and loves it, she meditates on what it took for her – and other women – to work their way there. This is not a memoir; it’s more a feminist manifesto.

Daily Mail (UK)

An important book for anyone who wants to help women succeed.

Booklist

From speaking up to rising up, this book is full of practical advice for young women ready to realise their full potential.

Malala Yousafzai

An important book for anyone who wants to help women succeed.

Booklist

This book is a must-read for anyone (woman or man) who aspires to reach the top of their game.

Miriam Gonzalez Durantez

★ 04/01/2019

Husain writes an inspirational and practical book, recalling her first position as a BBC presenter, and her doubts about succeeding in the role. During the initial few years of a now-successful broadcasting career, Husain experienced imposter syndrome and continually worried about what could go wrong. Her idea for writing this book came out of that time and what she's learned along the way: "speech, choice of words, body language, distilling information and deploying facts." Presenting statistics and analysis of gender disparity and sexual harassment in the workplace as well as continued sexism in various lines of employment, she provides case studies of the struggles of notable women, including Eleanor Roosevelt, Hillary Clinton, and Malala Yousafzai. This wide-ranging text also delves into navigating the first years on the career ladder, speaking up and developing authority, social media opportunities and pitfalls, dealing with apprehension and anxiety, managing different elements of one's life and criticism. Included are references for further reading. VERDICT This highly recommended guide is essential for women in the workforce and those starting their careers.—Lucy Heckman, St. John's Univ. Lib., Queens, NY

Library Journal