Susan Colantuono’s book, No Ceilings, No Walls, is both inspirational and inspired. Practical exercises and tools offer valuable ways women can enhance their leadership skills ─ for example, using the language of power to communicate the value they bring.

But perhaps what makes this book so smart is the emphasis it puts on business acumen as the way for women to demonstrate that they have the “right stuff” to take on leadership roles. Aside from this being the absolute truth, it certainly makes climbing the corporate ladder more accessible.

If you can describe your organization in terms of what Colantuono calls the four “outcome” categories: cash, growth, return and customer, then you’re thinking like a CEO.  If you articulate your company’s strategy in terms of those same four outcomes, then you’ll be seen as a “big picture” person. And if you can read a balance sheet and income statement, then you’ll be able to understand the story the numbers tell and to retell it to others.

Be your own coach yourself using No Ceilings, No Walls as a guide.

TAGS: Books, business acumen, LinkedIn