Are Men Just too Proud?

[Rob]

A survey by Business Link London this week has revealed that female entrepreneurs’ are better at planning ahead and seeking support. This means that these traits could lead to stronger survival rates during tough times.
The survey cited personality traits such as speaking out about difficult experiences and being less driven by financial incentives could help weather the economic storm.

Essentially it seems that women entrepreneurs aren’t afraid to hold up their hands and ask for help when needed.

Well that certainly puts us men to shame!

That conclusion links in with one of the findings author Alan Pease quoted in his brilliant book ‘Why Men Don’t Listen and Women Can’t Read Maps’, which was that if men are lost whilst driving we will adamantly refuse to stop and ask for directions!

So what about it ladies are us guys stubborn, and are the ones on this Forum who willingly ask for help casting shame on the male population?

[lady macbeth]

OMG !!!

I run my business with my partner (HUGE mistake that one) and we argue so so SO often about this. He is ok doing everything the ways he has always done it - even if that means doing it a totally inefficient way - and wont look at new ways of doing things. EVER !!

So if something isnt working he just fights the fire he's caused and keeps on going doing exactly the same thing and making exactly the same mistakes.

He admits that I am the brains and he is the braun - if only the braun would actually LISTEN to the brains every now and again I think we would get on much better lol.

Oh and its not just me he ignores - its the FEMALE accountant too! :rolleyes:

[PaulSimister]

Rob

I am convinced that the "men not asking for directions" is true of about 90% of us.

It's something that I just don't seem to be able to do so when I'm lost I revert to the "drive faster" cure.

I do listen to my sat nav though so perhaps I will gradually become socialised to getting and following directions.

Back to the main issue, I believe that it is very difficult for some people to hold their hands up and say " I don't know" and often saying "I made a mistake" is even more difficult to say.

Some years ago I did a lot of research into business failure and it was something like 40% of businesses had ignored referrals from their accountants or bank managers to people who could help.

So even in the most desperate of times, the ostrich theory "problem, what problem" applies.

Lady MacBeth, it sounds like you have interesting times ahead.

[strategic]

I read years ago - and I'm still not sure what to think - that women are the best at starting up a business, on a shoe string, and with total fire... able to make something out of nothing etc.

But when you look at the bigger corporations, the men take over as they are better 'managers' of what has already been grown and developed for them.

I admit that I love the initial start-up and idea generating of everything, and although I have trained myself to become a skilled manager... I just dont ENJOY the management like I do the initial creation and growth stages.

Anyone else read this? What are your thoughts?

- Helene Malmsio

[lady macbeth]

I read a report a few years ago which tried to address why women get so few firsts at Oxford. Basically it concluded that when it came to the final dissertation the male students were far better at fighting their corner and putting forward a convincing argument for their point. The female students, however, were not so good as they were much better at seeing both sides of things and so did not have the convincing stance that the male students had.

Could these differences have a bearing on our business strengths? Maybe when we have to toughen up - which I have been told I need to do now - we find that difficult? I know I do.

[Dr.Jose Sebastian]

Rob,

I think it has something to do with wome's experience in running the household. You have got to plan in advance, whether it be provisions, children's requirement and successful running the household gives a rare experience and inputs which i think men may be lacking. My observations are conditioned by the Indian experience though, women rarely run out of sugar to serve a tea to the guest. They have a stock for the rainy day. see the ingenous working capital management.

I think the sample is drawn mostly from ' me too' entreprenurs. This finding needs to be probed and verified further.

Jose