Women In Leadership - Week 4

This week we got 3 guest appearances from 3 ladies. Mary B, Melanie and Andrea.

Mary B spoke about networking in different ways compared to how men do it and she gave out question cards to each of us and showed us how networking can be done in that way also. You can initiate a long conversation by just asking what is on your question card?

Melanie spoke about how we should never give out our business cards straight away to a person we just met, she said that we should build the trust first and then get deeper. We should build a connection with the person first and then exchange personal details. She spoke about how with a broad network you can make connections with almost everybody. Through her connections she got to know Andrea and Mary B for example.
She gave examples : A person(introvert) can have lunch with somebody new everyday in order to step out of that shell. She told us how networking is not just about sending emails, it's about getting yourself out there and experiencing other people's personalities.
She told us how important it is to keep track of people you meet because it can be embarrassing to reintroduce yourself to someone you just met 2 days ago. She said that you don't necessarily have to play golf to  make new friends.
When you meet someone ask questions,let them talk about themselves because nobody gives two hoots if you talk about yourself. This is a point all three of them stressed on.
Melanie asked us who reads The Wall street Journal. She said that if any of us want to be a leader then we need to read it. She told us how, if somebody asked us out for lunch once, be the one to ask them the next time. If somebody is annoying, just reduce the connection for example : don't always email them. She kept repeating on how we should build that trust. She said how she totally trusts Andrea when it comes to dealing with her Finances.

Men hit the target straight on, whereas Women beat around the bush.
She used this quote ;

"When you get something it's a gift, If you don't, Try again"
Don't take "NO" personally, keep trying.

Andrea said how she feels that Women are amazing at networking. For example : Babysitting. They get cold feet when they enter the business world. Why?
She said how she feels that women always tend to think that they are incapable. She graduated from high school in 1981 and from college in 1985. Until 1987 women were not allowed to go to the bank and apply for a loan with their name unless a male accompanied them. Everything we do in here will help us when we need something out there. She quoted this. Andrea told us how she herself is a shy person but she is also an extrovert. She had attended a workshop with a guy named Bob Littell. She said how you need to genuinely care about the people you are talking to( Mary B and Melanie also addressed this point). We need to know why and what purpose we are looking for when networking. 80 - 85 % of all money decisions are made by Women.
She quoted two sayings :

"If you make yourself Valuable and Memorable, others will want to make You a part of their network".

"There are only Two Big decisions in your life, where you are going and who's going with you. I know where I am going and who I am taking, but do you?"
This is what true networking is about.
Andrea also spoke about us having an image of who our mentors are and said that women always think too much about asking for favors and that that is why we are a step behind men, because they are never afraid to ask.

Mary B is the CEO of Dames Bond
Andrea is a Financial Analyst/Advicer
Melanie is an Attorney of Law.

I enjoyed this weeks class because it was extremely interesting and very motivating for Women.