Dr. Lois Frankel opens by identifying common workplace behaviors — often learned early and reinforced through socialization — that can unintentionally undermine women's professional advancement, despite being frequently viewed positively in social contexts.

Why identifying these specific behaviors matters:

• Many behaviors that receive positive social reinforcement in general social contexts can inadvertently disadvantage women specifically within competitive professional advancement contexts, without this connection being widely recognized
• Frankel's research-based approach identifies these specific behaviors, providing actionable awareness for readers seeking to recognize and address them
• This opening establishes the book's foundational diagnostic approach, motivating its subsequent detailed examination of specific problematic behaviors

This opening establishes the book's foundational diagnostic approach, identifying common workplace behaviors that unintentionally undermine women's professional advancement despite positive social reinforcement elsewhere.