Reflection Paper of a book, “Lean In”

Reflection Paper: Lean In
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Reflection paper: Lean In
1 How are your perceptions/thoughts/values changed after you read this book?
After reading Sandberg's book, I have a broader perspective on women's leadership. I now view women's leadership differently. I used to think that only men should be in leadership positions. However, the book has enlightened me that such beliefs perpetuate the gender stereotypes that undermine women's success in society. I now believe that leadership shouldn't be viewed as masculine, which alienates many potential women leaders. Instead, I think women should be given equal opportunity to these leadership positions in any sector (Sandberg, 2013). Any attempts to block women from seeking power must be met by stiff resistance.
The book has taught me the value of women being assertive. The society wants women to act submissive or timid. However, I understand this attitude holds back women from speaking up. I believe women should be encouraged to always speak up even within a male-dominated setting. Their opinions could prove valuable feedback to improve an organization since they may see things from a better perspective than men. Sandberg has given me the determination to fight fear as it prevents one from opening up. Sandberg offers examples in the history of women who inspired change by speaking up (Sandberg, 2013). Her illustrations have helped to increase my appreciation of female opinions.
Sandberg’s article has changed my view of assisting women at home. I held the traditional view that women should take care of all household duties, such as child care. I felt that a man’s sole responsibility is to focus on working hard to support the family financially. However, reading the book has motivated me to take a contrary view. Women shouldn’t carry the whole burden at home. Men should play active roles in supporting women at home. This is evident by Sandberg’s example that out of about 28 women who managed to be CEOs in Fortune 500 companies. A majority of them attributed their corporate success to their partner’s support at home (Sandberg, 2013). I now believe that men and women should work together at home to promote successful careers.
2 How will you apply what you learned from this book in your future professional career?
I want to apply several lessons from Sandberg's book to prove valuable for my future professional career. First, I would like to show more ambition. I will aim to strive for sustained progress in my profession, which means always seeking new knowledge. For me to climb the ladder, I will need to expand my skillset. Second, I will value the opinion of women in my professional career. I believe the act of sidelining is old-fashioned. For a progressive society, women need to be respected at work. Third, as a manager, I would advocate for equal representation of women in the organization and avoid a male-dominated institution (Sandberg, 2013). By working with more women, I can inspire them to strive for top positions in their careers.
Forth, Sandberg’s book will help me be assertive. Sometimes, shyness h...