Comments for Icon Women | Doncaster | Sheffield | Rotherham | Barnsley http://iconwomen.co.uk Networking and Support for Women in Business Wed, 02 May 2012 13:49:23 +0100 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on “Women Only” business networks. Right or Wrong? by Dave Ketteridge http://iconwomen.co.uk/women-only-business-networks-right-or-wrong/#comment-360 Dave Ketteridge Wed, 02 May 2012 13:49:23 +0000 http://iconwomen.co.uk/?p=3811#comment-360 It's good to see someone raising then issue of women-only business events. It's one subject that I feel really strongly about. If women want to get together for a good chat socially that's fine with me, but in a business scenario I think the concept does women a disservice and I find it insulting to men that someone out there thinks women are such poor downtrodden creatures that they need protecting from men. For thirty years I worked as a journalist, one of the first professions to have equal pay, and as a trade unionist at the time I always argued for it. Never any problems there, and you only have to look at the women reporting on TV from warzones to see that the cream rises to the top. Now I work in the bridal industry, pretty well dominated by women, apart from the accountancy, production and the IT sides. I can tell you, men face also such things as glass ceilings, bullying, being passed over for promotion, lack of confidence, and sexist comments. I saw one comment posted on a women-only business website in Doncaster that said "What do expect from men, the poor things". You can see how easy it is to reinforce stereotypes, and segregation isn't the answer. There is a place for helping women in societies where they are still stuck in a Medieval mindset over the role of women. Some women may prefer that system, but they should have the choice. I take issue with Hazel's comments about selling. Both men and women sell to earn a living, and I've encountered hard and soft sell from both sexes. But the hard sell techniques used traditionally by car and washing machine salesmen is just how people have been taught to sell. The new fashion in selling for men and women is to make a friend first, and then listen to your customer, before trying to find an answer to their needs. As for men not wanting to get involved in internet chat - it's just that men are hard-wired differently. Read "Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus" where it has been shown scientifically men only use a quarter of the number of words daily compared with women. I've read all the books in the series, bought the board game and the video. It has made my life so much easier. It’s good to see someone raising then issue of women-only business events. It’s one subject that I feel really strongly about. If women want to get together for a good chat socially that’s fine with me, but in a business scenario I think the concept does women a disservice and I find it insulting to men that someone out there thinks women are such poor downtrodden creatures that they need protecting from men. For thirty years I worked as a journalist, one of the first professions to have equal pay, and as a trade unionist at the time I always argued for it. Never any problems there, and you only have to look at the women reporting on TV from warzones to see that the cream rises to the top.
Now I work in the bridal industry, pretty well dominated by women, apart from the accountancy, production and the IT sides. I can tell you, men face also such things as glass ceilings, bullying, being passed over for promotion, lack of confidence, and sexist comments. I saw one comment posted on a women-only business website in Doncaster that said “What do expect from men, the poor things”. You can see how easy it is to reinforce stereotypes, and segregation isn’t the answer. There is a place for helping women in societies where they are still stuck in a Medieval mindset over the role of women. Some women may prefer that system, but they should have the choice.
I take issue with Hazel’s comments about selling. Both men and women sell to earn a living, and I’ve encountered hard and soft sell from both sexes. But the hard sell techniques used traditionally by car and washing machine salesmen is just how people have been taught to sell. The new fashion in selling for men and women is to make a friend first, and then listen to your customer, before trying to find an answer to their needs. As for men not wanting to get involved in internet chat – it’s just that men are hard-wired differently. Read “Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus” where it has been shown scientifically men only use a quarter of the number of words daily compared with women. I’ve read all the books in the series, bought the board game and the video. It has made my life so much easier.

]]> Comment on 2012 Are you encouraged or discouraged? What I will be doing to ensure success? by Emily Moncuit http://iconwomen.co.uk/2012-are-you-encouraged-or-discouraged-what-i-will-be-doing-to-ensure-success/#comment-318 Emily Moncuit Tue, 21 Feb 2012 08:53:40 +0000 http://iconwomen.co.uk/?p=3261#comment-318 Thanks for all the comments. I like how you view your 30 day plan as starting again every month whilst carrying people forward with you! Believe it or not 30 day plans can get pretty creative. Watch out for the sister piece about working out what to put in the 30 day plan! Thanks for all the comments. I like how you view your 30 day plan as starting again every month whilst carrying people forward with you! Believe it or not 30 day plans can get pretty creative. Watch out for the sister piece about working out what to put in the 30 day plan!

