Английский для социологов. Астафурова Т.Н. - 33 стр.

being forced to set up their own businesses? Or do women share
specific management qualities which somehow serve them better in
self-employment? As many as 40 % of start-ups fold within their first
two years, but the failure rate of those run by women is substantially
lower than that. It’s hardly surprising, therefore, that though male
bosses tend to be reluctant to promote women, male bank managers
seem only too happy to finance their businesses.
      THE RODDICK PHENOMENON
      Anita Roddick, founder of the Body Shop empire, is the perfect
example of the female entrepreneur with her company growing from
zero to £ 470 million in its first fifteen years. Perhaps the secret of her
success was caution. Rather than push ahead with the purchasing of
new shops, Roddick got herself into franchising — the cheapest way to
expand a business whilst keeping overheads down. Caution, forward
planning and tight, budgeting seem to be more female characteristics
than male. They are also the blueprint for success when launching a
new company.
      MORE SENSITIVE
      When women join an existing company, it’s a different story.
Less ruthlessly individualistic in their approach to business, women
are more sensitive to the feelings of the group or team in which they
work. They are generally more cooperative than competitive, less
assertive, less prepared to lead from the front. Though they usually
manage their time better than men and may even work harder, they
are much less likely than their male counterparts to take risks. And,
above all, it is risk-taking that makes corporate high fliers. As one
male director put it: «I’m not paid to make the right decisions. I’m
just paid to make decisions».
      BETTER COMMUNICATORS
      It’s an overgeneralization. of course, but it remains true that men
will more readily take the initiative than women. The female style of
management leans towards consensus and conciliation. Women seem
to be better communicators than men — both more articulate and
better listeners. And perhaps it is women’s capacity to listen which
makes them particularly effective in people-oriented areas of business.
In any mixed group of business people the ones doing most of the
talking will almost certainly be the men. But perhaps only the women
will really be listening.

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