Overcoming Overwork (HBR Women at Work Series)

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Five Harmful Ways Women Feel They Must Adapt at Work

by Deepa Purushothaman, Lisen Stromberg, and Lisa Kaplowitz

Women in leadership are soldiering on. While 49% of executive women considered leaving their jobs last year, only 8% actually did, according to a recent study by the nonprofit Women in Revenue.¹ This might seem like good news if you’re a company leader eager to retain some of the most highly coveted talent on your payroll, but for the women themselves, there is a high cost to staying put.

In our respective (predominately U.S.-based) research, we have spoken to and surveyed thousands of high-performing professional women. On the surface, these women appear to have arrived. They’re role models, company leaders, and pillars of their ...