Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office: 101 Unconscious Mistakes Women Make That Sabotage Their Careers

Frankel’s Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office received considerable acclaim upon its release and quickly became a bestseller in the self-help and professional development genre. Readers and critics alike praised its direct, no-nonsense approach to identifying workplace behaviors that hinder women’s professional advancement. The book was particularly lauded for offering actionable coaching tips, which distinguished it from other career advice books that tend to focus on abstract empowerment rather than concrete strategies. Many women found Frankel’s advice relatable and practical, as it addressed subtle workplace habits—such as apologizing excessively, couching statements as questions, or failing to negotiate—that often go unnoticed but significantly impact career trajectories. The book’s accessibility contributed to its popularity, since Frankel’s straightforward language, real-world examples, and structured format made it easy to apply her guidance in professional settings. The title itself, Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office, resonated with many working women, who recognized the implicit message: Behaviors that are socially ingrained in women from a young age do not necessarily serve them well in a corporate environment. This framing enabled the book to gain traction beyond the business world, entering broader discussions about gender expectations and workplace culture.

Despite its success, the book received some criticism.