Are you the office flirt? You may soon be running the company. Or you’ll just be the office flirt “no one takes seriously.” Head exploded yet? Read on. Recent research suggests that women may want to consider working within their stereotypes of femininity to achieve successful negotiations in the workplace. As Fast Company reports, according to researchers, “Women [in the work force] may be perceived as competent but unlikable or as likable but incompetent” if they step outside of perceived gender stereotypes. This puts them in a bind that “exists because there are very strong female stereotypes in our culture.” Women who violate gender stereotypes often incur a negative social consequence.
The research is detailed in a study by Catherine Tinsely, Sandra Chedlein, Andrea Schnieder, and Emily Amanutallah, entitled “Women at the Bargaining Table: Pitfalls and Prospects.” The researchers’ argument is that women in the workplace should understand already established gender stereotypes or avoid them completely. Women who flirt are perceived as more likable. But be careful. According to the researchers, flirting may also “diminish [a woman’s] perceived trustworthiness.”
The research did not stand in a workplace situation where “resources were abundant,” as it seems that threats can re-establish social stereotypes. They also did not come into play when the boss was a woman. Navigating the formidable roads of business is tough, and there’s no doubt that it can be tougher for women. Certainly, you are a ball buster or a bitch for being aggressive while a man displaying this trait is considered tough or driven.
Some might argue that the solution is to somehow femme it up by flirting. Which we think is faulty logic – it’s too perilous a path. Won’t flirting at work just get you labeled, well, a flirt? Do we really want to manipulate the world and/or workforce based on coquettish glances? Further, one can’t help but think how this method of negotiation will apply to women of a certain age. Do we send Hillary Clinton or Jessica Alba to talk to Kim Jong-il?
The researchers are right to bring attention to the gender stereotypes that exist in the workplace and the double-edged sword women face while operating within them. But that doesn’t mean they should. If a woman is going to flirt her way past the glass ceiling, she’s most likely setting herself up for some major ball-busting once she gets there. And, as the study itself points out, she’s possibly setting herself up to be perceived as deceptive.
So what’s the solution? As one commenter on the study noted, “Let’s allow ability, skill, leadership qualities (and yes including tenacity, intelligence, wit and charm) help us decide who we might promote to what positions in our businesses.” Or as a friend pointed out, “just be ourselves [in the work place], because you can never control everyone’s opinion of you, and if someone can’t see your goodness or integrity, it’s their loss!”
Photo Courtesy of AMCTV