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Networking is crucial to women’s careers
But we are not networking enough.
Networking, according to Investopedia, is defined as the exchange of information and ideas among people with a common profession or special interest, usually in an informal social setting.
Having said that, it sounds like a fun thing to do, so why don’t more women try it out?
In general, women tend to think that networking is a part of their work day. Networking should be seen as an important tool to meet people outside your working hours. It is not about handing over your business cards, but about making meaningful connections that can help, not only with your career, but also with your life.
Another problem women face when networking is that most women tend to fall victim to self-imposed barriers -- including gendered modesty, the tendency to undersell their value and strengths and reluctance to leverage their connections as ways to get ahead in their careers.
Moreover, women are also less inclined to make time for themselves, finding little extra space in their schedules for leisure activities, career development, and personal care. Instead, women tend to focus mostly on work and home, home and work again, as a daily routine, meaning that there is no time left for extra “errands” to run. Men often link networking with pleasure, in the form of golf, for example, unlike women. In general, for women, networking falls by the wayside as a priority.
Because less networking activities directly hinder professional opportunities and career development, as a first step, women should find time to attend networking events and approach the event like a sales pitch. They can attend with a certain number of their own business cards, and set goals for themselves, including meeting a certain number of people, or meeting one meaningful connection, or even just giving out all the business cards and then going home. This is how women can start building those important relationships that will help them “grow” thanks to networking platforms, like Al-Sahm Women’s one.
Why should women opt for a “women-only” networking group or platform?
We speak the “same language”
Women get you; they think the same way (or mostly), they act differently than men. We do not like to generalize but, we can all agree on the fact that most men see things in life as black or white, as opposed to us women: we see them black, white, grey, greyish, whitish, blackish. Another way of thinking, another world. Women also face many of the same challenges in the workplace across industries, regions, and cultures, and it is important to identify these common challenges and share ways in which women have successfully dealt with them.
We are efficient
We know women do anything better 😊 Humour aside, women want to receive valuable information to help them make better decisions and feel more confident. They tend not to waste their time as we know, a woman’s personal and professional schedule can be busy busy busy. Women exchange interesting ideas: this means that women exchange business opportunities, startup ideas, and valuable referrals from networking opportunities.
Women mentors are the best
We might be a little bit biased, but we think that when networking, not only can women find their next employer, colleague, customer, or business venture partner, but with having preset goals, women can also find Professional Mentors and a positive support system: those women that inspire you, and that are living proof that no matter what, if you believe in something and work hard to get it, you will get it.
It builds confidence
Women support other women. We empower other women; we want women to speak up for themselves and be confident. Meeting other women that cheer on you, naturally boosts confidence.
Motivation at its best
Talking with amazing women and sharing empowering female entrepreneurs’ stories, describing how they successfully managed to overcome their own challenges and achieve their work and personal goals, are highly motivating. We feel inspired by other women, who successfully reached their objectives, and we all feel we can do it, no matter what as we can identify ourselves with other women.
In general, just listening to the personal experiences of successful women will make anyone realize how important networking groups are in supporting, connecting with and inspiring other women in professional fields. Women can also help with life-related problems. Moreover, women’s networking groups provide a support mechanism for women to share their stories and address many women-related issues that women face at work, for example. This means also that networking platforms create a community: a safe, supportive network for like-minded women. In addition, participating in networking programs leads to quality referrals, providing greater opportunities to grow and thrive within a company.
Given all these benefits, women should set achievable goals for networking in their weekly schedules. This does not mean that women cannot have fun while networking, quite the opposite, but that networking is crucial to women’s lives and careers, and that, having set one’s goals and objectives before starting to network, networking can really empower women and boost important aspects of one’s career and life. Women-only networking groups offer opportunities that truly mark your life, in a better way. What are you waiting for?
