Speaking to a group of New York University students, Clinton made the following points:
It’s time to address the “perfectionist problem” “I have employed, by this time, a lot of very talented young men and young women. And offering a promotion or expanded responsibilities to a young woman almost always provokes a response something like ‘Oh I don’t know if I can do that’ or ‘Are you sure I could do that’ or ‘I’m not positive I could take that on…I have never heard that from a young man.”
Changing the way society perceives acceptable styles of female leadership “We are still developing what are the acceptable styles of leadership for women … I think you have to be so intentionally thoughtful about that as you assume a role in the public arena, without it making you less authentic or undermining your confidence.”
Being a female public figure “One of the best pieces of advice that I’ve ever heard from anyone is Eleanor Roosevelt in the 1920s, who said that women in politics or in public roles should grow skin like a rhinoceros,” she said.
Taking criticism onboard, but not personally “When you look at the challenges of being a change-maker and being willing to buck the establishment, it’s important to learn how to take criticism seriously but not personally. You have to be able to hear what others, your critics, are saying,” she said.
“Some you will dismiss because there’s an agenda that has nothing to do with you or your goals. Some will be giving you good advice. Critics can be your best friends if you listen to them, and learn from them, but don’t get dragged down by them”.
