Social Networking = Savvy Networking?

This headline from The Republic caught my eye this morning,

“Social media helps professionals break through gender barriers”.

Being committed to breaking through gender barriers I read the article which describes a networking “savviness formula” i.e. the gender comparison of the percentage of profiles in relation to the number of connections they have. For example in the tobacco industry women account for 70% of connections, but only 45% of profiles.

Our focus at Leading Women is to help women understand the difference between social networking and strategic networking and we know that social connections don’t necessarily equate to savvy networking. Strategic networking is about using our relationships in service of a larger outcome. For example, to what business and/or career purpose do we leverage our connections?

Our research indicates that men are perceived as much more strategic networkers while women are seen as better at developing relationships. What is your experience?

By the way, according to LinkedIn’s savviness index:

“The top industries where women were deemed the savvier networkers, according to LinkedIn, were tobacco, ranching, international trade and development, alternative medicine and alternative dispute resolution. As for men, they trumped women in online networking savviness in law enforcement, medical practices, capital markets, hospital/health care, and cosmetics. Across all industries, both globally and in the United States, men took the connectivity prize, according to the LinkedIn report.”

Here are links to 3 earlier LPB blogs that offer insights and tips on moving from social to strategic networking:

• Networking Guilt? – 4 Ways to Get Over It
• External networking imperative
• Executive Perspective on Networking

Network ON!

Susan

Susan Colantuono, CEO and Founder Leading Women and author of No Ceiling, No Walls

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