Recently, I was asked to present a negotiation workshop at a conference with more than 30,000 attendees.
While the industry is male-dominated, women have consistently risen through the ranks and today hold prominent positions at the top of many companies. Women sell equipment, run large purchasing departments and own businesses in this industry.
Knowing this, I proposed my workshop “Men and Women do it Differently…Negotiate, that is!” As you know, I speak on how we all need to understand the opposite sex as well as our own gender when we negotiate. This holds true in business and in our personal lives.
How well we listen to others and communicate with them directly affects our success and happiness. How we read and interpret body language is a big part of this too.
The speaker selection committee wanted my negotiation message. However, the committee did not think attendees (who they said are usually sales men and male business owners) would care that much about communicating better with women.
This is a shame, and very short-sighted. Men and women communicate differently. Understanding and appreciating these differences will only help everyone in business situations or, for that matter, in relationships they have throughout their lives.
The sad thing to me is that the committee consisted of three men and three women.
“Men are taught to apologize for their weaknesses, women for their strengths.” – Lois Wyse (1926 – 2007), Advertising Executive, Author and Columnist
“I haven’t even had a chance to be unreasonable yet!” – Chris Simms, Controller, Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP
What do you think about gender communication styles? Do you have a personal story you’d like to share?
If you want to learn more about how to improve your negotiation skills with the opposite sex, check out this CD.
“Everything is negotiable, if only you’d ask!”
– Mary Redmond