Shark Tank: There are Boy Sharks, and Girl Sharks

Shark Tank is a new reality show in which entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to potential investors. There are five total investors or sharks, four men, one woman.  I am intrigued by how gender differences (as highlighted in the following clips) seem to inform or influence deal negotiations:

Clip 1:   Two female entrepreneurs are pitching a playpen cover called Coverplay. Their portion of the show starts at 30:37.  Notice the terms on which the male vs. females are willing to do a deal.  Not to say the female isn't tough, but even in driving a hard bargain, listen to how she thinks.  Who would you want as a partner?  Here's another example of her feminine style, a style you'll note rather befuddles the toughest of the male sharks.

Clip 2:  A male entrepreneur is pitching custom energy bars or Element Bars.  Female shark bows out early.  He negotiates hard.  Male sharks are eating out of his hand; he even jokingly offers him a job.  Would the male sharks have responded so warmly to a woman with the same approach?  Would a woman have even negotiated?

Clip 3:  Titled Pretty the female entrepreneur's product is good enough, but the male sharks are surprisingly eager, like sharks to the bait.  She doesn't ask (If women aren't asking for something, we are playing within societal norms of femininity), but situates herself such that the men ask.  As the sharks vie for her attention they in effect negotiate on her behalf.

What differences have you observed between the negotiating styles of men and women, including your children?

Having observed these differences, how can you use them to your advantage so as to get done what you need/want to get done in the world?

Whether in our business, civic or church communities, how do we decide who gets 51%?  Or more broadly speaking who has ownership of a project?  When we don't have control, how do we stay engaged?

Comments

[Maria]

Fascinating and enlightening! I found myself watching segment after segment, and learning some important lessons. Thanks for sharing this.

[Bonnie Tonita White]

Whitney the video streams are not available in Canada yet. I would have loved to have been able to watch and understood what you were writing about. My own observation of how women negotiate seems to be driven by desired outcome more than who wins.

[EHD]

Very interesting and informative. Pretty housewife was especially interesting to watch--she chose her dress well! I don't use feminine wiles, even though they are obviously effective. (I'm not saying I wouldn't use them--they're just not part of my vocabulary.) Having said that, pretty housewife had done her work and her homework--they liked the fact that she was tough and prepared, qualities which just increased her attractions. The gentlemen were bowled over by the combination of substance and style. They also got into a bidding war, where beating each other took priority over what pretty housewife actually offered. The female shark was wise to get out, but she made a mistake in being somewhat snarky about it. Telling pretty housewife to her face that the men were fighting over here simply because she was pretty was unnecessary. Why do women immediately jump into competition mode with one another? The guys do it, too, but women are fighting over a smaller economic pie. It seems to me that supporting one another (entrepreneur and investor, mother and professional) will ultimately be to our mutual benefit.

[Stacey P]

First, professionalism ladies! My mother used to say that I would minimize my 'product' - my personal brand - when acted like a 'silly teen' by either: becoming emotional, shrugging my shoulders, speaking with a high pitched tone, not wearing a 'power outfit' etc. All of the women in these clips violated these rules, and to me, diminished their product/brand.

Second, CONTROL. If you have an idea and need someone to help you finance/advertise/distribute that concept, how much control are you willing to let go of to gain access to capital/experience of others? In the Pretty Housewife example, if 2 men came in, even at 50% it would still be 2 on 1 in terms of decision making. In the Coverplay example, the men wanted a controlling interest as well and Barbara was right, never give up control.

Lastly, Barbara, while tough, can forget how to play graciously with women who have different tactics. The Pretty Housewife had a tactic, I thought it cheapened her product, but Barbara did not need to 'publicize' that for her own gain. We all use differnt tools to get what we want, we should just keep in mind what the intended and unintended consequences might be...

[Orla]

Pity, not available to view in the UK either. Hulu message was...."For now, Hulu is a U.S. service only..."