Why Doing Business Like a Girl Isn’t So Bad
I recently talked to a client of mine who asked me how I keep tabs on my customers. He was concerned about giving clients a first draft then waiting weeks to hear back from them. I agreed that it can be frustrating to wait on clients when you want to get something wrapped up.
My first thought was that he simply needed to follow up more. Then I realized that there are people in business who don’t think to do things like that. And then I thought about the differences between men and women—and how they handle business. Did this client of mine just approach things differently because he was a man? Could be.
It’s not a shock that the battle of the sexes exist. In general, men can be more upfront while women can use their emotional side to make business decisions. Neither are right or wrong…they just are. There are pros and cons to each style.
So while following up with a client may not be a “male” or “female” thing to do, and just a good business practice, I want to explore some characteristics that are generally of the female nature that can improve your business.
Reiterate things
While our significant others may call us nags, every smart business woman knows that communication is key—and sometimes, things need to be repeated. It’s not a bad idea to confirm details and verify things with a client. You won’t be nagging, either, because it’s business (but don’t go overboard because than you can turn into a pester). In business, this is known as the art of communication and practicing is always in style.
Get personal—a little.
I wouldn’t say women are better relationship-builders than men, but they do have a knack for personal details. That’s why making an effort to be professional yet personal works so well for them. I try to establish that sort of relationship with clients by letting them know not-so-intimate details of my life that can be used as conversation-makers. Things that include my ongoing home improvement quest or passion for kayaking. For example, If I know that a client has a big weekend planned, I’ll make the extra effort to send them well wishes in a Friday afternoon email.
Focus on the details
Men and women can both be very focused. But in this sense, I’m talking about being focused when it comes to the “extras,” such as sending a thank-you note or remembering Administrative Assistant’s day for your bookkeeper. While frilly pink paper isn’t the norm for many gals, they do add extra touches to their work—try a personalized folder to deliver client work or a handwritten holiday card. These things go a long way to forge better relationships with clients, which women generally excel at.
Dress sharp
While men and women alike have fashion sense, I know women in the creative industry that don’t consider jeans the norm for a business meeting—and that professionalism makes a difference (especially for freelancers that rarely dress up due to the laidback lifestyle). Looking appropriate and pulled together puts your business at a professional advantage, which is always good.
Weigh decisions
Even though the age-old debate over pumps or slingback shoes can be a little tiresome, women are smart decision-makers. Most women aren’t reckless with choices and tend to evaluate their options more carefully—yet at the same time can take savvy risks. So while you don’t have to drag out every option, it’s good to put on your female thinking cap every once in a while to think things through when it counts.
Think I’m sexist? Nope. The next post will include tips on how doing business like a guy can be beneficial!
Kristen Fischer is a copywriter and author living at the Jersey Shore. She never has to choose between pumps and slingbacks because she prefers flip flops or loafers. To find out more about her, visit www.kristenfischer.com.
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Definitely all good points. I don’t think it has anything to do with male or female. Good communication/relationships with clients is just smart business and the only way to insure repeat and word of mouth business.
Being a woman myself, I can say # 1 is the MOST OBNOXIOUS THING EVER. Even more so than all those caps right there. I constantly have clients who just freaking repeat themselves over and over.
Give the other person the chance to do it right before you treat them like a 5 year old who needs to hear it 3 times.
I love watching the comment sections whenever a post like this is published. Remember the “5 Most Common Mistakes of (Male/Female) Freelancers” posts?
Excellent post. This is very helpful. I certainly need to get a little better at following up and building relationships – I’ll blame my gender, but get better!
Some very good points here, and we men could definitely learn to improve our communication abilities … but with regards to nagging:
“and sometimes, things need to be repeated. It’s not a bad idea to confirm details and verify things with a client. You won’t be nagging, either, because it’s business (but don’t go overboard because than you can turn into a pester).”
Just because “it’s business”, doesn’t mean that you aren’t nagging. The Oxford Dictionary defines nagging as: “To annoy or irritate a person with persistent fault-finding or continuous urging”. If I call up a client and pester them, I think that falls under “continuous urging”, and therefore I’m nagging. Regardless of my sex.
Keeping touch means you’re nurturing the relationship you have with a client, which many think of a something women are better at than men. Whether that’s true or not doesn’t matter: that’s the stereotype. Whether you’re a woman or a man, nurturing your relationships with clients is vital. There’s big difference between you being a human order fulfillment mechanism and you begin the go-to person in the client’s mind.
Looking forward to the “guy” post!
Pretty good points, but I find they are standard in the industry I work in (motorsport) and it doesn’t get much more male dominated than that… My theory is that intelligent people often have brains that have the good points from both genders. I am looking forward to the next one though as I found the 5 Mistakes of Female Freelancers greatly beneficial for my bottom line!
Yep, like the person above me, I work in the sports journalism industry so this is pretty relevant to me. Your pointer about ‘getting a little personal’ hits close to home though. I tend to notice my male colleagues shying away from this. Or they look at me weird when I try to make conversation about their weekend or something non-related. But thank God my bosses aren’t like that, so it’s a lot easier when pitching and thanking them.