]]> Comment on 2012 Are you encouraged or discouraged? What I will be doing to ensure success? by Felicity Butler http://iconwomen.co.uk/2012-are-you-encouraged-or-discouraged-what-i-will-be-doing-to-ensure-success/#comment-317 Felicity Butler Tue, 21 Feb 2012 07:26:23 +0000 http://iconwomen.co.uk/?p=3261#comment-317 Hi Emily, it was great reading this it has started to make me realise how much effort i was putting into things that were not working, so have re-focused and re-eveluated, looking at my 30 day action plan, every 30 days i treat my business as if it is starting again, contacting people who i may have forgotten. making a concerted effort to reach as many people as possible in the month, before starting again. as a result of this my sales have improved and my team of traders has expanded. Thanks it was a real help! Hi Emily, it was great reading this it has started to make me realise how much effort i was putting into things that were not working, so have re-focused and re-eveluated, looking at my 30 day action plan, every 30 days i treat my business as if it is starting again, contacting people who i may have forgotten. making a concerted effort to reach as many people as possible in the month, before starting again. as a result of this my sales have improved and my team of traders has expanded. Thanks it was a real help!

]]> Comment on Testimonials by Lynsey Chambers - Parti Animals http://iconwomen.co.uk/networking-testimonials/#comment-313 Lynsey Chambers - Parti Animals Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:58:29 +0000 http://iconwomen.co.uk/?page_id=3335#comment-313 It was my first time at the Icon Women First Friday meeting last Friday and I can honestly say I was made to feel so welcome by everyone. It was a great opportunity to meet potential customers and but most of all build business relationships with other businesswomen. I will definitely be going again. Thanks Emily It was my first time at the Icon Women First Friday meeting last Friday and I can honestly say I was made to feel so welcome by everyone. It was a great opportunity to meet potential customers and but most of all build business relationships with other businesswomen.
I will definitely be going again.
Thanks Emily

]]> Comment on 2012 Are you encouraged or discouraged? What I will be doing to ensure success? by Tracey Cooper http://iconwomen.co.uk/2012-are-you-encouraged-or-discouraged-what-i-will-be-doing-to-ensure-success/#comment-310 Tracey Cooper Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:17:46 +0000 http://iconwomen.co.uk/?p=3261#comment-310 Hi Emily, After reading this article at the beginning of January I decided that I too would set a 30 day challenge at the beginning of each month; I have just checked my January checklist and two or three things may not get achieved by next Tuesday but they certainly will by Friday. I have already started thinking about my next 30 day challenge and as someone who gets easily distracted it's a good way of keeping on track to achieving those annual goals. Here's to business success in 2012! Tracey, Forget Me Not, Skellow. Hi Emily, After reading this article at the beginning of January I decided that I too would set a 30 day challenge at the beginning of each month; I have just checked my January checklist and two or three things may not get achieved by next Tuesday but they certainly will by Friday. I have already started thinking about my next 30 day challenge and as someone who gets easily distracted it’s a good way of keeping on track to achieving those annual goals. Here’s to business success in 2012!
Tracey, Forget Me Not, Skellow.

]]> Comment on Doncaster solicitor is new Chair of South Yorkshire & District Resolution by James Banbury http://iconwomen.co.uk/doncaster-solicitor-is-new-chair-of-south-yorkshire-district-resolution/#comment-271 James Banbury Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:04:34 +0000 http://iconwomen.co.uk/?p=1252#comment-271 A very belated congratulations Alison on your appointment! A very belated congratulations Alison on your appointment!

