In the dark ages, networking was something men did on the golf course, or over beers after work while women were at home watching the clock tick past 7pm with dinner going cold on the table. Thank goodness those days are gone.
Or are they?
I can’t help but shudder when I hear of organisations (yours might be one) advertising their ‘sailing days’ or ‘golf days’. Don’t get me wrong: I know women sail and play golf, and it may even be some women’s idea of the perfect day out with colleagues. However, I have a sneaking suspicion that when one looks at the photo montage that inevitably follows, these events are a little heavy on the testosterone.
I’d love to hear your input on this and whether you, as a woman in strata, feel excluded or alienated by such events. If you do, what are you suggesting your organisation does for its next client function or team building day?
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- an afternoon at the trampoline park (I can vouch for this one. This was a great day)
- cooking class
- orienteering
- cocktail making
- art class
- karaoke
- horse riding
- hot air ballooning
- wine tasting
- kayaking (fun for everyone, no skills required)
- scavenger hunt
Why not suggest one of these for your next event? Just make sure you’re not the one left at home with the cold dinner.
I love sailing days, Sydney is magical by water. Golf, however is a huge pass. Wine tasting sounds fabulous. The Races perhaps.
An afternoon at the trampoline park? yep..give that the thumbs up.Then coming a close second on my dear daughter’s ever-popular blog–cooking class! Cooking class?? Am I the only one who thought..Hang on isn’t that one of the, if not the most archaic stereotypical view of women in the first place..in the kitchen..barefoot..pregnant? Maybe cooking classes belong on the bottom of the list of team building activities Amanda. I won’t go as far as to say there’s no place for it on the list at all. Now in my 63rd year,I am not embarrassed to admit that I grew up believing that women were born with their cooking skills already established! Ah I’m sure the phrase “Ignorance is bliss” was created with me in mind.
Love your blog Amanda. It has become a much-anticipated part of my week and I’m sure I’m not alone. Keep doing what you do so well.
Larry Farmer aka “Dad”
Personally I am a fan of both. I did a whole season of sailing, and know many women who also enjoy it – even if it is more about the champagne than where they are going or their final race position! No one said sailing had to be serious. I got it out of my system, so I don’t do it anymore, but still doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be embraced – it is very different from anything else – and probably nothing nicer on a lovely day.
I now play golf – generally only once a month but am working on trying to get 9 holes in every weekend.
All that said, I must say the whole idea of the men’s golf day at the SCA conference (in the old days) with nothing organised for women didn’t go down well for me – I see that has changed and welcome it.
Finally, I think it is good though to come up with new ideas, and the suggestions put forward by Amanda sound wonderful – more creative than I would have been (nor probably my team) and will add this to the agenda of our next team meeting – an outing with a difference – ours tend to involve food more often than not – we are all foodies – just at different levels – thanks for being inspirational as always Amanda