Are Women Afraid to Lean In?

06 May Are Women Afraid to Lean In?

Sheryl Sandberg presented this question to women:  ‘What would you do if you weren’t afraid?’ During her assent up the corporate ladder to become Facebook’s COO,  she has observed women creating obstacles for themselves in a male-dominated workforce. So, she she decided to do something about it.

Lean In:  Women, Work and the Will to Lead, encourages women to be confident, to believe in themselves and to self-advocate–actions that seem to come naturally to men. In 2013, why does this disparity still exist?

Often when a woman is self-assured, powerful, and goes for what she wants, she finds herself in a difficult position. Reaching the highest levels of achievement becomes even more challenging because a women’s drive makes her seem too masculine and unattractive. Suddenly, she has to balance her natural desire to be liked with her professional desire to move ahead. We’re seen this play out many times and snare even the most high profile professional women, including Hillary Clinton.

Any woman who has ever felt insecure about her personality is susceptible to fear of Sandberg’s advice, which is to dream big without waiting for validation.

Sandberg herself struggled in her leadership position at Facebook because she was so concerned about being liked.  She has experienced being overlooked, ignored and treated unfairly because she is an ambitious working mother.  She has faced practically every trying situation that comes from ‘leaning in’, and she succeeded anyway, in love, business, parenthood and friendships.

Perhaps women can look at Sandberg’s story and see that despite their fears, success is possible.  It may not be easy or painless, but possible.  Professional women need to decide for themselves if they are going to let fear (of not being liked, of possible failure) hold them back, or if they will ‘lean’ into the road takes them towards their goals.

Has being “too ambitious” ever been a problem for you in your career? What about not being “ambitious” enough? Were you able to overcome the challenge?