If you’re going to take career advice from anyone, Sheryl Sandberg is the person to watch and listen to. The Facebook COO is known for her iconic advice when it comes to women getting ahead in the work place. Now, she revealed five simple ways for women to succeed in PEOPLE–and most of them are based around the idea of support.
I personally love this–and it makes total sense. If someone feels supported in their career, they’re going to put in more time and effort, because they feel valued–and they also feel confident enough to do so.
Here are five things Sandberg suggests doing, which are all backed by social science research:
“1. Challenge the Likability Penalty… So when you hear a woman called “aggressive” or “bossy,” request a specific example of what she did and then ask, “Would you have the same reaction if a man did the same thing?” In many cases, the answer will be no.
2. Celebrate Women’s Accomplishments… In meetings, performance reviews, and everyday conversations, call out women for their achievements and point out when they are being blamed unfairly for mistakes. When women celebrate one another’s accomplishments, we’re all lifted up.
3. Make Sure Women’s Ideas Are Heard… Look for ways to shape the conversation and invite other women to participate. When a woman is interrupted, interject and say you’d like to hear her finish. Speaking up is a win-win: when you advocate for other women, they benefit — and you’re seen as a leader.
4. Become a Mentor… You can help fix this by committing time and energy to mentoring other women. If you’re further along in your career, pay it forward by investing in a woman who’s just starting out. And if you’re early in your career, find a woman who’s coming up behind you or a student who’s interested in your field.
5. Join a Lean In Circle… You can tap into that power of peer support by joining a Lean In Circle, a small group that meets regularly to learn and grow together. Go to leanin.org/Circles to get started.”
These are clearly good ideas. While I don’t necessarily think they could fix ALL of the problems women face in the workforce ever (ie: childcare, etc.), it’s definitely a good start. In general, these rules don’t just apply to the workforce, but to our everyday lives as well–and force us to ask ourselves how we can be more supportive to those around us.
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