I Can't Believe She Did That!: Why Women Betray Other Women at Work

By Nan Mooney

Book Overview

I CAN'T BELIEVE SHE DID THAT! offers a new and compelling perspective on conflict and competition among women in the workplace. Nan Mooney explores how and why some women hurt each other on the job, and what we can do to begin cleaning up the mess. Based on real stories from real women, I CAN'T BELIEVE SHE DID THAT! provides a provocative social and cultural exploration of the often troubled and painful dynamics that unfold among women on the job. The massive influx of women into the workplace in the past thirty years means a whole new category of problems has arisen. Suddenly women are working over, under and alongside other women. Their professional relationships are subject to the pressures and conflicts of organizational culture, not to mention society at large. Women on the job have grown more comfortable with ambition, competition and success, but that hasn't negated the value they place on communication and relationships, on being liked and being nice. Striking a balance between these two selves is a delicate undertaking and many women are uncertain how to interact in a workplace where such lines are regularly being blurred. Working together, women have fostered a breathtaking degree of positive change. But there is another side to the story. If women are to continue moving forward, the time has come to examine - honestly and unequivocally - our very human impulse to compete with, hurt and even destroy one another to get what we want. In I CAN'T BELIEVE SHE DID THAT! Nan Mooney provides vivid insights on the emotional toll competition can take on working women and charts a path towards more productive and fulfilling relationships for professional women everywhere.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312322062
• ISBN13: 9780312322069
• Release Date: October 2005
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 259 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.8" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Thoughtful, thorough and insightful analysis into the world of female dynamics at work

Nan Mooney brings much care and a healthy dose of humor in exploring how and why women often treat each other so poorly in the workplace and in other professional settings. Her writing reflects the thoughtful and thorough research methods employed to learn the stories of 100 women who, at some point in their professional lives, experienced minor and major conflicts with female co-workers, supervisors and mentors. Not only does Nan describe the problems faced by these extraordinary women, but also she offers analyses and insights into how problems could be avoided, and what our responsibilities as a society and to each other really are. This book should be required reading for any woman about to enter or re-enter the workplace, change careers, assume greater levels of leadership or management, or for anyone with a genuine interest in knowing more about interpersonal workplace dynamics and organizational culture. It provides the reader with a strong, uplifting message about the importance of honesty, candor, humor, sensitivity and compassion when dealing with others and with ourselves.

Great Read! The Apprentice and Devil Wears Prada Further Investigated...

I seriously loved this book! Having been in corporate America for sometime, especially in a cutthroat, NYC work-environment in financial services where women are out for themselves, create these politics and only the sane ones are probably on some kind of medication, it's really comforting to know it's not just me, there are plenty of other women out there who know that women working with other women can be challenging.

Was surprised when I could not put the book down!

I was surprised when I could not put this book down! I found the interviews fascinating and yet Mooney had a deep sense of compassion for all sides. The book brought up for me many memories of jobs and experiences I had forgotten- working both as an employee and a boss with many women. The book is insightful and inspiring. I felt motivated to speak up and hold my ground and not be so afraid of conflict. I highly recommend this book!! Women of all ages can read this and learn something new.

Very Helpful

This book has gotten me thinking: about my relationships with fellow females in past jobs; about my interactions with women in my current mostly-female career; and about various experiences my friends are having in the workplace. In all, the anecdotes and analysis that Mooney presents here ring true and will be a great source for discussion. Women should read this book in bookgroups and also on their own. The issues highlighted here -- backstabbing, lack of direct communication, healthy (though fierce) competition, etc -- are incredibly important. I feel heartened that other women are having similar experiences and emboldened to talk about some of these issues (both theoretically and specifically) with key people at work. This is an excellent read.

Mooney nails it again

I just finished Mooney's last work, "My Racing Heart," which made my heart race right along with hers. Pages 18-19 give me chills each time I re-read them, as she describes how one misstep, one split second, can end a thoroughbred's career. With this anecdote from the track, she reminds her readers to seize the day in thier own lives, as at any moment, all opportunities to come out a winner could vanish. In this new book, she does a brilliant job (yet again)of delving into the bizarre issue of why women stab other women in the back in the workplace. It's one of those topics I have talked about with many female friends, but haven't seen so thoroughly explored through extensive research in print. Hats off to Mooney...and let's hope all her literate, female contemporaries take this chance to support her, not undermine her!