Big Asian energy An unapologetic guide for breaking barriers to leadership and success

Lamenting the underrepresentation of Asians in the C-suite, leadership coach Wang debuts with an empowering guide advising Asian readers on how to climb the corporate ladder. He outlines seven behavioral patterns that hold back Asian employees, suggesting, for example, that "achievers" feel pressured by "model minority" stereotypes and high parental expectations to overperform in everything they do. Such individuals should reject perfectionism and "let ourselves be a little messy," Wang advises. Encouraging readers to seek recognition for their accomplishments, Wang discusses how after a client was omitted from a colleague's congratulatory message for her team, he urged her to point out the oversight to her colleague, who apologized and talked up her achievements to her superiors. Helpful suggestions abound, as when Wang recommends asserting one's authority by avoiding such phrases as "I think" and "kind of," as well as pushing back on microaggressions by asking offenders "I don't get it, can you explain the joke?" or "What did you mean by that?" Unfortunately, the exercises peppered throughout are undercooked. For instance, readers are urged to boost their confidence by walking through public spaces with their head held high or envisioning themselves as a "twelve-foot-tall golden god." Still, this will be a boon for Asian workers eager to take their career to the next level. Agent: Johanna Castillo, Writers House. (May)

Confronting stereotypes. Wang is a leadership coach to the Asian American community, and in this book he presents lessons he's learned over the years. He notes that Asian Americans make up 13% of the professional workforce, but only 3% hold leadership and executive positions. Given the "elusive impression" that Asian American workers are generally considered by their Western employers to be highly competent and hard workers, why is this so? Wang accepts that the term "Asian" covers a wide range of countries, but the common theme is that Asian cultures have a collectivist basis rather than an individualist one. Because of the role of family and the broader Asian community as socializing forces, he says Asian Americans are less willing to claim credit for their achievements and put themselves forward for promotions. Humility, says Wang, is not an attribute that is prized in American business. He argues that Asian Americans will take on tasks that are not relevant to their duties simply because a colleague asks them to do so. The result is that they suffer burnout through overwork. Wang uses case studies to explain how Asian American workers can address these issues without losing their core identity. He includes self-diagnostic tests and exercises and offers tips on matters such as eye contact, interviews, and body language. Being assertive without being arrogant is not always easy, but this is a useful book for workers looking to move up the ladder--as well as for people already in leadership positions. A wealth of helpful advice, shared in an authentic voice. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.