Women in business

[Business Brian]

I'm still cringing.
 
I'm literally off the phone and still kicking myself.
 
Basically, I'm in the process of signing up a particular client for full link-building SEO. It's quite a significant contract and they will be paying me a lot of money to deliver on a set of very competitive search terms (otherwise, because of my refund policy, I'll end up owing them a lot of money!).
 
Trouble is, I've been dealing with a male company director so far for all negotiations.
 
So when the mobile just rang and a female voice asked about finalising the payment details, I carelessly stated: "Oh, I didn't realise XX had a secretary."
 
Of course, it wasn't a secretary, but one of the company directors.
 
This is a warning to myself - and others - to be extremely careful with careless assumptions! Although I would certainly be cautious in writing, I'm not very quick-witted when live and speaking.
 
This is something I guess I can only learn with experience - to measure my words a little more carefully.
 
I have already resolved to myself to be much more careful in future. Next time I will ask if the person speaking to myself is a director. Otherwise not only can such mistakes make myself and my company look bad, there is always the very real possibility of jeopordising pending business contracts. And I'm not fool enough to desire that.

[altyfc]

Whoops... nice story Brian.

 
Only the other day I had an email from Leslie someone-or-other.  I telephoned and left a message saying something like "I was just returning *his* call".
 
You can guess the rest...

Aaron

[Business Brian]

You presumed a Leslie was a bloke? My, you have funny boys names up there in Cumbria.
 
EDIT: Aah, no - I was thinking of Lesley!

[altyfc]

Leslie, Francis, Robin, Tracy, Jackie, Ashley, Alex, Chris... they should all be banned!
 
Aaron

[Business Brian]

You forgot Hilary.
 
I wouldn't have believed that one, if a certain day-time TV doctor wasn't Christened so.

[altyfc]

I'd always assumed that was his surname since they refer to "Dr Hilary".  But yeah... that is another... though not a name we'll be using to name any child of our's!

[Janeth]

Just remember behind every good man is a woman and behind every good business is a woman

[Business Brian]

Hi Janeth, and a warm welcome to the business-talk forums.
 
Of course, you'll have to share with us all how you seem to be getting younger with every new avatar.

[Janeth]

This picture is only about two weeks old so it is the most recent. I just changed the color of my hair.

[becki]

Sisters are doing it for themselves!
I'm happy someone looks younger doing their hair. I end up looking old if I'm not careful!

[carolblake1973]

Sisters are doing it for themselves!

 

 You bet we are!

[Business Brian]

Okay, seems like I'm going to have to break out the Eurythmics Greatest Hits again.
 
Oh - and welcome to the business-forums, Carol.

[paulp]

I'm still cringing.
 
I'm literally off the phone and still kicking myself.
 
Basically, I'm in the process of signing up a particular client for full link-building SEO. It's quite a significant contract and they will be paying me a lot of money to deliver on a set of very competitive search terms (otherwise, because of my refund policy, I'll end up owing them a lot of money!).
 
Trouble is, I've been dealing with a male company director so far for all negotiations.
 
So when the mobile just rang and a female voice asked about finalising the payment details, I carelessly stated: "Oh, I didn't realise XX had a secretary."
 
Of course, it wasn't a secretary, but one of the company directors.
 
This is a warning to myself - and others - to be extremely careful with careless assumptions! Although I would certainly be cautious in writing, I'm not very quick-witted when live and speaking.
 
This is something I guess I can only learn with experience - to measure my words a little more carefully.
 
I have already resolved to myself to be much more careful in future. Next time I will ask if the person speaking to myself is a director. Otherwise not only can such mistakes make myself and my company look bad, there is always the very real possibility of jeopordising pending business contracts. And I'm not fool enough to desire that.

[paulp]

I can only speak for initiatives within Wales, but there is a big push here to drive women into business as they are seen as one means of reducing the employment and in particular skills shortage with Wales.  There is so much support provided to this sector to help them start up new businesses, so I think in future your presumption that males only are the business community will have to be revised, especially when dealing with Welsh based businesses.

[paulp]

Brian - don't know how my name got assigned to your original post - if it is my mistake, sorry.