Closing the Gender Gap

Acknowledge differences between men’s and women’s communication styles.

Understand gender-specific motivations.Adapt your own communication style to

create successful relationshipsReduce gender-related conflicts.Improve working relationships.

Group Discussion Questions

What is the one change that men could make to facilitate communication with women?

What is the one change that women could make to facilitate communication with men?

One Change

Women:– Get to the point !!

Men:– Listen !!

Brain Lateralization Studies

• Harvard Preschool

• Boston Children’s Hospital

• Yale Study

Brain Lateralization Studies

Women use both sides of the brain for processing information.

Men tend to use only the left side.Women can move rapidly from right to left brain

functions.During pregnancy, a chemical wash of

testosterone occurs with baby boys, destroying some of the connecting nerve fibers.

Six Major Gender Communication Differences

1. Empathy vs. Solutions

2. How questions are used.

3. Details vs. Big Picture

4. Cooperation vs. Competition

5. Asking for Help vs. Not asking for Help

6. Rapport vs. Invasion

Empathy Vs. Solutions

Women tend to seek an empathetic response.

Men tend to offer solutions.

Questions – How They Are Used

Women often ask questions to build rapport.

Men usually make direct statements and take other’s comments at face value.

Details vs. Big Picture

Women want complete details.

Men want only the big picture and find details irritating.

Cooperation vs. Competition

Women tend to avoid confrontation and focus on areas of agreement.

Men do not shy away from confrontation and tend to express disagreements openly.

Asking for Help vs. Not Asking for Help

• Women generally ask for help if they need it.

• Men consider asking for help or information as a sign of weakness.

Rapport vs. Invasion

Women tend to be participative and indirect.

Men tend to be authoritative and direct.

In our culture, girls learn:

How to play one on one How to get along How to be fair to

everyone How to engage in play as

a process How to negotiate

differences How to keep the power

dead even

In our culture, boys learn:

Competition is the name of the game

How to be good team players and leaders

How to take criticism and praise

How to stay focused How to have a game plan Winning is all that

matters.

Summary

Effective relationships depend on understanding communication differences.

Today’s workplace is diverse, and there is no one right way to communicate.

Management is a logical approach to controlling; leadership is an intuitive-visionary approach toward building relationships.

The ability to rapidly move from left brain to right brain is a female advantage.

The ability to handle conflict is a male advantage.