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Asking for what you need, being prepared to describe who you need to be introduced to in order to move your business forward, and honoring introductions from ot

by dmor 15y ago

Asking for what you need, being prepared to describe who you need to be introduced to in order to move your business forward, and honoring introductions from others are best practices for business networking whether male or female. If you are getting introduced to a lot of women, it might be because you are sending the message to the world that furthering women in business is your #1 priority -- and people are eager to help others achieve their goals. As Warren Buffet says, "you attract what you are".

jvm 15y ago
I agree, but I think it's important to recognize that one of the disadvantages women have in business that they probably give off the impression "that furthering women in business is your #1 priority" simply by being women, and so, unlike men, they have to work to actively combat that presupposition.
- ahoyhere 15y ago
  jvm, I think a big reason this happens to women is because they make their femaleness a thing: they talk about it, write about it, etc. They may not INTEND to sound as if "furthering women is job #1" -- but they give out a message that it's important to them, perhaps inadvertently. This won't-intro-me-to-men thing has never happened to me. However, I don't make a big deal out of the fact that I'm a woman. I also don't tend to do things like go to "girl geek dinners" or whatever, because I find them sexist & obnoxious. What does happen to me is that women "in technology" will presume that I am interested in them, agree with them, support their agenda, value the things they value, etc., simply because I have breasts and a vagina. Which irritates the daylights out of me. (Their presumption, that is, not my equipment.) The OP author makes a great point -- try to meet the people who are the best people for you to meet, regardless of in-born traits. I definitely agree with it. I simply also believe women have more of a hand in causing these situations for themselves than they want to admit.

by dmor 15y ago

jvm 15y ago

I agree, but I think it's important to recognize that one of the disadvantages women have in business that they probably give off the impression "that furthering women in business is your #1 priority" simply by being women, and so, unlike men, they have to work to actively combat that presupposition.

ahoyhere 15y ago
jvm, I think a big reason this happens to women is because they make their femaleness a thing: they talk about it, write about it, etc. They may not INTEND to sound as if "furthering women is job #1" -- but they give out a message that it's important to them, perhaps inadvertently. This won't-intro-me-to-men thing has never happened to me. However, I don't make a big deal out of the fact that I'm a woman. I also don't tend to do things like go to "girl geek dinners" or whatever, because I find them sexist & obnoxious. What does happen to me is that women "in technology" will presume that I am interested in them, agree with them, support their agenda, value the things they value, etc., simply because I have breasts and a vagina. Which irritates the daylights out of me. (Their presumption, that is, not my equipment.) The OP author makes a great point -- try to meet the people who are the best people for you to meet, regardless of in-born traits. I definitely agree with it. I simply also believe women have more of a hand in causing these situations for themselves than they want to admit.