]]> Comment on Why we have too few women leaders? by Howard Gannaway http://iconwomen.co.uk/why-we-have-too-few-women-leaders/#comment-210 Howard Gannaway Sat, 13 Aug 2011 13:43:23 +0000 http://iconwomen.co.uk/?p=2249#comment-210 Very interesting article, Emily, and your points about getting to the top of one’s field are well made. I note that the Free Press list is called the “Power List” and that not all the people on the list exercise power through a Board. I think those who compile the list are quite clearly highlighting power – the ability to influence things – rather than position. Of course, to come to the attention of the “judges” people have to have visibility and maybe there is a point here about men’s enthusiasm for seeking visibility. Sheryl Sandberg’s comments on that score were very telling. However, power/influence is not the same as visibility – I know of one woman who by anybody’s reckoning has to be considered one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the country but who purposely makes herself quite invisible. The only reason I know about her is because her brother told me about her! However, back to the subject of Boards – the Chamber of Commerce seeks to represent the views and voices of all Doncaster businesses but our own Board is currently without an elected woman member, not a situation in which any of us take any satisfaction. However, elections are coming round again in a few months so who is up for the challenge?! Very interesting article, Emily, and your points about getting to the top of one’s field are well made. I note that the Free Press list is called the “Power List” and that not all the people on the list exercise power through a Board. I think those who compile the list are quite clearly highlighting power – the ability to influence things – rather than position. Of course, to come to the attention of the “judges” people have to have visibility and maybe there is a point here about men’s enthusiasm for seeking visibility. Sheryl Sandberg’s comments on that score were very telling. However, power/influence is not the same as visibility – I know of one woman who by anybody’s reckoning has to be considered one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the country but who purposely makes herself quite invisible. The only reason I know about her is because her brother told me about her!

However, back to the subject of Boards – the Chamber of Commerce seeks to represent the views and voices of all Doncaster businesses but our own Board is currently without an elected woman member, not a situation in which any of us take any satisfaction. However, elections are coming round again in a few months so who is up for the challenge?!

]]> Comment on Why we have too few women leaders? by Anne Perschel http://iconwomen.co.uk/why-we-have-too-few-women-leaders/#comment-209 Anne Perschel Fri, 12 Aug 2011 20:19:20 +0000 http://iconwomen.co.uk/?p=2249#comment-209 Dear Icons - Thank you for your very articulated point of view and excellent points. I represent Jane Perdue and myself in support of what you've written. We'd also like to expand on your ideas. We are putting the finishing touches on a white paper summarizing our research about women and power. Over 225 career women participated in the study, and their responses challenge long-standing views that women do not seek powerful roles. The majority of respondents say they want and need more power to achieve their career goals. We suspected, and these women confirm, that to win these seats they need a more realistic understanding of how power operates in corporate settings, where the rules were defined by men. If we have anything to say about it, they will gain both an understanding and a graceful ability to play the current game, whilst changing the rules of engagement, and perhaps the game itself. Kudos and please keep writing and doing what you do. Dear Icons -
Thank you for your very articulated point of view and excellent points.
I represent Jane Perdue and myself in support of what you’ve written. We’d also like to expand on your ideas. We are putting the finishing touches on a white paper summarizing our research about women and power. Over 225 career women participated in the study, and their responses challenge long-standing views that women do not seek powerful roles. The majority of respondents say they want and need more power to achieve their career goals. We suspected, and these women confirm, that to win these seats they need a more realistic understanding of how power operates in corporate settings, where the rules were defined by men. If we have anything to say about it, they will gain both an understanding and a graceful ability to play the current game, whilst changing the rules of engagement, and perhaps the game itself.

Kudos and please keep writing and doing what you do.

]]> Comment on Why 600 heads are better than one by Gemma Chambers http://iconwomen.co.uk/why-600-heads-are-better-than-one/#comment-206 Gemma Chambers Thu, 14 Jul 2011 10:02:56 +0000 http://iconwomen.co.uk/?p=1985#comment-206 It sounds like the 'big lunch' was a success and a great opportunity to network with other people. It sounds like the ‘big lunch’ was a success and a great opportunity to network with other people.

]]> Comment on Icon Women Survey 2011 by Jeanine Brown http://iconwomen.co.uk/icon-women-survey-2011/#comment-205 Jeanine Brown Wed, 13 Jul 2011 13:16:39 +0000 http://iconwomen.co.uk/?p=2057#comment-205 I find Icon Women a very good way to do networking. The atmosphere is very friendly, welcoming and relaxed and I would definitely recommend any lady who is in business or owns a business to give it a try. I find Icon Women a very good way to do networking. The atmosphere is very friendly, welcoming and relaxed and I would definitely recommend any lady who is in business or owns a business to give it a try.

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