By Debbie Silverman, – Human Behavior Specialist Conversation Expert 

Conversations among women and men in business are like night and day. You almost have to read the book, “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus” to have a good understanding!

The most notable differences are in communication styles and how men and women are brought up.

These differences can impact how individuals interact, express themselves, and make decisions in a business setting.

Here are the top 5 key distinctions in business conversations between men and women:

  • Communication Style 
  • Men tend to be more direct and assertive in their communication. They focus on facts, solutions and outcomes.
  • Women often use a more collaborative and empathetic communication style. They may focus on building relationships and seeking consensus.
  • Listening Skills
  • Men may prefer to listen to key points and quickly offer solutions or strategies.
  • Women tend to listen actively, reflect on what is being said and consider the emotions behind the words.
  • Negotiation Tactics
  • Men may use more aggressive negotiation tactics, focusing on asserting their position and winning concessions.
  • Women may employ more cooperative negotiation tactics, seeing mutually beneficial solutions and maintaining relationships.  Respectively and surprisingly, women may not know how to ask for what they want and don’t know how to ask LARGELY!
  1. Conflict Avoidance
  • Men may be more willing to confront conflicts directly and address them head-on.
  • Women may be more inclined to avoid direct confrontatons and seek diplomatic solutions.
  1. Nonverbal Communication (AKA Silent Conversation)
  • Men typically use more direct body language and gestures to emphasize their points.
  • Women may use more subtle nonverbal cues like facial expressions and tone of voice to convey emotions.

(Interesting observation: if you are in a meeting with a man and he is adjusting his tie or pulling up his socks or grooming himself in a way, he is visually interested in you).

Bonus Conversation Differences:

Networking Style

  • Men may focus on building professional networks for career advancement and business opportunities.
  • Women often prioritize building authentic connections and supportive relationships through networking.

Feedback Delivery

  • Men may provide feedback in a more straightforward and objective manner, focusing on the task or outcome.
  • Women may deliver feedback with a greater emphasis on relationship preservation and emotional impact.

Understanding these differences in communication styles between men and women can help individuals navigate business interactions more effectively and create a more inclusive work environment.

For more information on how to get more of what you want from a business conversation, contact Debbie Silverman, Conversation Expert and Best-Selling author of “It’s Just a Conversation – What to Say and How to Say It in Business.”

Debbie Silverman brings 30+ years of experience equipping top executives and entrepreneurs to have powerful business conversations. Her clients include CEOs of Fortune 500 companies. She’s the award-winning, best-selling author of a strategic communication book and a book about protecting seniors and the elderly from scams. Debbie is also an NLP practitioner and human behavior specialist. She recently created a new course – Conversations for Success – Unlock the Secrets to Powerful Business Conversations. Learn more about how to engage your clients so they become raving fans, at Conversationsforsuccess.com .