I recently finished reading Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg’s book Lean In. I’ve also researched and read many of the criticisms of the book. Some criticism is well-reasoned and some knee-jerk reaction. A growing meme of mockery is subtle in use of the phrase “lean in,” and while this seems surface positive, it’s not too difficult to see parallels to Linsanity that resulted in “a chink in the armor.” Let me say this: it’s easier to hate than to innovate.
If you have not yet read the book, you can watch an executive summary in the form of Sandberg’s 2010 TED Talk:
In my experience, managers too often don’t know what they don’t know when it comes to issues of workplace stereotypes. Lean In has started a valuable conversation, worth participating in regardless of gender.