This chapter starts out with some basic advice: open and honest communication is important in the workplace. Communicating honestly without hurting feelings is a learnable skill that requires empathy for the other person. Seek and provide honest input, advice, and feedback. Use humor. Own your weaknesses.Maybe someday shedding tears in the workplace will no longer be viewed as embarrassing or weak, but as a simple display of authentic emotion. And maybe the compassion and sensitivity that have historically held some women back will make them more natural leaders in the future. In the meantime, we can all hasten this change by committing ourselves to both seek -- and speak -- our truth.
The interesting part comes at the end. Anne-Marie Slaughter called for a shift in workplace culture that would allow us to express emotion and acknowledge our personal lives at work, without fear that it would harm our reputations. Sandberg is telling us to go for it. Sharing emotions can help us connect with colleagues, and being open about our personal lives allows us to navigate the workplace with less stress. Here she tells a story about admitting that she was turning down a prestigious job because she was getting divorced and wanted to be far away from her ex. When she was ready for the position a year later, she was able to call and say she was now interested and ready. If she had made up a story about not wanting the job for professional reasons, she wouldn't have been able to do that without sacrificing credibility. Sandberg says that in this age of eroding boundaries between work and home, we're better off being our authentic selves at work.
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