It centers around both Sandeberg's professional, and personal life and the lessons learned along the way. She is passionate about women advancing to leadership positions, and also passionate about men taking on a more integral role in the home. Her candor is refreshing - and sometimes almost too relatable.
There are so many instances where I feel myself pulling back, rather than leaning in, when it comes to work and my career decisions. One story she uses to illustrate how women aren't leaning in, was when she hosted a meeting with colleagues, some of whom brought assistants, and female employees. As they began the meeting the women took seats along the side of the room, rather than at the table. When Sandberg asked the girls to join them, the women politely refused.
I know that I have been in that exact position, and I also had to be coaxed to sit at the table. Why? Why did I automatically discount myself? I know I am intelligent, and I know I have good ideas to bring to discussions, so why didn't I take my seat? I felt as though I didn't belong at the table, I was intimidated. The same feeling I get when I'm sitting in a lecture and don't raise my hand, even though I know the answer to the question.
Sandberg uses the book to tell women to get up from the back of the room and take a seat at the table (both literally, and figuratively), as she has had to learn to do throughout her career. It's a truthful look at how the female mind works, and how sometimes we have tell our over-thinking brains to "shut-it", do some mental knuckle-cracking and grab that seat at the head of the table. I mean, we've had men running our lives for long enough to realize they clearly aren't cut out to do the job alone.
Get the book here and get ready to lead!
