The
Mirrored
Door
Break Through the Hidden Barrier that Locks Successful Women in Place.
Unlock what's blocking your career and open the door to new opportunities!
At some point in their careers, many women encounter the mirrored door—the place where, when presented with opportunities, we reflect inward and hesitate, deem we’re not ready or worthy enough to move forward, whether that is to raise our hands or go for the next role.
But there is a way to break through and overcome the gendered expectations that girls and women internalize over our lifetimes, creating a hidden barrier that keeps us from reaching our full potential.
Drawing on research, stories from her own career, and those of her students and the mid-late career women she has coached, Professor Ellen Taaffe explains why the five perils of success—being prepared to perfection, eager to please, trying to fit the mold, pushing too hard, and patiently performing and expecting rewards to follow—get us to a certain level, and then may prevent our taking the next step in our careers as expectations rise. She offers a new, empowering framework for navigating workplace challenges with more awareness and expertise.
With a firm grounding in research, Taaffe teaches us about the realities of the workplace, how it influences perceptions of women, and how we can overcome the distorted self-reflection that ultimately holds us back.
A former Fortune 50 senior executive turned board director and professor, Taaffe is on a mission for women to have more seats and voices at the table of workplace decisions. In The Mirrored Door, she guides us to assess ourselves and our situations realistically so that we can take charge of our career success and take the lead in our lives.
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WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
“This incisive, inviting guidebook surveys the challenges high-achieving women face in the workplace and shares fresh advice for navigating obstacles both inner and outer.”
Book Life By Publisher’s Weekly (Editor’s Pick)
“Taaffe blends research, professional expertise, and personal experience in a concise examination of women’s self-doubt in the workplace.”
Kirkus Reviews
“The Mirrored Door is an insightful self-help book that exposes, and enables pushing past, the particular barriers that women in business face.”
Foreword Clarion Reviews
“Brilliant and actionable. Highly recommended!”
Sally Helgesen, bestselling author of How Women Rise
“An inspiring guide for women looking to advance in their careers.”
Deepa Purushothaman, author of The First, the Few, the Only
“The Mirrored Door is a must-read for career-minded women who aspire to more.”
Dorie Clark, Wall Street Journal–bestselling author of The Long Game
“The Mirrored Door is the book that every female leader―of all ages and stages―needs to read.”
Tricia Montalvo Timm, author of Embrace the Power of You
“A terrific primer for career-oriented women to create their own successful path.”
Carter Cast, author of The Right―and Wrong―Stuff
“If you want to shatter the glass ceiling, you’ll open The Mirrored Door.”
Whitney Johnson, WSJ bestselling author of Smart Growth
“A compelling manual for banishing self-doubt and grabbing your desired and deserved future!”
Gena Cox, PhD, author of Leading Inclusion
“Taaffe brings a depth of knowledge and breadth of personal experience to every page.”
Laurie Weingart, coauthor of The No Club
“Like having a caring, wise mentor show you the ropes.”
Anne Lester, former managing director of JPMorgan Asset Management, board director, speaker, and author of Your Best Financial Life
“I wish I had it earlier in my career. Highly recommend!”
Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, vice chair of external affairs at Royal Caribbean Group, former CEO of Celebrity Cruises, board director, and author of Making Waves
“Gives readers a chance to reflect on how they can have a healthier relationship to work and achievement.”
Sarah Kaplan, director of the Institute for Gender and the Economy (GATE) at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management
“An enlightening and practical guide for all women who seek to leverage.”
Tammy Gooler Loeb, award-winning author of Work from the Inside Out
Key Topics of The Mirrored Door
Break Open: How We See Ourselves
Break Away: Relearn Success Strategies.
Break Through: To the Gifts across the Threshold.
About The Author
Ellen Connelly Taaffe, a former Fortune 50 senior executive turned board director and professor, is on a mission for women to have more seats and voices at the table of workplace decisions. In her new book, she reveals a hidden obstacle in our way she calls the mirrored door—the place where, when presented with opportunities, we reflect inward and hesitate, deem we’re not ready or worthy enough to move forward, whether that is to raise our hands or go for the next role.
In The Mirrored Door: Break Through the Hidden Barrier that Locks Successful Women in Place, Taaffe offers a new, empowering framework for navigating workplace challenges with more awareness and expertise.
