Lean In Chapter 3: Success and Likeability

In Chapter 3 of Lean In, Sheryl Sandberg discusses the levels of likeability experienced by successful women.  Unfortunately for most women, achieving great success comes at a cost to likeability.  But as Mark Zuckerberg told Sheryl Sandberg in her first review "If you do please everyone, you aren't making enough progress". 

​What is important to you?  How do you define success?  Will being liked hold you back?

​Women temper their professional goals so they can be liked by others.  They question abilities they have worked hard to develop and they doubt the achievements they have earned as a result of their abilities. 

​Can women be both nurturing and competent?  I argue that the role of nurturing may be applicable in the home but in the professional realm, competency is what should really count.  Our minds are not programmed to separate the two. 

​How do you perceive a successful woman?  What does she wear?  What does she say?  What does she do at work? At home?  Do you like her or resent her? 

​One thing is certain.  To increase our chances of success, we must develop the requisite competency and we must do the job.  We must use criticism to motivate and correct our path.  We must be open to jumping, taking risks, seizing opportunities, and creating opportunities around ourselves.