The world tends to see things in opposites. In some ways I have fueled this perspective by referring to men and women as opposite sexes. I do it because I know most people are familiar and comfortable with this reference. But this kind of opposition does not translate directly to the exclusive use of one or the other style of communication, in any given interaction. Differences exist not only between men and women, but also among men and among women. In addition, differences abide between and among cultures, geographical regions, religions, age ranges, countries, and other groups. However, regardless of these differences, everyone, everywhere, has either a predominantly masculine or feminine style, and uses one style or the other in any one given situation.

This cacophony of differences in any one given workplace explains why there is
no one right way of communicating, no one right style. Working with masculine and
feminine styles is one effective way of making sense of differences.

Gender influences constitute but one type of difference, albeit a powerful
one, that when understood and incorporated into conversation, will definitely
help improve communication between men and women. Such clarity will then yield better teamwork, productivity, results, and advancement potential. 

Bottom line, if your goal truly is clear and productive communication - to understand and be understood - then it's not enough for the language to be right; the style of communication needs to be shared, or at least understood. This goal is the purpose and mission of my work...to increase awareness of differences and teach skills for working with them more effectively for better results, teamwork, productivity, and relationships.

Two tips to improve gender communication actually apply to any interaction...active listening skills and observation of facial expressions and body language. These skills are vital for precise and successful communication. Listeners should ask questions and clarify anything that doesn't ring true, make total sense, or meet their expectations. When in doubt, ask! It takes two to tango, at least to tango well.

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