Reddit reviews The Happiness Advantage: How a Positive Brain Fuels Success in Work and Life

All of the time. I'm a woman who manages a large division of males in the tech industry. I am one of very few women in my position. If you keep focusing on these aspects of yourself, that is what your male colleagues will focus on as well. It sounds like he's actually interested in mentoring you. Things like not making eye contact and speech patterns are definitely more inherent in women, but are generally signs of people who aren't confident. For people to take you seriously, you need to be confident in yourself.

My best advice is to read the "Happiness Advantage". Basic tenet is that you focus on what's in front of you and doing really really well at what you have to do. Your work will speak for itself. The rest will come. Its this mentality that has helped me change my working habits.

I recently read two that had an impact on my thinking and actions:

• The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor
  
• Solve for Happy by Mo Gawdat
  
  There's also a fun and free Coursera, A Life of Happiness and Fulfillment.
  
  Congrats to you for trying to make a positive change in your life. Good luck!