Business Networking and Sex - Ivan Misner [9]
That 2 percent of us who stare at women’s chests during networking give them the impression that all of us are perverts. Hey, I know that it’s just a scientific fact that we as a group tend to think about sex about every five seconds, but what is not a scientific fact is lack of control over our outward actions. If every man who thought about looking at a woman’s chest actually did so, we’d probably have to rewind to caveman times for a glimpse at our achievements.
She Comments . . .
I can just imagine all the car accidents, botched surgeries, and fumbled footballs.
He Responds . . .
The fact is that some of us do sneak a peek now and then, but we’re not stupid enough to actually get caught! This is not acceptable behavior. Any man in his right mind knows that there are no benefits and only disadvantages to being caught ogling in a business situation. For those of you who beg to differ, I suggest you stop watching those racy movies, because this is real life and we are multidimensional human beings dealing with one another, not paper cutouts.
I personally would appreciate a little camaraderie out there, a united front, or willingness to take on a little responsibility knowing that each of us out there is representing the whole male group. It’s no wonder there are so many communication glitches and that we’re prejudged when the 2 percent of cads out there is performing their nonstop jerk cabaret. Can you think of men that do this in any of the groups you belong to? I can. Knock it off, guys!
Religious affiliation, race, gender, sexual preference, and nationality are a few of the areas that fall victim to preconceived stereotypical notions because of the 2 percent exception creating a public caricature to represent the remaining 98 percent. It is unfortunate. One of the things we can do to influence positive ideas about our own gender is to both assess individuals on a case-by-case basis and act in a way we can be proud of to represent our tribe.
A Strange but True Tale of Misrepresentation
I’ve always known how important it is to dress for success, but I didn’t realize the full ramifications of completely ignoring this rule until I met Poster Boy. I arrived at a business meeting, through my referral business, snappily dressed in a suit and tie, looking pretty good, Might add. I remember being impressed with the attendees because of their level of professionalism, friendliness, and commitment to networking.
Then I met HIM. The Poster Child of the time-old quandary of whether or not to judge a book by its cover. This giant, lumbering guy was so inappropriately dressed that I’m not even sure if he’d pass inspection at the beach. From the tips of his threadbare, holey Keds sneakers to the top of his unkempt Young Frankenstein mop, each detail along the way screamed, “I’ve been living in a cave for 20 years!” As if the blatantly visible hairy flanks and armpits gaping from his low-slung, flapping tank top weren’t enough, tufts of back fur begging to be mown perfectly complemented the wrinkled shorts he’d apparently gotten from the bottom of his clothes hamper. This noticeably dampened my appetite for breakfast as well as deeply puzzled me because of his articulate, engaging conversational skills and obvious competency as a financial planner. It just didn’t go with the train-wreck look he was projecting. The inside didn’t match the outside.
Most male business professionals seem to understand what the respectable, appropriate dress codes are for their field. Not everyone is required to wear a suit and tie; rather, within each profession there is a standard that everyone adheres to (or should) that includes the uniform details of that profession. Roofers generally show up to