Recorded Changes
The book Lean In Women, Work, and the Will to Lead offers timely and powerful insights that all career women should apply in their respective professions. The chapters provide a detailed plan that individuals can implement in their respective fields to overcome the existing challenges and eventually emerge successfully. Such procedures and activities are inspirational and easy to implement in any field. This understanding reveals that my thoughts and perceptions have changed significantly after reading the book. First, I have realized that stereotypes and cases of discrimination are still pervasive in many work environments (Sandberg, 2013). However, women can remain involved and make timely decisions to change their experiences. Second, the content has changed my perception since I have always believed that women should always receive the relevant support and guidance if they are to achieve most of their professional goals.
Third, the work has encouraged me to change some of my values regarding gender roles and identity. Specifically, I now understand that both women and men can achieve their maximum potential when they remain focused and identify new ways of changing their situations. Fourth, I never used to think that a mentor could make any significant difference in a person’s career. However, the studied text has proved me wrong by providing timely insights and descriptions that female employees can implement in their respective fields (Sandberg, 2013). Fifth, the author has convinced me that women need partners who will remain supportive, guide them to make the best choices, and offer timely support. I am, therefore, planning to apply most of these revolutionary ideas whenever formulating my career aims and philosophy.
Lessons Gained
The primary theme in the selected book is that women encounter numerous challenges when planning to pursue their professional and personal goals. The author believes that many female workers and entrepreneurs hold themselves back by failing to focus on the possibilities ahead of them (Sandberg, 2013). Through this text, I have realized that a leadership desire gap always exists, thereby making it impossible for more women to focus on top-level positions. They need to be at the negotiating table and take the best initiative if they want to record desirable outcomes. The book indicates that likeability and success are aspects that affect the performance and success of women in their respective working environments (Sandberg, 2013). Women who stop treating their careers and professions as leaders will identify emerging opportunities and complete complex tasks to become more successful.
The book has presented new ideas regarding the importance of mentorship. Women who intend to succeed in their respective fields should embrace such practice and acquire new strategies to achieve their potential. Such individuals can develop a superior culture for communicating authentically, making informed decisions, and providing honest feedback to each other. Another outstanding lesson gained from the text is that many women fail in their respective careers because they find new jobs to quit at some point (Sandberg, 2013). This malpractice makes it impossible for them to succeed and eventually achieve their maximum potential. They need to change this perception and remain focused until they achieve their primary professional goals. Such a strategy will undoubtedly take them closer to their goals.
Another outstanding observation from this book is the fact that many women fail to succeed after selecting partners and husbands who do not support their ambitions. The idea of “real partners” stands out since it can result in continuous empowerment and ensure that more women are capable of addressing emerging challenges. The belief that many individuals can complete their tasks and eventually succeed by themselves is erroneous. Instead, Sandberg (2013) indicates that all women should accept the fact that they belong to a different gender. This kind of knowledge will prepare them for every difficult task ahead and consider additional ways of bridging the equality gap. Such women should seek new challenges and encourage their partners to remain supportive. This strategy will guide them to appreciate the possible obstacles they might encounter in their lives and remain involved until they eventually record desirable outcomes.
The idea of having a mentor is inspirational since it can make a difference through failure and success. This approach means that women should consider the feedback their mentors give, ask questions, and encourage them to remain supportive. This practice will result in a superior philosophy for solving emerging problems, identifying new opportunities, and considering new strategies to become successful. The work has widened my knowledge regarding the issue of risks in a woman’s career. The author encourages women to remain involved, be optimistic, and take chances in their respective professions (Sandberg, 2013). This strategy means that they take responsibility when mistakes occur. Such initiatives and lessons are worth replicating and capable of empowering more women to fulfill their potential. These powerful thoughts and concepts explain why more women can follow them to become successful in their careers and break the existing glass ceiling.
My Future Professional Career
The lessons outlined are inspirational and capable of making a significant difference in my future career. I am planning to apply such ideas in my professional practice in a number of ways. First, I will formulate a new philosophy that resonates with the concepts outlined above if I am to achieve my goals. First, I will identify a skilled mentor and collaborate with them continuously until I record positive goals. Such professionals will provide timely incentives, guide me to make informed choices, and equip me with additional competencies for succeeding in my career (Sandberg, 2013). Second, I will consider the idea of remaining steadfast and focused. As a career person, I will not take quitting as the best option even after encountering negative challenges. Instead, I will work harder, engage more partners, and consider additional ways to achieve my professional objectives.
Third, I will embrace the presented guidelines to participate actively and take initiatives when necessary. This approach will guide me to challenge the status quo in my workplace. I will always be involved in decision-making processes and consider new ways of succeeding in my position. Fourth, I am no longer going to view my career as a unique goal or a ladder. Instead, I will be on the lookout for all emerging opportunities and identify superior strategies that can guide me to record positive gains. Finally, I will encourage my family members and partner to be involved, caring, and supportive. The combination of these initiatives will ensure that the insights Sheryl Sandberg presents in her book form the basis for my professional philosophy. The application of this initiative will eventually take me closer to my goals.
Reference
Sandberg, S. (2013). Lean in: Women, work, and the will to lead. Knopf.