That men and women communicate differently is a widely accepted idea. There are notable differences in the way males and females communicate. In the present social setup, there is a need to be mindful of proper and appropriate communication. It is not enough to simply communicate. To achieve effective communication, there are factors that need to be considered.
Men need to be careful with the following aspects when communicating with women:
Body Language and Nonverbal Communication
In most cases, women tend to demand attention. They like interaction as they also offer attention to encourage the person they are interacting with to be more participative. They are sensitive with body language. If a person hesitates to look them in the eye, they are likely to interpret the act as a lack of interest.
Approaches to Problem Solving
It is normal for couples to encounter instances when decisions have to be made or when solutions are needed to resolve certain issues. In such cases, men have to realize that they can’t just do things their way. It’s not that women just want to nag. They just prefer to have more thorough discussions on the issue at hand. While men typically prefer focusing on the facts and immediate resolutions, women usually prefer to integrate other implications especially those that involve shared feelings and experiences.
Reading Between the Lines
An article on the Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet: Family and Consumer Science mentions how women tend to be more sensitive to interpersonal meanings that can be derived “between the lines.” The sensitivity of women is very pronounced when it comes to interpreting the deeper or insinuative meanings of conversations and messages.
Giving in to Her Ways
Men have the reputation of being the domineering one – something that easily gets in conflict with women’s desire for attention and discussion. A German study on the “allure of aggressive men” found that women like aggressive or domineering men for short-term relationships but they choose less aggressive ones as long-term partners. A man who aims for a lasting relationship would definitely consider how a woman feels. This does not necessarily mean submission in conversations but an effort to try to make communication better.
Talkativeness
Men will likely be befuddled to learn that at least one scientific research has found that there is no significant difference between the amount of talking between males and females. No, women don’t talk more than men do, according to a study published in Science Magazine. This means that men can’t just expect women to do all the talking. Words should be uttered when they need to be uttered.
Interruptions
Gone are the days when women are used to getting interrupted, when they had to act as the support to their male partners. With gender equality becoming more widely accepted, it is only proper to learn to respect women by not interrupting them as they talk. Overlapping in conversations is inevitable but there has to be respect to learn to yield and to avoid dominating discussions.
Apologies
Men usually find it difficult to apologize due to the fear of what the apology would imply on their status in the relationship. This attitude is something that needs to be rectified. Women definitely appreciate a sincere apology as they view it as a way of creating and maintaining connections. The misconception that apologizing is debasing for men should be put to rest.
Written Communication
A small study by Paolo Rossetti published in The Internet TESL Journal entitled “Gender Differences in E-mail Communication” concludes that men tend to be strong, competitive, and assertive in their emails while women have the tendency to write in a supportive tone. This does not mean that women want men to write in the same way they do.
For the most part, what women want is the sincerity and sensitivity. Women can definitely tolerate the typical male style of writing. However, they would appreciate it more if the conversation is in person, a face-to-face form of communication.
Women do not seek men who communicate in the same way they do. They are looking for men who can understand and compromise. Of course, not many women would be pleased to see their men acting feminine. Communication is a two-way process that requires the active participation of all the parties involved to become successful.
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