Work Like a Woman by Mary Portas

Summary

Work Like a Woman by Mary Portas is a compelling call to challenge the traditional, male-dominated workplace culture and embrace a more collaborative, empathetic, and inclusive model inspired by traditionally feminine values. Portas shares her personal journey as a business leader and offers practical advice on how women can create meaningful change at work—both for themselves and for the wider world. The book champions authenticity, emotional intelligence, and flexibility, promoting a vision for the future of work that benefits everyone.

Life-Changing Lessons

1. Embrace authenticity and vulnerability in the workplace to foster trust and innovation.

2. Champion empathy and collaboration rather than aggressive competition as a pathway to productive and sustainable success.

3. Set and defend personal boundaries by developing a work culture grounded in respect and flexibility.

Publishing year and rating

The book was published in: 2018

AI Rating (from 0 to 100): 85

Practical Examples

1. Building Inclusive Work Cultures

   Mary Portas argues that workplaces must be reimagined to value compassion, inclusivity, and collaboration over outdated, rigid hierarchical structures. She encourages leaders to foster open dialogue and support networks, making employees feel valued and heard. This shift is described both through her own experiences and clear, actionable suggestions for readers.

2. Challenging the 24/7 Hustle Culture

   Portas critiques the expectation that serious professionals are always on and available, noting how this culture disproportionately disadvantages women. She explains that she created her company’s flexible working policy to encourage work-life balance, stressing that productivity rises when people feel trusted and supported to manage their own schedules.

3. Mentoring and Sponsorship

   Throughout the book, Portas highlights the importance of women empowering other women by mentoring and sponsoring each other in the workplace. Practical examples include setting up women’s support networks and taking time to recognize and champion colleagues’ unique strengths and contributions.

4. Redefining Leadership Traits

   Portas challenges the traditional idea of leadership as authoritative and competitive. She provides examples from her own leadership journey, showing that qualities like emotional intelligence, resilience, and consensus-building can lead companies to greater success and employee satisfaction.

5. Having Difficult Conversations with Kindness

   Mary shares techniques for engaging in honest, tough workplace conversations without sacrificing empathy or integrity. For instance, she teaches how to deliver constructive feedback in a way that supports growth, minimizes defensiveness, and strengthens professional relationships.