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You are here: Home / SEA 2014 / SEA 2014 Notes / Seattle Notes: Confidence & Gender Politics

Seattle Notes: Confidence & Gender Politics

May 9, 2014 By elurie

Friday Session 1 A
Convener & Notetaker: Sonia L.

Gender politics in business: (Navigating the Boys’ Club)

  • Classic generalization: men engage in conflict to determine status and women engage to win
  • Men — and mixed groups — hear women differently than men
  • Assertive women often seen in a negative light, even if they do the same things, so sometimes women simply can’t win, no matter what we do
  • Can we change the narrative? Change the game?

Changing the Game

  • Calling out the problem
  • Direct conversation without blame
  • Women supporting each other as a group (think wolf-pack)
  • Recruit male allies
  • Humor?

Handling emotional reactions in the workplace (eg: fear of crying):

  • Own the reaction rather than pretending it’s not happening
  • Keep the business conversation going
  • Put the other at ease (as best you can) by telling them it’s okay
  • Lead the message where you want it to go
  • Humor

Dealing with Challenge (like being talked over or dismissed)

  • Keep talking in an even tone rather than give up the floor
  • Repeat yourself calmly
  • Point out that you (or allies) already said that / build on the points
  • Line up support from allies ahead of time
  • Call out issues directly
  • Humor!

Creating Confidence in the Moment

  • Physiological changes result from good posture and smiling (faking it actually works)
  • Taking time to breathe ahead of time
  • Talking to allies before and after
  • Emotional reactions can be fine if you believe and act as if they are, and keep the conversation clean of blame

Filed Under: SEA 2014 Notes Tagged With: gender workplace issues, women in tech

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