Organisational Behaviour
Topic 2
Question: Explain why men and women are sometimes frustrated with each other’s communication behaviours.
The Qualms of Communication
“He never talks to me!” is a common complaint that women have about men. The communication process between men and women has long been of interest for many people from the dawn of time. Copious studies, texts, novels, journals and articles have laboured over and examined communication between men and women and the resultant responses. It is even mentioned in the bible! Communication is a part of our everyday life. It occurs whether we intend to or not; to interact we need to communicate. Communication is the transference and understanding of meaning (Robins, Millett, Waters-Marsh, 2004), both verbal and non-verbal, and is fundamental when managing ourselves and organisations in every facet of life. Effective communication is essential to any groups or organisations performance. It is therefore evident that the difficulties and frustration often faced when communicating with the opposite sex have many implications for organisations. A lack of communication inhibits a groups or organisations ability to perform core management functions including planning, organising, leading and controlling and affects peoples perceptions, attitudes and values, personality and emotions, learning, motivation, leadership, conflict and negotiation, decision making, occupational stress and organisational culture. Of which only a few I will discuss.
Men and women often become frustrated with each other’s communication behaviours. Using the work of professor of linguistics Deborah Tannen (1995) it is important to recognize that these linguistic differences between men and women do not stem solely from what Tannen describes as “cross-cultural communication.” There are very apparent differences in speaking styles; for example, women tend to offer suggestions and give reasons, whereas men tend to give demands without reasons. However, the root
Question: Explain why men and women are sometimes frustrated with each other’s communication behaviours.
The Qualms of Communication
“He never talks to me!” is a common complaint that women have about men. The communication process between men and women has long been of interest for many people from the dawn of time. Copious studies, texts, novels, journals and articles have laboured over and examined communication between men and women and the resultant responses. It is even mentioned in the bible! Communication is a part of our everyday life. It occurs whether we intend to or not; to interact we need to communicate. Communication is the transference and understanding of meaning (Robins, Millett, Waters-Marsh, 2004), both verbal and non-verbal, and is fundamental when managing ourselves and organisations in every facet of life. Effective communication is essential to any groups or organisations performance. It is therefore evident that the difficulties and frustration often faced when communicating with the opposite sex have many implications for organisations. A lack of communication inhibits a groups or organisations ability to perform core management functions including planning, organising, leading and controlling and affects peoples perceptions, attitudes and values, personality and emotions, learning, motivation, leadership, conflict and negotiation, decision making, occupational stress and organisational culture. Of which only a few I will discuss.
Men and women often become frustrated with each other’s communication behaviours. Using the work of professor of linguistics Deborah Tannen (1995) it is important to recognize that these linguistic differences between men and women do not stem solely from what Tannen describes as “cross-cultural communication.” There are very apparent differences in speaking styles; for example, women tend to offer suggestions and give reasons, whereas men tend to give demands without reasons. However, the root
References: Brooks Aylor and Marianne Dainton, 2004. Biological sex and psychological gender as predictors of routine and strategic relational maintenance. Penum Publishing Co. Danny Sampson and Richard L. Daft, 2003. Fundamentals of Management. Thomson Hirokawa, Akihiro Yagi and Yo Miyata NIV Bible. 1908. Michigan: Zondervan Bible Publishers Tannen, D Tannen D. 1990. You just don’t understand. New York: Ballantine Books Tecce, J Robins, Millett, Waters-Marsh, 2004. Organisational Behaviour, 4th Edition.Pearson