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Who do I listen to?
By Sean | August 5, 2009
Here is what I find fascinating about twitter. I learn about myself. Like the following observations:
1. I notice as my Twitter experience has evolved that I tend to be more interested in what women have to say about the subjects that interest me than men.
2. I am more selective when I follow men than women. Why? Concerning business — I have listened primarily to men about business more than women because it was male dominated. I know a lot more about how men think and I have learned a great deal from men. However my exposure to a wide variety of women has been limited because so many of them were relatively inaccessible. Because they are typically tucked away in homes raising children or busy handling the main domestic load of work my access to them has been more limited. The social networking arena is jam packed with women I’d never have heard a word from before. Awesome.
3. I am inclined to think that maybe women are less inclined to think in business stereotypes. I want to explore that idea.
4. Women have typically followed men through history but SOCIAL MEDIA is the first socially driven communications medium. If you haven’t noticed — women tend to be more naturally socially developed than men.
5. I have noticed that women seem to get social media, more naturally gravitate to it, and are using it in less predictable ways than men. How refreshing.
6. Therefore I’d encourage women to avoid copying too many men in the use of social media. I mean if you want to know what the world would look like without women — visit an army barracks.
7. I’d encourage women to really examine how social media is a natural extension of your motivations. Don’t shut us off — but don’t let the male voices in social networking define how you relate to it. Maybe you’ll show men (generally speaking) what is missing from our understanding of the social experience. Any honest man with half a mind knows that a lot of who he can be — is found in the insight he gets from women.
Do men change?
In the end I’m not sure that men will change significantly. We are still men. However I think the best of us really want to explore what women have to offer and are not threatened by that. What better place than social media where the playing field is level.
Problem Solving
I have thought (as a man) that I need to be the main problem solver in my past relationships. This was unconscious. It was an ingrained belief that I didn’t know was there. It drove me to carry burdens I was incapable of carrying and subsequently kept me from empowering the genius of the women around me to make life a finer more wonderful experience.
Leadership
I think because women have the capacity to be great leaders they are also natural followers. As long as I can remember I’ve been hearing men teach that becoming a great leader means first being a great follower. I’ve always wondered if that were true because it seemed they were teaching that to subjugate other men to follow them — but it IS what men have been teaching. My question is that if men really believe that — why have they been so slow to promote the best followers as leaders — usually women?
Promotion
Frankly the reasons why men promote other men in business are generally wrong. If you want proof — take a look at male dominated corporate America — actually don’t just look at America look at the male dominated world and notice the tyranny and corruption.
Socially responsible
We don’t need government to be our social conscience or to have a social conscience — we need to listen to what women have to say without trying to shape what they are saying to fit our beliefs. Domination of dialog is a sure sign of weak (or non-existent) leadership whether it’s coming from men or women.
Who do we listen to?
Social networking is more about listening than talking. I’m beginning to think that social networking provides with the means to listen to each other, not only better, but in different ways. Let’s not waste it.
Please share your comments below! I really want to know what you think. If you’re on Twitter please tweet this blog post.
Topics: Daily Observations and Insights | 1 Comment »
August 14th, 2009 at 10:23 am
I love men that listen to women! I’ve always had a hard time with anything that rings of patriarchy- so much about dominance and competition and intimidation. When the feminine energies are balanced, they are incredibly powerful- same with balanced male energies.
Will be interested to see what else you are thinking about.
Peace and blessings-
Lisa
http://www.IntuitiveBody.com
and new business coming very soon!