Lean In

Lean In

Sheryl Sandberg

Alfred A. Knopf

New York

2013

228 pp.

Lean In, by Sheryl Sandberg, was recommended to me by Natalie Peerali, one of our current graduate students in the new HTM Master’s program.  I immediately set out to find it and almost ran into the display shelf featuring the book at the entrance of my local Barnes and Noble.  The book is currently #3 on the New York Times Best Sellers list for nonfiction and has opened up a national conversation about leadership roles for women.  Indeed, the book is subtitled Women, Work, and the Will to Lead.

Sheryl Sandberg is the chief operating officer of Facebook and is ranked as one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People in the World.  Prior to this she worked as chief of staff for the Treasury Department and after this for Google.  However, she is a rarity in leadership positions noting that of the 195 independent countries in the world, only 17 are led by women.  The number of women at the top of corporate America reveals that only 21 of the Fortune 500 CEOs are women.  The author paraphrases Warren Buffett who noted one of his reasons for success was that he only had to compete with half the population.

The reason for this, the author points out, stems from external barriers erected by society which still include sexism, discrimination, and harassment.  As documented in a 2011 McKinsey report, men are promoted based on their potential and women are promoted according to past accomplishments.  In addition, women are limited by internal barriers which include lower expectations of what they can achieve.

Among many topics, Lean In addresses the leadership ambition gap.  Part of the problem can be traced back to gender stereotypes.  However, current research reveals that not only can women have families and careers, but they can thrive while doing so.  This is because of greater financial security, better health, and increased life satisfaction.  

In a chapter titled “Sit at the Table” the author points out that many people are hindered by the “impostor syndrome” in which we succumb to self-doubt and lack of confidence.  But this is more prevalent among women than among men.  Even the highly successful writer and actress Tina Fey has admitted to these feelings and swears she will never host the Academy Awards.  The author encourages women to literally “sit at the table” in meetings and not off on the sidelines.  She admonishes women to take more risks and to not be afraid.

Another chapter focuses on success and likeability.  As detailed in several studies, these qualities are positively correlated for men and negatively correlated for women.  When a man is successful he is admired by members of both sexes.  When a woman is successful the reverse often occurs.  Men and women are inclined to like her less.  Furthermore, men tend to negotiate for themselves more than women do.  Although men will advocate on their own behalf, women are expected to be concerned with others.  The author’s remedy for these inequities is to be “relentlessly pleasant.”  This approach also necessitates being able to withstand criticism because it will eventually arise.

The author also advocates the importance of having a mentor.  However, this is not a magical remedy and the message is not so much, “Get a mentor and you will excel,” but rather “Excel and you will get a mentor.”

Other chapters focus on “the myth of doing it all” in the realm of work and family, exercising and relaxing, making time for others, and making time for solitude.  In this regard Sandberg notes the importance of “making your partner a real partner.”  She states, “I don’t know of one woman in a leadership position whose life partner is not fully—and I mean fully—supportive of her career.  No exceptions.”  What this means in practical terms is sharing tasks such as laundry, shopping, and cooking.

Sandberg believes in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes.  The outcome of this would mean more women in leadership positions.   Ultimately, Sandberg hopes to inspire men as much as women.  The author isn’t advocating that all women should be in leadership positions.  Not all women want careers.  Not all women want children.  Not all women want both.  Rather, the author suggests that women should have equal opportunity to achieve leadership roles and that the world will be a better place for it.

Larry Beck