Lean In By Sheryl Sandberg Summary

In Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead, Sheryl Sandberg (2013) discusses some of the most prominent issues affecting women and their careers. Factors including stereotyping, gender roles, and inequality were the most compelling subjects in this book. She identifies the reason why women struggle to be in leadership positions. In fact, women are seen negatively if they want to succeed in their careers as males do. Sandberg merges personal narratives, statistics, and research to reveal the challenges working women face. The author also provides captivating solutions that can inspire women to thrive. She outlines explicit strategies women can use to have fulfilled lives both professionally and personally.
Impressionable parts of Lean In …show more content…
It is a characteristic that can deter women from receiving huge accomplishments in their life (p. 24). Sandberg says although there are external barriers created by society, women have internal barriers that prevent them from gaining power as well. She infers that a lack of self-confidence and bravery pushes women further away from being leaders. They are inclined to believe it is “wrong to be outspoken, aggressive and more powerful than men” (p. 8). Sheryl says that the solution to leadership is to become liberated from those internal barriers. I believe this solution is extremely powerful because there are many times we hinder our own successes. If we disregard negativity and insecurities, we can work towards goals that once seemed unattainable. Sandberg thinks gender roles and equality needs improvement in the workplace. She mentions the fact that “our revolution has stalled” and “the promise of equality is not the same as true equality”. I also agree women should be encouraged to target leadership positions and pursue success just as their male …show more content…
Sandberg mentions that one main reason women tend to lag behind is due to a “leadership ambition gap” (p. 15). More men are considered ambitious or willing to fight for higher-level positions. Being a female, I boldly refuse to let my gender define me. I understand the need for reformation, especially in the educational system. After reading this book, I am eager to be in a leadership position where I can impose change and I am more convinced that I can be an influential leader. Sheryl suggests setting career and personal goals to seek diverse experiences, target specific achievements, and learn new skills. I am persuaded more than ever to alter my attitude and thinking. Setting goals will not only give me a sense of direction, but also the confidence to pursue any challenging aspirations. Sandberg refers to a poster at her office stating, “fortune does favor the bold.” It implies we will not realize our capabilities if we refuse to try. The most rewarding change in my thought process came from the way Sheryl views the pathway to obtaining a successful career. Throughout chapter four, she suggests that it is best to regard the workplace as a jungle gym and not a ladder to climb. This is a powerful analogy whereas a jungle gym exemplifies discovery and a wide range of options for success, a ladder represents a straight and narrow option to reach the top. In addition, the jungle gym