Although Lean In does not have characters in the same sense a work of fiction would, Sandberg does make conscious decisions about how to characterize the real-life people that populate her book. This is true even of Sandberg herself: by narrating the way she does, Sandberg shapes the way readers are likely to view her. Sandberg's self-presentation becomes particularly significant in light of her discussion of the double-bind powerful women face: if they are too "nice," they are perceived as incompetent, but if they are too competent, they are perceived as unlikeable. Since women (including Sandberg's readers) are not immune to stereotyping, Lean In needs to walk a very fine line between authoritative and personable.

Sandberg relies on a handful of strategies in order achieve this effect. Although she makes no secret of her professional successes, Sandberg doesn't list her credentials at the outset of the book. Instead, she intersperses relevant anecdotes from her career throughout Lean In in order to back up her broader points—a technique that recalls her advice on linking individual claims, arguments and discussions to the interests of a community. She also positions herself within the relatable (and traditionally feminine) context of

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