Effective Communication Skills: Do You Agree Men Communicate Better Than Women in the Workplace?

Effective Communication Skills: Do You Agree Men Have Bigger Promotions And Paychecks Because Men Communicate Better Than Women?

In a TV interview on a leading news channel, a former Secretary of State, had admitted that men fared better than women in the communication skills.

Men are bolder in expressing their opinions. They assert their ideas in meetings. Women tend to be consensual and compromising. They tend to go along with other people's ideas. And, this has some significant influence on the fact that more men are promoted into the top jobs in the workplace. It is undeniable that women are catching up fast, but men still dominate the top jobs in the corporate world.

There are many women and men who lack in communication skills. It is said that the fear of public speaking is greater than death for most people. According to psychiatrists, the fear of public speaking is caused by the fear of ostracism, the fear of standing out, the fear of criticism, the fear of ridicule, the fear of being an outcast. The fear of being different prevents most people from seeking new ways to solve their problems.

This is where the great men are separated from the little men - the fear of public speaking. The great men conquer fear. The little men enslave themselves to fear.

Many people are fearful of public speaking. The fear is real. They speak eloquently in private circles. But stage fright eats up all the bright ideas. They get all worked up, speechless and make a fool of themselves in front of others.

However, management judges your potential based on your charisma and workplace communication skills. From your words they know how much knowledge and worth you are hiding behind your brains. However, at office presentations and meetings the right words just don't flow out. You have sound technical knowledge and practical ideas. Yet, your ideas lived and died with each project that came into being and gone. Yet, you wished the project could have performed better on your suggestion. Yet that never happened. Why? Blame it on the lack of confidence, courage and communication skills.

To improve communication skills in the workplace: Train yourself to speak up. Do mock presentations and video yourself. Then replay to review yourself critically. Or you could build up your confidence through speaking in a church or toastmasters club.

Your ability to speak up in front of others or make presentations on the flipchart, whiteboard, projector, rostrum or stage is a necessary evil for executives. You can no longer hide behind a quiet demeanor or make monosyllable statements but expected to lead the floor with your ideas and suggestions.