How Women and Men Behave Differently

A couple of weeks ago, I attended a seminar hosted by Rothstein Kass titled: What Are The Critical Success Factors For Women In This Industry?  The industry refers to the investment management and venture capitalist industries.   Rothstein Kass as a firm has a great focus on promoting women in career, leadership, and other life initiatives, which makes them a great host for this kind of event.

There were 3 panelists, all female, naturally, and 1 keynote speaker.  Many great points were discussed, but to me the most interesting was the discussion by the keynote speaker about how men and women behave differently, which are as follows:

• Men ask for forgiveness; women ask for permission.
• Men know that they cannot make everyone happy.
• Men ask for what they want.
• Men tell people about their promotion; women want others to tell.
• Men don't take things personally.
• Men are promoted by their potential; women are promoted on their performances.  
• Men help each other out.

The last two points particularly left an impression on me.  Women are not natural risk-takers.  They want to be confident that they can do a job before asking or going for it.  However, men are more risk-embracing; they go for something they even have no experiences in, and can sell themselves pretty well into it.  

As to the last point that men tend to help each other out more than women, one logical explanation is that there are just fewer women in senior positions, so these women naturally want to protect their positions, and may not be willing to really help other women out to gain a better position, for fear of losing their places.  

One women entrepreneur friend also shared with me her experiences.  When she started out her business, her male business associates referred more businesses to her than female counterparts.  Her male friends may not know her or her skills that well, yet they are willing to recommend and help her.  Why not female?  Is it because female worry too much about their own reputations, or female do not want to help other female out as much?  I can see that women-focused industry associations still have a lot of work to do in promoting "women helping women".  

Some other great advice:

• Work with unparalleled work ethics.
• Focus, focus.
• Be an expert in something.
• Never stop experimenting and learning.
• Seek out the best possible teachers.
• Work with/for smart people.
• Never give up.
• Always give back.
• Have an impact, stake your claim.
• Help other women.
• If you want something, ask; if you are turned down, ask again!

(Source: quinn.anya/Montreal Museum of Fine Arts Construction Fund Raiser)