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Wiley Wednesday: Return on Relationship — No Comments

  1. I thought I already commented on this! Sorry about that.

    I love this article! Coming off a newly-minted MBA, I love this stuff. I like the idea "return on relationship," because it sums up so much of what we know about business.

    Over the years of working with small consensus-based groups, as contrasted to my employment which is typically hierarchical, I have found that on average, women tend to manage in a consensus fashion and men in a hierarchical one. That has changed recently with books on such topics as emotional intelligence, but it still is a fascinating phenomenon.

    One would assume, therefore, that women in business would be more oriented toward creating networks. At least in my generation and prior, that hasn't really been proven. As the workforce becomes younger, it's happening more and more, and I think one of the largest changes that might account for it is things like Facebook and LinkedIn. We are beginning, as a society, to recognize the power of relationships and, furthermore, to realize that we have the power to create those networks for ourselves. Thus, "it's who you know" is not longer as intimidating as it was twenty years ago. People are much more willing to connect with each other.

    I think groups like Meetup.com bear this out as well. As much ink has flowed on the topic of modern-day estrangement due to the internet, I think there is a counter-current in society to recreate bonds of community – but now they're based on common interests, whereas before they were based on things like church and work.

    Thanks again for such a thought-provoking article – I've been noodling on it since I read it; sorry it's taken me so long to say something. I look forward to seeing other essays!