---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This is why a woman needs to combine…"
description: "\"“This is why a woman needs to combine niceness with insistence, a style that Mary Sue Coleman, president of the University of Michigan, calls “relentle..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/126/sheryl-sandberg-439_feminism_this-is-why-a-woman-needs-to-combine-nic_2543164.png"
---

#  This is why a woman needs to combine niceness with…

![“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…” quote by Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/126/sheryl-sandberg-439_feminism_this-is-why-a-woman-needs-to-combine-nic_2543164.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/126/sheryl-sandberg-439_feminism_this-is-why-a-woman-needs-to-combine-nic_2543164.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/126/sheryl-sandberg-439_feminism_this-is-why-a-woman-needs-to-combine-nic_2543164.png)

> ““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.””

[Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

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.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Feminism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Insistence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insistence/) [Negotiation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negotiation/) [Solving A Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solving-a-problem/)

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