We all know women just do things and interpret things differently than men do. I’m not saying it’s any better or worse, just different. I couldn’t give you a more perfect example than this past holiday season when a fellow woman in business gifted my husband and me with a pair of concert tickets.
Jen was gracious enough to share an extra pair of concert tickets with us that her company had provided for her to pass on to her clients and fellow businesswomen. It was a “Thanks” to the women who had become her clients and for those who had supported her in her career. Jen told me that she was going to gather her group in the lobby before the concert so that she could introduce us to each other and spend some time socializing. I’m thinking, “Great, sounds good to me, count me in!”
That evening as my husband and I were getting ready, he asks, “What time does the concert start and what time do we need to go?” I share with him that Jen is having a little social time before the concert starts and that I’d like to go early and support her there. Now here’s where the great divide begins to get deeper. He flat out asks, “What does support her mean?”
It wasn’t until that moment that I realized this is a women thing. Showing up, being with your peers, congratulating her on her success and socializing with her clients was my way of supporting her. He, on the other hand, noted on the ticket that the concert started at 7pm and was planning a 6:59 arrival.
Relationships matter with women. They do with men too, but not to the extent in which we as women value them. Being together, deepening our relationship, sharing our feelings and experiences are all fair game in our work world too. Men typically save those for their personal lives. Why? Because men tend to compartmentalize their lives whereas women are much more holistic and can see that her work relationships can impact how she feels at home as well.
My husband is perfectly happy compartmentalizing because his brain doesn’t, and can’t, know any different. The way I see it, women have a much richer relationship experience and a greater opportunity to gain “support” from their female peers. Once again, Women Make It Happen!
Taiha Wagner is principal of BuildHerDream.com and is a local resource for marketing to women.
