Memo to women in power positions: You must never let your guard down - Harvey Schachter

Nini DeSesa, chairman of McCann Erickson's New York office, says she is seeing many good women reach the top of the corporate pyramid only to come coppling down. She gives five tips to women with power who would like to avoid such a fate:

Don't Become Drunk With Power

Once at the top, many women seem to forget the negotiating skills that got them there, Ms. DiSesa says. "Our democratic 'female' patience is replaced by the more efficient 'male' dictatorship. It seems far easier to just tell people what to do than it is to keep negotiating for peaceful collaboration," she writes in Executive Excellence. Men aren't punished for that failing since they aren't expected to be nurturing, but there are different expectations for women - so when they aren't seen to be nurturing, it's often described as a betrayal of trust.

Don't Stop Reading The Room

There is an arrogance that can accompany being top dog. Suddenly everyone is trying to read you - second guessing you, and sucking up to you. Instant power can give a false sense of security, and women may drop their defences. But they aren't invincible, particularly if brought in from the outside. If you aren't doing the expected job or disgruntled subordinates are undermining you with innuendo, you could be in for a nasty surprise. Never stop reading the room to distinguish between the people watching your back to protect it and those using it for target practice.

Avoid Becoming 'a Real Bitch'

Some women who have attained power aren't just tough or firm. They can become "bitches," Ms. DiSesa says. They treat subordinates badly, keeping them out of the loop, hoarding information. They don't listen to anyone else and micromanage. Women at the top can adopt many of the 'male characteristics' they admire, but must be wary of gender differences in terms of expectations. "It's okay to be decisive, courageous and focused - as long as we are also collaborative, nurturing, and empathetic," she writes.

Remember: Make Rain

Women take the reins but sometimes forget they are held to the same standard as men: Make money or get out. Ms. DiSesa notes a blog posting titled How Five Women CEOs destroyed Confidence in the U.S. Economy. "They didn't have a list of five men who had screwed up," she writes. "There is a double standard, but no one seems to argue with the almighty buck."

Don't Forget to Be Better Than Men

The double standard remains, even at the top, so women can't relax. "We must always work smarter, think better, manage more humanely, and be more patient than men," she says.