Women’s Month - Networking Guru Karl Smith says women can break the glass ceiling.

One of the world's leading business networking gurus encourage women to use Women’s Month to celebrate their success and he cautions them to remember that a “glass ceiling” still exists.

While much will be said during Women's Month about the progress women have made in the business world, it’s difficult to escape this sad reality says Karl Smith, presenter of a PERSONAL BRANDING, NETWORKING WORKSHOP FOR WOMEN IN BUSINESS to be held in Cape Town.

Even before the term "glass ceiling" was coined 20 years ago, researchers debated why women seldom reach the highest ranks in business.  So what are some of the cracks? Women entrepreneurship is the next professional frontier. Women are increasingly more likely to hold senior level positions in the workplace, and that gives them excellent skills with which to start a business.

Women also have higher levels of education than ever before, and are more likely to have the kinds of degrees that can lead to greater success in business ownership, such as business or law. Many women want the flexibility that comes with business ownership. Even though, as an entrepreneur, they will work much harder than they would otherwise, they are in charge of your own destiny.  That’s very appealing to a lot of women.

But it’s not good thinking that hard work only will get them anywhere. If women want to make it to the top, they’re going to have to start networking like most of your male counterparts.” Most women don’t attach as much importance to networking beyond socialising. Networking is not all champagne, snacks and social chit-chat”, says Smith

He points out that Gail McGuire, chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Indiana University South Bend, says in her study, “Women may be adept at socializing anywhere - even their workplace, but when it comes to networking skills, they fail miserably.” McGuire studied one of the largest financial services organizations and evaluated its informal network support.

Smith also refers to the views of networking expert, Susan Colantuono, CEO and Founder of Leading Women, which suggest that women are considered by male bosses as doing less well than men when it comes to having and effectively using strategic networks. She stresses that many women in leadership positions must “reframe their inner game”. Reframing your inner game means “changing any negative thoughts you have about strategic networking”.

He concludes that meeting the people who count has to be a top priority. It’s what you know, who you know and whether they like you that counts. 

For the first time in over two years, Smith will leading a Personal Branding, Networking & Monetization LIVE publicworkshop for Women in Business to be held on 21 August 2013  in honour of Women’s Month. Visit www.businessnetworkingsouthafrica.co.za or sms +2771 444 2210 for details.