Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook, recently published the book Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead.  She is opening up the conversation to women in the workplace on how they manage a delicate home / life balance, and ask for what they want.  Sandberg starts off the book with an eye opening epiphany when she asks her then boss at Google if they can create designated parking spaces for pregnant women.  You know what his response was?  Yes!  And the reason why it hadn’t been established sooner? No one had brought it up.

How often do we shy away from asking what we want and deserve?  What are you so scared of?  Getting a “no,” or getting a “yes” and not knowing how to handle it?  Men still out earn women in the workforce.  Many times it is due to the fact that men are not afraid to ask for a high salary right from the get-go.  If the job offer is being presented to you, what is the risk of asking for a little more?

Being a valued employee, partner, parent and friend takes time, energy and the ability to open up and get buy in from those around you.  The phrase that “it takes a village” stands true for most anything including: child rearing, creating safe neighborhoods, establishing a productive work environment and more.  I hope all of you will take heed from people like Sandberg, and learn to Lean In, take a deep breath, and ask for it.