The Assertiveness Double Bind for Women at Work

In Episode 20 of Women at Work with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna unpack the assertiveness double bind — where women are penalized for being too direct or too warm. Using a 2025 study from Columbia Business School, they explore how women managers face conflicting expectations: being seen as competent but cold, or warm but ineffective. The conversation drills into a specific finding: women who speak first in meetings are rated 17 percent less likable than men who do the same. They also discuss practical strategies like using 'we' language and anchoring decisions in data. This episode offers a concrete lens on a subtle bias that shapes careers every day. #AssertivenessDoubleBind #WomenAtWork #GenderBias #WorkplaceCulture #Leadership #WomenInBusiness #CareerAdvancement #MeetingDynamics #ColumbiaStudy #GenderNorms #CommunicationSkills #WomenManagers #Careers #ProfessionalDevelopment #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #WomenInLeadership #ImplicitBias Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo