38: The Likeability Trap: What’s Really Stopping Women from Getting Promoted

SisterSmart Leadership · Feb 5, 2026 · 16m

Have you ever been told you need to be 'warmer' in a meeting... and then told you need to be 'more assertive' in your next review?

This is what researchers call the 'likeability trap.' And it's one of the biggest reasons talented women get stuck in their careers.

In this episode, you'll learn what the likeability trap actually looks like at work so you can spot when it's happening to you. Jill shares why traditional assertiveness training often backfires for women, and what actually works instead.

By the end of this episode, you'll have a framework for leading authentically, one that honors…