The Washington times., 1919-03-01
Business Men
and Women
By Eleanor Gilbert.

YES, a knowledge Of men is as
decided an asset to the
woman eager for. business
success as any specialized training.
Because, in spite OF the large num-
Der OF women entering commercial
occupations. the majority Of the
executive positions in business are
held by men. II you wish to CO.
. operate with them or wrest your
share of success from the powers
that be, you need more than terrific
effort or sheer will power. You
must have understanding OF char
acter.
Now, there is a broad distinction
between understanding business
men and endeavoring to win their
favor. Some women actuated by an
instructive impulse to please those
in power, exert their charms to
fascinate the men with whom they
work-and the results are newt
ably disappointing.
Nothing is quite so silly as the
business woman who manifestly
trots. out all her feminine parlor
tricks to make a pleasant impress
sion on the men around her. She
wears her best clothes, keeps her
self curle and powdered, and
smiles her sweetest on those whom
she wishes to attract.
These antics are out OF place in
any business office, and the girl
who deliberately operates them de-
serves whatever disappointments
she gets. That species OF feminine
art is not the result OF knowing
men.
If you wish to get on a basis that
will command the respect and ad-
miration of the men with whom you
work, you have to understand their
viewpoint.
A business mans highest admira-
tiOn and respect go to the woman
who is capable-who does the work
for which she was hired with speed
and intelligence.
Business men don't like obtrusive
manners in business surroundings.
No business man likes to have
about a girl who is more scenery
than use The less obtrusive your
clothes and your manners the more
will your work and your intelli-
gence shine forth.
Men don't like details, as a rule.
COnse equently the woman who can
relieve her chief Of the most de-
tail will make herself more nearly
Indispensable. And by the same
token, don't thrust detail on your
chiefs mind unnecessarily. A man
hates to have to listen to a long
winded story when the facts could
to given TO him in one or two SEN
tences
Men don't like "cattiness." There
are women with minds so small
that they can take genuine delight
in reporting to their men supe-
riors the petty delinquencies and
inefficiencies OF another worker.
They love to "tattle." They are
never so joyous as when they can
report some minor misdemeanor or
cast sly aspersions on another
woman. thereby seeming to en-
hanCe their own superiority.
Few women have ever thrust
themselves forward much with the
aid OF this kind OF stilettO. For
men usually have had more eXper-
fence in the ethics of good sports
manship and have not a good opin-
ion OF any one who lacks or ignores
the rules of fair play.
Every man has his peculiarities,
his foibIes, and sometimes they are
by no means pleasant. But busi-
ness is not a pink tea where you.
can turn your back on an offensive
neighbOr II your work is pleas
ant and promising it is necessary to
make an effort to understand and
adjust TO the foibles Of the men
YOU work for. 1t is excellent dis
cipline and will train you into that
treasure OF q WORKER "womaa
easy to get along with"