Do Girls Do It Better Than Guys?
Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus but networking is networking right? Last week I was talking to a BNI member, a young lady, about why it was important that a BNI Chapter have women in it. I told her that women were good at building strong relationships within their network. Her retort was simply, “Well that might be true but most of my referrals come from guys, in and out of BNI.” That got me to thinking, is there a difference?
Women by nature are nurturers, traditionally in most families they were the caretakers of the children, the organizer of the family members, and often the caretaker for the elderly members of the family. While men were the bread winners, doing business, starting and running businesses. Over the years that has changed, and the roles are more equal, men and women both raise the family, both do business, own businesses and run businesses.
Is that change reflected in business-networking? What is your experience with networking, do the girls do it better than the guys?
About Hazel Walker
Related Posts
-
Your Reputation and Networking
What can/does networking do for your professional reputation? By “professional reputation”, I mean how people view you as a professional both in the meeting room and outside the office. Your integrity, respect, intelligence, and impact on those around you. When you network through LinkedIn, how can professional networking relate to…
-
Not for Profits Need to Network Too
All things being equal people want to do business with people they know, like and trust. That includes Not For Profit Organizations. I am speaking a the AFP or Association of Fundraising Professionals on Friday. I am the opening act in a line up of highly professional speakers on the…
-
Are You a Passive Networker?
As I have been working on the book, Business Networking and Sex, I have been reading more and more studies about women in business. While women are making great strides in the business world, there are still studies being released that say women need to step up their game and…
4 Responses so far.
In my opinion, there is no gender better than the other in NWM. It is the person, them-self; Are they really listening, followed by can they offer help? Each person who listens in real time, offers solid help, suggestions, referrals, etc.. is truly the best at NWMing.
My experience has always been fantastic with both men and women who take a real interest, listen, and then offer something according to our conversation.
Judy
Yes. How’s that for a quick, gogetter response! In my business I am always networking with other women. I find that I can connect on a deeper level in a much quicker time. Of course, my business is jewelry so we have a common language we can speak right from the start. I just wrote about this in my blog at http://www.BrandyMychals.com
As far at traditional nurturing roles, I have found most women in BNI to be gogetters or promoters. Seems as though the nurturing is saved for home/kids and the other personality styles are brought to the networking events.
Hi Hazel,
Excellent article. I think that neither has the advantage in networking. I think networking is something that is learned for most people and thus men or women can excel at it. It’s a matter of having the will, the want and the practice to do it right.
All the best,
Alan
Thanks for the comment. I am working on a book based on a 12,000 person survey. I agree that networking is a learned skill but it is interesting how the genders apply the lessons.