Feminism Quote by Sheryl Sandberg
““This is why a woman needs to combine niceness with insistence, a style that Mary Sue Coleman, president of the University of Michigan, calls “relentlessly pleasant.”22 This method requires smiling frequently, expressing appreciation and concern, invoking common interests, emphasizing larger goals, and approaching the negotiation as solving a problem as opposed to taking a critical stance.23 Most negotiations involve drawn-out, successive moves, so women need to stay focused … and smile.””
About This Quote
Source Article: Women in Negotiation, Harvard Business Review, 2013
Women succeed in negotiations by pairing friendliness with firm resolve, using warmth to build rapport while staying goal‑oriented and problem‑solving.
In simple terms: Combine kindness with firmness to negotiate effectively.
Key Takeaway
Be pleasant yet assertive.
Themes
negotiation
gender dynamics
leadership
communication
Mood
confident
empathetic
Type
advice
strategic
leadership
When to use this quote
- business meetings
- salary discussions
- team collaborations
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
assertiveness
emotional intelligence
strategic empathy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you balance warmth and firmness without compromising credibility?
- When does pleasantness hinder assertiveness?
A Different Perspective
May be perceived as manipulative if overused; cultural expectations can limit effectiveness.
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![“[Eric Schmidt] explained that only one criterion that mattered when picking a job- fat growth. When companies grow quickly, there are more things to do than there are people to do them. When companies grow more slowly or stop growing, there is less to do and too many people to not be doing them…” quote by Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/23b/sheryl-sandberg-439_feminism_eric-schmidt-explained-that-only-one-cri_16526.jpg)
