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Sad truth: women are judged differently than their male peers. And often, it's a subconscious bias that causes it. Men are largely evaluated for promotional opportunities based on their potential; whereas, women are evaluated for promotional opportunities based on experience. Research further shows that female leaders who negotiate for a higher salary are actually viewed less favorably by others (if they know she negotiated for a higher salary). Unfortunately, women also get penalized, financially, for using the same salary negotiating strategies that men do. So, when a question about a female partner's success characteristics is posed, it's a valid question.
EY 1 - don't worry, I co-authored a book about it. Wherein these statements are supported by citations. It'll be launched in the next month or so. I'll let you know.
Subject Expert
Woman partner here.
I don’t think the characteristics are different. At the end of day, we want all of our partners to have integrity, be able to build impactful relationships in the market that produce results, be innovate and proactive, and build trusted teams.
That said, although I think things have changed dramatically and for the better for most women in the last 20 years, there’s still a gap. The three biggest challenges I see women candidates experience are:
1. Lack of sponsorship. It is difficult to get for anyone but it seems to be more so for women and minorities. You can’t make it without it.
2. In many cases lack of market experience. Many women are great at running projects and taking care of teams, but making relationships resulting in net new sales still seems to be more of a challenge. I think part of this is due to the fact that many programs out there targeting women focus on empowerment but not showing the ropes of how to become a rainmaker. Learn how to make that dough, ladies.
3. Unconscious bias and sometimes conscious is still around, and it’s draining to deal with and having to think about. All I can say, it gets better. Stick it out but find your people.
P2 and p2, great perspectives! Appreciate the insight!
Partner 2 - what are some things that can be done to expand horizon in sales and become that rain maker for females?
Principle 2, do you find some female partners easier to make connections with than others? If so, what do you think makes it so?
Huh, I didn’t know different gender of partners had different characteristic requirements. Does this also apply to race or orientation?
Mentor
Of course it does. Have you noticed there aren’t that many of them?
Mentor
Same doesn’t seem to apply to men.
OP, one thing I have noticed about successful women partners is that many if not most have a high likeability factor to accompany their strong technical capabilities.
Said differently, the percentage of nerds and jerks who get to stick around because they are super-deep in something is much higher in male partners than female, I’ve observed.
Mentor
This is one of those unconscious bias problems that is most prevalent. I don’t think that these women work on their likeability as much as there is greater tolerance for unlikeable men. Thus a man who lacks it can overcome it by being seen as strong in their field and essential to the partnership, while the woman gets held back, or locked into a specialist or expert role.
Obviously not a universal maxim, but happens more times than it should in my opinion. The video above illustrates it well.
It is very unfortunate that companies differentiate based on gender and race. Everyone should be treated equal.
Lol
I was going to start with a less snarky version of the same point - I would hope it’s not much different from what characteristics make a successful partner in general. But that broader question is a big one and I don’t feel like writing a novel right now.
This commercial has always put it in perspective for me. https://youtu.be/B8gz-jxjCmg
Observations based on real stories of women I know, it sounds like as a woman being assertive actually works against you more than works for you, working hard/working more leads people to think you don’t know how to effectively work and are an easily stressed out person. Also, appearances appear to play an important role, but this one also applies to males, so perhaps not gender specific, but weight is higher on females
I’m not saying this to refute the evidence that these consequences can happen. I will say that I am a female partner, known for, and plan to be renowned for, my assertiveness. Because eff the stereotype that female strength and assertiveness are something to fear or reduce.
I’m successful. I work as hard as anyone does, but I am not a workaholic and want to be efficient. Appearance does play an important role, with different pros and cons.
Each woman is part of a group, but also an individual. What most of us want is to go be treated as the unique person we are more than representative of a (stereo)type.
From my experience, I have seen many very successful female partners. They are smart, collaborative, strong leaders, and highly motivated. I have also observed some blindspots (which is not exclusively true for women). When these partners show up for work, with a chip on their shoulder, always trying to prove they are better than their male colleagues or that they are self rightous about knowing more than everyone else, it rubs people the wrong way (even if they really did have to work twice as hard to get here). Try hard to keep those perfectly normal insecurities to yourself and try to show up every day as your authentic self, fully present, and humble. Just my two sense. 🙂
Well said. Those are the toxic ones I run away from very very quickly.
OP please elaborate. What do you mean or why are you asking the question this way?