Why a Women’s Professional Business Network?
- Business comes through formal and informal networks, which are often male dominated
- The structure and nature of most legal business networks do not accommodate other demands on women's time
- Women often need encouragement to make time to invest in the development of their own business
- Women’s business networks can act as stepping-stones to developing networking confidence
- Networks run by and for women are more likely to consider the demands of their often wider commitments
- Women often adopt male styles of communication while in their company
- Women can be more free to communicate about broader issues when networking among themselves
- The art of business networking is an issue, a fear or a skill gap for many talented and hard working professional women
- Women often resist capitalizing on their personal relationships for business purposes
- Women often develop personal relationships with their business contacts and then resist exploiting those relationships for personal gain
- Over 70% of new business is gained through word of mouth
- Networking is a critical marketing strategy
- Being a member of a women’s business networking group can help us:
- Share ideas, experience and good practice
- Meet role models
- Combat isolation by making new contacts
- Identify and exploit new business opportunities
- Develop professionally
- Increase self-confidence
- Practice networking skills
- Support and be supported
- Build long term relationships
- Better know our market and the broader context in which it operates
- Benefit from women’s natural propensity to be inclusive, supportive, collaborative and reciprocal
- Most of us already have small support networks of dynamic entrepreneurial women
- Even if you don't, if you are reading this FAQ, now you do!
- An effective business network requires the participation of at least 50 women
- One or more women must serve as the “network champion” who is dedicated to building a strong and effective network
- Members who are recruited should be highly motivated to commit to their own and the group’s development as rain makers
- Expectations must be realistic -- i.e., each women will be encouraged to take a series of small achievable steps
- Each woman's plan can (and often should) be as grandiose as her dreams as long as her efforts are definite and focused
- Some members will be just beginning to develop business
- Others already have a developed business or “book” but wish to expand it
- Others will wish to pursue a new venture
- Some members will already have access to many business opportunities
- Some members will be excellent speakers or writers
- Some members will be joiners and others will be more solitary thinkers and workers
- Some members will have that most precious commodity, time, while others do not
- In sharing our time; our expertise; our contacts; our enthusiasm; and, our imagination, we can accomplish together what we can't accomplish alone
| Building the Careers of Professional Women One Relationship at a Time 323.217.5162 (direct) 499 North Canon Drive, Suite 400, Beverly Hills, California 90210 323.852.1535 (fax) www.settlenow.org/PWNSC |
