The media is abuzz this week with commentary on Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg’s new book, “Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead.” Some view Sandberg as a champion for women in the workplace, others as a privileged executive out of touch with the realities of most working women.

Why more women aren’t in C-suite positions is a complex question. As an entrepreneur and business owner for 30 years, I know firsthand many of the challenges that women face in the workplace, including the need — whether perceived or real — to work harder to prove ourselves. I do believe, as this writer suggests, that the time commitment we require of executives is one of the factors that limits women’s advancement, and it raises interesting questions about how we define productivity and effectiveness in the workplace.

I recently shared with the participants of a company training I was conducing the importance of product knowledge, knowledge of the company and knowledge of any policies or procedures that may relate to them.

Without those competencies, it’s impossible to be as confident as you should be with your customers. And customers today are extremely savvy, having instant access to this information on the Internet – they may know just as much or more than you do.

During a recent training session I was conducting on overcoming price resistance, one of the participants shared with me that some salespeople have a “nervous number.”

That’s when the dollar amount of the sale causes you to become so nervous, the first thing you do is either immediately give a discount or bring someone else into the sale to reduce the price.

Do you have a nervous number? Or, have you learned not to panic no matter what the price of the product or service is?

We all know that children have a remarkable capacity for learning. Their brains are often likened to sponges: picking up new language daily, effortlessly mimicking what they observe and understanding at a young age the connection between behavior and consequences.

I’ve been reminded of this lately as I watch my daughter and her young son, who is not quite 3 years old. She’s been patiently teaching him new ways of thinking and behaving toward his little brother. I’ve been amazed at how my grandson’s behavior is changing as a result. Rather than viewing his brother as a rival, he’s learning to be gentler and more loving towards him. And instead of escalating situations when he gets angry or frustrated, he’s learning to calm himself down before he gets too upset.

All of this toddler watching has gotten me thinking about adult behavior.