The One Way (!) Women Can Successfully Network

From playing golf to playing poker, law firms offer no shortage of networking opportunities. But as we’ve discussed here before, they’re often activities that men tend to dominate.

So the results of a series of studies on networking should come as a surprise to no one: Men who network are considered savvy and bold, yet women who try to build relationships are dismissed as pushy or social climbers.

We may not have needed research to confirm that women are judged differently than men for taking the same steps to connect with colleagues and seek new opportunities. Now that we have the evidence, we found practical advice in Inc. on what to do with it.

The Workaround

The article highlighted results of another study that offers strategies — OK, one strategy — women can use to successfully network without being labeled as scheming. The best practice: getting others to vouch for you.

The study described this approach — dubbed “third-party ties” — as the most effective way for women to strategically nurture professional relationships. Third-party ties include seeking endorsements, character references and other ways to amplify an individual’s strengths and abilities.

Third-party ties are useful because they convey the approval and trust of mutual contacts. Plus, it’s someone else singing your praises, which makes it tough to be criticized as emulating a masculine style or being “pushy.” Still, lawyers must take a cautious approach to seeking testimonials and referrals, which are strictly governed by attorney advertising rules that vary by state. We’ve created some simple guidance on how to effectively build connections without overstepping ethical guidelines or running into negative stereotypes.

Third-party ties in action

Below are tips on using third-party ties to build and maintain client relationships and relationships with colleagues.

1. Be more proactive. Women often need to be better at tapping into their existing social networks. Women make connections but tend to shy away from using them to build stronger relationships or to find individuals to introduce them to higher-ups.
2. Firms can help women bolster third-party ties. Firms can establish sponsorship and mentorship programs to better support women’s networking efforts. Firms already commit resources to networking activities, and enabling women to foster stronger connections demonstrates that the firm recognizes its responsibility in helping women navigate and overcome biases.
3. Work with people who know the people you want to know. If you don’t know someone to introduce you to the higher-ups, make an effort to build your network. Maybe it’s joining an affinity group or maybe it’s asking to be brought in on an assignment. Reaching out may feel calculated, but this indirect approach is at heart of building third-party ties.

Try one of these tips to boost your career advancement goals and share success stories with us!