Women’s Behavior Traits
In Other Words, Women, What Is Comfortable?
We women know that we’re different from men, but (and here come the disclaimers), make no mistake, we’re not all alike! And some men are very good with so-called feminine traits, such as emotional sensitivity and multitasking, among others. And as I said in Nature vs. Nurture, a big part of why we’re different might be attributed to pressures other than genetics.
As for the current business world, men have done a good job. Thank you! But the business world is changing: Women are trying to fit in and other economies are coming into play with creative ideas. Our current business climate needs to weather the storm—with flexibility, cultural and emotional sensitivity, and speed. This is a perfect fit if business decides to make it easy to assimilate the traits—or talents, as I like to say—women have to offer:
- Collaborative leadership
- Information sharing
- Nonlinear, holistic thinking
- Ease with relationships
- Ease in working outside a hierarchy
- Emotional sensitivity
- Use of power as influence, rather than rank
- Comfort with ambiguity
- Ability to read subliminal clues
- Comfort with win/win negotiation
- Concern with process
- Multi-thinking
- Multitasking
- Use of intuition along with logic
- Ability to improvise
- Long-term planning
- Linking rather than ranking workers
Get ready women! Show your talents. The most forward-thinking companies are ready for new structures and new methods. You’re a perfect fit!
Tip: Be ready to talk about business structures and methods that may need re-thinking:
Strict Hierarchy
Command-and-Control Management
The End Justifies the Means, and Process Doesn’t Matter
Guard Your Turf
Hoard Information
Keep Emotions Out of Business
Further Reading:
WomensMedia, by Dianne Danielson, Table Talking Your Way To Networking
Book, Judy Rosener, America’s Competitive Secret : Women Managers
The Wall Street Journal, Career Journal, by Valerie Patterson, Breaking the Glass Ceiling: What’s Holding Women Back?
_________________________________________________________________