keep close relationships from getting too close
fears of sexual innuendo and gossip block talent development.
by ida o. abbott
sponsoring women: what men need to know
a close work relationship between a man and a woman can generate sexual tensions in one or both of them.
when the man is older and powerful and the woman is young and ambitious, the potential for complications is even greater.
more on sponsoring women for leadership: 4 reasons women hold themselves back | 4 ways sponsors can help women seek power | bias about women with families lingers | judged on performance, not potential? must be a woman | gender bias still a problem | why women are overlooked (and how to fix it) | 3 ways men are favored in the workplace | women need promotions, not just advice | mentor or sponsor? how to distinguish roles | 4 ways women leaders improve firms | cpa firms must ‘man up’ and get women on board
even when the relationship is strictly business focused, it can be the subject of rumors, gossip and speculation among coworkers, and it can arouse feelings of jealousy and resentment in the sponsor’s wife.