“Think I’m sexist? Nope. The next post will include tips on how doing business like a guy can be beneficial!”
Attributing all of these to “womanly” traits IS sexist, regardless of whether or not you write another stereotyping post about men
Good points! I agree with you one hundred percent.
Interesting, what guys are going to say!
It’s a nice approach. But it might not always be a gender specific trait or difference. Clients certainly have gender stereotypes that you should be aware of and can use for your business’ advantage.
It’s funny how the other day, among some other 700 billion topics, I was in the middle of this discussion about the current financial “crisis”. Derived from that we started talking about how families do their home finances. One guy noted that a financial mogul (forgive me if I do not remember his name) once said that women were better at managing money. Of course everybody raised their eyebrows as one knows how we, women, like to forget about our debts when looking at that beautiful pair through the store’s display window… But jokes aside, you can use gender to serve your explanation. In this situation, some of the people in the discussion said that it totally made sense. As a matter of fact, if you assume that a majority of individuals directly involved in the current financial crisis are men, you can draw the conclusion that men are in fact very emotional when it comes to money (I hope my husband never finds this comment:)). Women on the other hand do not really comprehend the value of money. So they might have better chances at managing it properly as feelings are not involved… That theory totally made sense to me that night, but yet again, can we draw conclusions? It was a discussion among friends. You find friends where you feel at home, so chances are that your friends are quite much like you… Does that apply to home finances? Who knows.
I’m not sure this has anything to do with male vs. female. It’s just good common sense business practice. I’m guessing you framed it like this just because the possibly controversial topic will draw attention. No problem in that because it’s good information. I look forward to the next installment.
Yep looking forward to the “guy” post!
http://www.instantshift.com/
Oh you can’t please everyone! It says in the post that many traits aren’t really male vs. female but good business practices. So get irate if you will–I’m hoping everyone can be open minded enough to get over it and take something from the post:) If not, no biggie:)
yeah, i dont understand the need for this to become a male/ female thing. honestly, arent we passed this by now?
the way that i approach my business has very little to do with whats in between my legs.
All very good business-savvy points. However, I do agree with others that they need not have a gender-specific framework. I think they are standardized rules of thumb for both sexes.
I think that the point about getting a little personal and adding unique details to folders, thank you cards, etc. were especially worthy of attention. I think these ‘little things’ are what make you especially memorable to clients.
I can agree and disagree. I am a woman, but I was always somewhat “tomboyish” in the sense where communication issues were a hurdle I had to overcome, which many people think is strange.
One thing I will say though, is that all of those are excellent things to do. Male or female its just good business!
I also notice that many clients (because they are often business owners) go by stereotypes, which can be used to your advantage. I found acting overly sweet gets me more work than being “direct” and “head-on” which is surprisingly my nature.
I also look forward to reading the one on men =]
Once again, a woman-oriented story mentions fashion. An area of human endeavor that completely eludes me.
Some of the statements here are sexist. Generalizations, as a rule, are prejudicial. Women are not always naturally better at communications than men; however, most women have been socially influenced and raised to be so. IMHO, it may be more a nature vs. nurture thing.
I’m among those who have had to work extra hard just to pay attention to those personal details that break ice and warm conversations without falling into one extreme of a self-centered braggart or the other extreme of the fake networker. O happy medium, where I let my experts talk to their heart’s content, dropping little quotable gems where they will!
One thing that has helped me is recognition of different personality quadrants (I’ll use the Merrill-Reid model) to accommodate: bottom-line driver, detail-oriented analytical, relationship-oriented amiable, and the emoting expressive. Myers-Briggs is good too. If you’ve even heard of these, by now you’ll probably guess I’m one of those analytical types. ;^)
That said, the advice in this article is pretty sound when it comes to getting projects completed with a smile, a payment, and a callback.
One things for sure on an average, leaving behind specific examples, Women are better Managers;
and that applies to even Freelance work,
and the “little things” make a lot of difference,
I love these gender charged comments and posts that get some people all riled up. Too funny.
I think you should write about good business practice, no need to raise more male/female barriers.
But if you do, you should write about the disadvantages of driving your business like a girl… in that way you would gain credibility because of your objetivity, if not you are doing yellow press… really nice title though.
Sorry Kristen, very sexist
Sorry,
This has nothing to do with being female/male… sry
…I see these as personal traits.
It is funny, screenwriting!
I love being name-called even though I’ve reiterated that these are “generally known” traits for each sex. Did I say only women were good at these things? Nope.
Geez. Spend less time criticizing things here and more time trying to learn things–or you’re wasting your time, kids:)
Some things are worth questioning, Kristen.
WHY is it that you felt the NEED to mix gender in with your tips?
WHY write about SHOES? That was annoying as well as offensive.
Good, otherwise.
yes i do agree with all these point……but their is big question that is ….woman’s are not bad in any field….they are raising but still if we talk about big business person or big industrialized person so we will always listen a man name not a women name……so today where do stand a woman