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