COMMUNICATION STYLESCOMMUNICATION STYLESANDAND

HOW ITS AFFECTED BY GENDERHOW ITS AFFECTED BY GENDER

Communication in OverallCommunication in Overall

Communication: The process of transferring meanings from sender to receiver.

However, a great many problems can result in failure to transfer meanings correctly

Communication style is a Communication style is a function of function of communication behaviorcommunication behavior

Communication behavior is a function of personality

ANDAND

Types of communication styleTypes of communication style

Assertive Communication

Aggressive Communication

Passive Communication

Passive-Aggressive Communication

AssertiveAssertive Pushing hard without attacking; permits others to influence outcome; expressive and self-enhancing without intruding on others.

Good eye contact; Comfortable but firm posture; Strong, steady and audible voice; Facial expressions matched to message; Appropriately serious tone; Selective interruptions to ensure understanding.

Direct and explicit language; No attributions or evaluations of others’ behavior; Use of “I” statements and cooperative “we” statements.

CommunicationCommunication Nonverbal Behavior Verbal Behavior Nonverbal Behavior Verbal Behavior

StyleStyle Description Pattern Pattern Description Pattern Pattern

Communication StylesCommunication Styles

CommunicationCommunication Nonverbal Behavior Verbal Behavior Nonverbal Behavior Verbal Behavior

StyleStyle Description Pattern Pattern Description Pattern Pattern

AggressiveAggressive Taking advantage of others; Expressive and self-enhancing at others’ expense.

Glaring eye contact; Moving or leaning too close; Threatening gestures (pointing finger); Loud Voice; Frequent interruptions.

Swear words and abusive language; Attributions and evaluations of others’ behavior; racists terms; Explicit threats or put-downs.

Communication Styles (CCommunication Styles (Continuedontinued))

Communication Styles (continued)Communication Styles (continued)CommunicationCommunication Nonverbal Behavior Verbal Behavior Nonverbal Behavior Verbal Behavior

StyleStyle Description Pattern Pattern Description Pattern Pattern

PassivePassive Encouraging others to take advantage of us; Inhibited; Self-denying.

Little eye contact; Downward glances; Slumped postures; Constantly shifting weight; Wringing hands; Weak or whiny voice.

Qualifiers (“maybe,” “kind of” ); Fillers (“uh,” “you know,” “well”); Negaters (“it’s really not that important,” “I’m not sure”).

Communication Styles Communication Styles (C(Continuedontinued))

CommunicationCommunication Nonverbal Behavior Verbal Behavior Nonverbal Behavior Verbal Behavior

StyleStyle Description Pattern Pattern Description Pattern Pattern

Passive-Passive-AggressiveAggressive

manipulate others to choose our way; We feel confused, unclear on how to feel; we get angry but not sure why. Later we possibly feel guilty.

such as sighing; rolling of eyes; and even things like hammering on the table to express anger and aggression.

Communication Styles (cCommunication Styles (continuedontinued))

smiling when angry;  use sarcasm;deny there is a problem

Communication style differs by Gender

Gender Communication Gender Communication is Cross Cultural is Cross Cultural CommunicationCommunication

Gender communication patterns of women and men are refined elaborated versions of the same ones evident in the childhood games of both boys and girls.

Communication between men and women is like cross-cultural communication. Distinctive patterns. Different purposes. Different rules. Different understanding of how to interpret talk.

Due to their different approaches between men and women , women become the relationship specialists and men the task specialists.

Gender DifferencesGender Differences

Women› Prefer conversation for

rapport building.› Are more likely to

compliment.› Emphasize politeness.› More compromising.› Less suited to responsible

positions in business in upper level management role.

Gender DifferencesGender Differences

Men› Talk as a means to preserve independence and status

by displaying knowledge and skill› Work out problems on an individualized basis› Are more directive in conversation› Are more intimidating› Call attention to their accomplishments› Tend to dominate discussions during meetings› Better suited to management

MEN: WOMEN:

live in a world of status live in a world of connections

conversations are negotiations for power

conversations are negotiations for closeness

want to preserve independence want to preserve intimacy

seek to win, avoid failure seek closeness, avoid isolation

avoid taking orders (since that means low status and loss of independence)

ok with taking orders (if it is perceived as forming a connection)

seek control seek understanding

prefer inequality and asymmetry prefer equality and symmetry

are adversarial (with conflicting goals) are synergistic (with common goals)

value differences value similarities

goal of conversation: transmit information

goal of conversation: maintain interaction

offer advice seek connection and understanding

Different approaches at a Glance:

No matter how No matter how important our motives important our motives are, people read us by are, people read us by what they see and hearwhat they see and hear

not by what we want them to see and hear

ByByGROUP-4GROUP-4Biswajit Ghosh – H12Biswajit Ghosh – H12Neeraj Sharma – H30Neeraj Sharma – H30Sritanu Das Mahapatra – H57Sritanu Das Mahapatra – H57Abhisek Sahu – H3Abhisek Sahu – H3Krishnakant Pandey – H25Krishnakant Pandey – H25Debojit Roy – H66Debojit Roy – H66

© 2008 AIMS PGPM-H4.