For more than two decades, Dr. Lois P. Frankel’s bestselling book Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office has helped women identify the subtle, often unconscious behaviors that quietly undermine career growth. In this conversation with Rodger Dean Duncan, Frankel explains why many of those patterns still persist today, even as younger generations of women enter the workforce with far more empowering messages than previous generations received.
Drawing on her experience as both a psychologist and one of the earliest executive coaches, Frankel explores how childhood conditioning, workplace culture, and social expectations shape leadership behavior. She argues that while being “nice” is absolutely valuable, it is not sufficient for career success if it prevents women from speaking up, setting boundaries, taking visibility seriously, or claiming their place in leadership conversations.
Whether you are an emerging professional, an experienced leader, or someone committed to creating healthier workplace cultures, this episode offers direct and actionable insights into leadership, communication, and career growth.
Being “nice” is valuable, but it is not enough for career success — Women often need to pair kindness with complementary leadership behaviors such as visibility, assertiveness, and boundary-setting.
Many career-limiting behaviors operate unconsciously — Childhood messages, workplace expectations, and social conditioning can quietly shape how women communicate, participate, and advocate for themselves.
Leadership visibility matters — Speaking early in meetings, being physically present, and intentionally building relationships all contribute to executive presence and long-term opportunity.
Pay attention to behaviors that may unintentionally minimize your presence — Waiting too long to speak, sitting at the periphery, or avoiding visibility can quietly reduce influence over time.
Practice setting boundaries through negotiation rather than automatic refusal — Clear communication and realistic expectations often work better than simply saying yes or no.
Focus on progress rather than perfection — Excellence matters, but repeatedly exceeding what the situation actually requires may drain time and energy unnecessarily.
