Chapter 17Management Communication 2e Bell / Smith Slide 1 of 6 Differences in the Ways Men and Women Communicate May stem in part from traditional differences in power within organizations May be tied to genetic differences May result in advantages and disadvantages to both men and women as well as their companies

Chapter 17Management Communication 2e Bell / Smith Slide 2 of 6 Characteristics of Gender Communication Patterns Men dislike asking for directions Women prefer discussion and negotiation Women misunderstand men’s ultimatums Women downplay certainty, men downplay doubt Women lead by suggestion, men lead by orders

Chapter 17Management Communication 2e Bell / Smith Slide 3 of 6 Characteristics of Gender Communication Patterns (continued) Women apologize needlessly, men avoid apology Women accept blame, men ignore blame or place it elsewhere Women use positive buffers, men give criticism directly Women say "thank you" too often, men too seldom Women invite consensus, men seek dominance

Chapter 17Management Communication 2e Bell / Smith Slide 4 of 6 Characteristics of Gender Communication Patterns (continued) Women discuss personal lives, men don't Women want to know what they're doing right; men want to know what they're doing wrong Women complain to arouse sympathy, men complain to find solutions Women use self-mocking humor, men use humor to mock others Women give indirect directions, men want clear direction

Chapter 17Management Communication 2e Bell / Smith Slide 5 of 6 Characteristics of Gender Communication Patterns (continued) In groups, women tend to adapt to men; men tend to ignore or minimize women Women dislike dealing with conflict, men are more accepting of conflict Women are referred to by first names, men by last names Men are less comfortable with female peers than female peers are with male peers Women describe disappointment in personal terms, men in terms of fair play or blame

Chapter 17Management Communication 2e Bell / Smith Slide 6 of 6 Characteristics of Gender Communication Patterns (continued) Men interrupt women more than women interrupt men Men steal women's ideas, women tend not to protest such theft Men hate losing to a woman more than a woman hates losing to a man Women converse for relationship, men converse for information Women use tag questions for permission-seeking more than do men