When the COO of Facebook followed her inspiring TED talk with a book about women, leadership and career self-empowerment, I felt compelled to read it. Not only was she the “grown up” who instituted serious business processes at Facebook prior to its IPO, but she had also, in her previous role, been instrumental in helping Google to power up its growth. She certainly had something to say that was worth listening to, and I was curious to see why her book had received such a mixed reception.
The naysayers accused her of “blaming” women for their relative lack of advancement into leadership positions over the years, and doubted that someone so rich, famous and lucky could relate to women outside of the golden elite. Her supporters, on the other hand, appreciated her common-sense approach and sound counsel. They agreed: If only women would get out of their own way and take some power into their own hands, they too could be superstars and Uber-high achievers.
Which side of the fence would I find myself on?
The book is a pretty quick and mostly painless read. It is well written, well researched, and has useful insights for both men and women on why women often lag behind men in the career game, and what to do about it. Sheryl comes across as extremely smart, self-aware, grounded, and likeable. As a very successful and well-connected businesswoman, she has some good stories to tell, many endearingly self-deprecating, but you are left with no doubt that she has strong management principles and practices, and some great tips for the reader.
Some of the most noteworthy ideas are:
- The concept of “Leaning In”. It is not an elegant image, but the question of lack of confidence is a huge one for many women. The recommendation to silence the nasty critical inner voice and to claim one’s space is an excellent one. When people think, speak and act in ways that are more powerful, they become more powerful and are taken more seriously as leaders. I am not sure if the book will spawn a social movement, as it is intended to do, but it is certainly worth remembering to “lean in” instead of hiding away, if you want to advance your career.
- “What would you do if you weren’t afraid?” Apparently this is a poster that decorates the walls of Facebook’s offices. It’s a good coaching question, and not only one for women to address. Fear – of risk, of failure, of uncertainty – can hinder us in many ways, so questioning it is a best practice we could all do well to adopt.
- “Sit at the table”. She tells a story of Geithner’s female assistants who spent a meeting ranged along the side of the room instead of joining others at the table, and the metaphor is clear. You have to shake your self-doubt and not wait on the side-lines, because otherwise you will be passed over. Her message: participate, claim your place, make sure you are a player, or you will never break through the implicit biases and make it to the next level. Is that so terrible? This is a question that is not addressed in this book.
- “Careers are a jungle gym, not a ladder.” I particularly liked this insight, which opens up so many more possibilities than the simple up or down, on or off options of the conventional career track. She writes: “a jungle gym provides great views for many people, not just those at the top. On a ladder, most climbers are stuck staring at the butt of the person above.” I also appreciated the advice that “careers do not need to be mapped out from the start”, but that they require “both focus and flexibility, so I recommend adopting two concurrent goals: a long-term dream and an eighteen-month plan”. It seems to have worked well for her.
- “Seek and speak your truth” in simple language, without the “parentheticals and nuances” that you so often find in corporate life, that bury the entire point. She is a strong believer in soliciting input and feedback from many sources, even if it is tough, and proves herself remarkably coachable, and open to learning and changing the things she does that don’t have the impact she wishes. This quality, together with her strong belief in authentic communication, set her apart as an outstanding communicator and leader.
The book is not flawless, nor is it entirely compelling for male readers, or for readers past the mid-career stage, or for readers who are not striving for corporate positions and success. It offers a fascinating glimpse into one woman’s remarkable story and career rise, and yet, like the cover photo, it is quite air-brushed and tight-fisted on any real business insights. Nevertheless, I would recommend it to anyone who cares about leadership and women advancing as leaders.