On Topic: Sheryl Sandberg's 'Lean In' looks at 'likable' leaders

It's not such a surprise that Margaret Thatcher turns up in the chapter on success, likability and women leaders in Sheryl Sandberg's new book, “Lean In,” is it?

During her tenure as Great Britain's so-far only female prime minister, Thatcher, who died April 8, was reviled by detractors - and she had an abundance of them on her home turf - as Attila the Hen, Sandberg notes.

But, then, women executives have long been subject to a different mirror. When Ronald Reagan died - though his politics were fairly identical to that of his transatlantic pal Thatcher's - criticism of his anti-union, pro-privatization views were darned-near more than whispers.

This double vision is part of Sandberg's point. The Facebook chief operating officer cites a Harvard Business School experiment in which students were assigned to look at a case study on Heidi Roizen, a successful venture capitalist.

Except half the participants were given a report in which real-life Heidi's first name was changed to “Howard.”

What happened next also isn't a shocker: “Howard” came out well - what a guy. Heidi, however, was marked as unlikable.

Can't you just hear the words “aggressive” and “pushy” on the lips of those students? Worse - and why Sandberg believes the topic is worth noting - is the study was completed in 2009, not way back in the unenlightened dark ages of the 1950s and cave paintings.

One of the more surprising issues the COO addresses is the gambit of asking job candidates if they envision taking time off have babies.

“Raising this topic in the workplace would give most employment lawyers a heart attack,” Sandberg admits.

Goodness gracious, yes.

“But after watching so many talented women pass on opportunities for unspoken reasons, I started addressing this issue directly. I always give people the option of not answering, but so far every woman I have asked has appeared grateful for a chance to discuss the subject. I also make it clear that I am asking for one reason: to make sure they aren't limiting their options unnecessarily.”

She recalls having passed on a post at the U.S. Treasury in 1995, Sandberg told the person making the offer, because she didn't want to live in the same city - even one as populated as Washington, D.C. - as her soon-to-be-ex-husband. She “leaned in” and shared.

This honest approach worked to her benefit as she was able to call back some time later to learn if the opportunity still was available - “If I had told Larry that I was passing on the job for professional reasons, I would have appeared impulsive when I reversed the decision.”

Sandberg's former Google colleague Marissa Mayer was named Yahoo CEO in 2012 while entering her third trimester of pregnancy. Mayer announced that her maternity leave would last only a few weeks, “and I'll work throughout it.”

Sandberg argues no matter how long Mayer had decided to stay home with her newborn, she would have received criticism - which she did, from all sides.

And, yes, this is the same executive who flung workplace pundits into hyper drive by declaring Yahoo work-at-home employees will start reporting into the office come June. No more lattes and pajamas while scrolling through emails.

Commentators across the English-speaking globe wondered about turning back the clock, and opined that introverts as well as some “creative types” work better away from the herd.

That's as may be. We'll see how it works out for Yahoo's bottom line.

But after scouring Sandberg's book, I have to ask this: If a telecommuting ban had been proclaimed by a male executive, would the decision instead be viewed - not as controlling - but as tough and forward-thinking?