Lean In book

There are some things that are ok but the book was made from the perspective of personal gain and doesn’t offer any advice to actually combat bias in the industry.

When I first read it, I felt this was a great advice manual for people starting their professional career - for both men and women. It’s been marketed as a feminist manifesto but very little of the book is gender specific. On second thought, it’s written from a place of extraordinary privilege. Examples are not relatable, they are not applicable to normal people and I am certain some were invented. One thing on which I haven’t changed my mind is that the book is very well written. Points are well made and well argued. Also, whether you agree or not with what she says many, many people have read the book in the valley and as such it’s part of our common culture. It’s useful to know about it.

“Lean In” by Sheryl Sandberg take aways- Please ask yourself: What would I do if I weren’t afraid? And then go do it. Research backs up: “fake it till you feel it” strategy. It is hard to visualize someone as a leader if he/she is always waiting to be told what to do. What’s the most important lesson you have learned form a mistake you have made in the past? I said no to a lot of opportunities when I was just starting out because I thought, that’s not what my degree is in or I don’t know about that domain. In retrospect, at a certain point it’s your ability to learn quickly and contribute quickly that matters. You have to take opportunities and make an opportunity fit for you, rather than other way around. The ability to learn is the most important quality a leader can have. Focusing on team leads to better results for the simple reason that well-functioning groups are stronger than individuals. And success feels better when it’s shared with others. Ask this question in Interview What is your biggest problem, and how can I solve it? While I don’t believe in mapping out each step of a career, I do believe it helps to have a long-term dream or goal. A long-term dream does not have to be realistic or even specific. It may reflect the desire to work in a particular field or to travel throughout the world. But even a vague goal can provide direction, a far-off guidepost to move toward. Over the years, I have repeated Eric’s advice to countless people, encouraging them to reduce their career spreadsheets to one column: potential for growth. First and most important, I set targets for what my team can accomplish. Employees who concentrate on results and impact are the most valuable. Second, I try to set more personal goals for learning new skills in the next eighteen months. It’s often painful, but I ask myself- “How can I improve?” At times, staying in the same functional area and in the same organization creates inertia and limits opportunity to expand. Seeking out diverse experiences is useful preparation for leadership. “Tiara Syndrome” – Where women “expect that if they keep doing their job well someone will notice them and place a tiara on their head”. Hard work and results should be recognized by others, but when they aren’t-advocating for oneself becomes necessary. The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any. Mentorship and sponsorship are crucial for career progression. How can I do better? What am I Doing that I don’t know? What am I not doing that I don’t see? Another way I try to foster authentic communication is to speak openly about my own weaknesses. To highlight just one, I have a tendency to get impatient about unresolved situations. My reaction is to push for people to resolve them quickly, in some cases before they realistically can. Sharing emotions builds deeper relationships. Motivation comes from working on things we care about. To really care about others, we have to understand them-what they like and dislike, what they feel as well as think. I had to decide what mattered and what didn’t and I learned to be a perfectionist in only the things that mattered. Done is better than perfect. I have tried to embrace this motto and let go of unattainable standards. Aiming for perfection causes frustration at best and paralysis at worst. Long term success at work often depends on not trying to meet every demand placed on us. The best to make room for both life and career is to make choices deliberately-to set limits and stick to them. General Colin Powell explains that his vision of leadership rejects “busy bastards” who put in long hours at the office without realizing the impact they have on their staff. When I dwell less on conflicts and compromises, and more on being fully engaged with the task at hand, the center holds and I feel content. Drop the “Guilt Trip”- Secret is there is no secret. Just doing the best you can with what you have got. It was easier to talk about sex life in public than to talk about gender. Every job will demand some sacrifice. The key is to avoid unnecessary sacrifice. Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence. We should strive to resolve our differences quickly, and when we disagree, stay focused on our shared goals. This is not a plea for less debate, but for more constructive debate.