Winter Book Club - Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg

Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have had this book on my To Be Read list since it came out, but because of all the mixed reviews when it came out I never got around to reading it.  This is one of the things I love about book clubs, I get to read books that I never would have picked up, or that I've put off reading.

I didn't know how the book would translate into information I could use, I'm not on an upward climb to the top of the corporate ladder. I'm surprised at how much I was able to take from the book, just the idea of sitting at the table and leaning in, is something that can be applied no matter what job a woman holds.

At the discussion I found that a lot of us were able to apply some of the basic concepts to our jobs. We all agreed that we liked the idea of work being like a jungle gym rather than a ladder.  The idea that we can make those lateral transitions and still have access to growth is a better image to hold onto, at least it is for me.  We had a great discussion about mentors and how sometimes official mentorship programs haven't worked.  Personally, I never thought about mentors but when looking back at the steps in my career I've found that there are women and men in my life that have been there in a form of mentorship to guide me over the hurdles and direct me down the right paths.

I've already suggested this book to friends and I think it's something more women should read. I don't think everything Sheryl Sandberg talks about is applicable to everyone, but I think there is enough in the book that most women can pull out to apply to their own lives. At lot of what I read is going to stick with me as I move forward in my career.  When the time comes for me to have children, I know that I'm in a profession I want to come back to, I know to keep leaning in and not let myself pull back from job opportunities. I know that while I may not feel confidant in where I stand sometimes, that when others feel that I can handle a job I should trust them.