We have talked a lot about how culture affects communication style. Did you know that within cultures, men and women may be socialized to have different communication styles? Just as there are cultural communication barriers, there may also be gender-based communication barriers.

When Boston Consulting Group tried to discover why their female employees were less satisfied with their male employees, the answer seemed to be different communication styles. Many women felt that, in order to fit into the predominantly male culture, they had to adopt a more masculine communication style. Carol Kinsey Goman, author of The Nonverbal Advantage: Body Language at Work and founder of Kinsey Consulting, has found many ways men’s and women’s communication style tends to vary. Goman believes that there are advantages and disadvantages to stereotypically male and female communication. Female communication styles typically involve reading body language and interpreted nonverbal cues, good listening skills, and displaying empathy. On the other hand, female communication styles may be too roundabout and submissive. Males are encouraged to be authoritative by taking up space, being quick and concise, and emphasizing power. Yet the stereotypical male communication style also has many weaknesses. Sometimes, by emphasizing conciseness, masculine communication may seem too blunt, insensitive, and overly confident.

Is one communication style more effective? Not according to Goman. The key is to use the full spectrum of communication and not adopt an extremely masculine or feminine style. The male communication style is better in situations that require decisiveness, while the female style is more effective in collaborative environments. By tailoring communication styles to the situation, employees can be more effective. And by finding a happy medium between the two styles, an employee, male or female, can appear assertive as well as compassionate to their intended audience.

Questions 

1. What are some other situations where having a stereotypically male communication style may be advantageous? What about situations where having a stereotypically female communication style may be more advantageous? 

2. How might male and female communication styles differ across cultures? 

3. Do you feel like your communication style corresponds with your gender? Why or why not?