Gender Communication Differences and Strategies
With women occupying close to half of the workforce in several corporate houses and with nearly 2 out of 10 women in top management positions, it is inevitable to see different strengths and styles brought onto the worktable. Men and women use a disparate process for leadership and decision making. So, what are those differences and how can they be reconciled to make it best for the organization?
Especially soft skill jobs in the sector of online digital marketing including social media, public relations and account management are taken up by women. Men in this industry must play an integral role in imbibing gender parity so that the best of both worlds merge together to create huge success for the business.
Here are the key gender differences that are often visible:
- Accomplishing Tasks – Women tend to give more importance to relationships. They set out to accomplish tasks by building a relationship first. Men tend to get straight to the task at hand and build their relationships on the go when they are in a project or task.
- Leadership – Again since women are relationship-oriented, they lead by general consensus and are collaborative. While men are more prone to hierarchies and like to wield their power.
- Processing Information – Women like to think aloud in their problem-solving process and then try to come up with a solution. Men like to think to themselves and then come up with a solution. This often results in an ego clash since women think men are just non-responsive and men think women are always looking for approval and confused as to what to do.
- Communication – Do the women talk more or is it the men that do too much talking? This is a puzzling question with a non-conclusive answer. Nevertheless, their verbal responses and conversational timing are very different. Whether it is a living room or office, men use language as a medium to solve problems while women use it for validation and connection. This often creates a tension in business dialogues.
- Cliché Differences – Women like to treat their counterparts in line with their husbands or boyfriends and men like to handle their women colleagues like their spouse or girlfriends. This results in lighter struggles in the business environment and a cliched standoff between the males and females.
Strategies to Reconcile Gender Communication Differences
Effective gender communication and gender equality in the workplace is mandatory to maintain a state of equilibrium and enable the business to survive. Here are some strategies that you can implement to make a difference:
- Break the Stereotypes – “Men are from Mars and women are from Venus” – so goes a popular saying. However, not all men and women fit these stereotypical generalizations. So, it would benefit you a great deal if you can ignore the gender differences and get down to business. These cultural norms are based on research that portrayed disparate characteristics of men and women. So, just take these facts with a grain of salt.
- Be Aware – Both men and women need to be aware of their communication and leadership style in order to avoid clashes and work together. To overpass the divide between the genders, it would be really beneficial if they borrow attributes from one another. Men can try to be more collaborative and women can learn to take the charge when the situation demands. In order to leverage each other’s fortes, avoid the unnecessary biases and try not to bring in inferences from home to business. Advance your people-handling skills with courses that teach you online digital marketing strategies and tactics.
- Recognize Communication Style – When a woman nods her head in a conversation, it means she is listening while a male displays a neutral tone. There is no one best communication or leadership style. So, recognize the different styles that can arise out of gender difference. Try to recognize when your default communication style becomes an advantage or obstacle in any situation. An ideal communication or leadership style is a balanced approach of being collaborative and wielding power alike. This will show that you are confident and caring at the same time.
- Collaborate and Work Together – It is essential for men to share the space so that women can make their contributions. When asked for an opinion by women, give an assurance that you will process information and try to come up with a solution. It is also essential for women to take charge and let the men know that when you process something by thinking aloud, you are not helpless, and this is the process you utilize for making a decision.
All in all, don’t let gender differences deter you. Be open and supportive to find similarities and also differences in order to achieve the greater good for your company. Take the right action for the right attitude and drive to push forward. Make yourself more marketable and open to gender parity by taking online digital marketing certification.
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