Core Quote by Sheryl Sandberg
“Women attribute their success to working hard, luck, and help from other people. Men will attribute that - whatever success they have, that same success - to their own core skills.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg, 2013
People often explain achievements differently by gender: women cite external factors, men emphasize personal ability.
In simple terms: Women credit luck and help; men credit skill.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and challenge attribution bias.
Themes
gender bias
self‑perception
achievement attribution
social psychology
confidence
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
motivational
insightful
When to use this quote
- team meetings
- performance reviews
- career planning
- mentoring programs
Key Concepts
self‑efficacy
external locus
internal locus
stereotype threat
social comparison
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you currently explain your successes?
- How might changing your narrative affect your confidence?
A Different Perspective
Attribution patterns can be influenced by cultural norms and may not reflect actual causes.
![“[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)
