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News Release: September 2003
Women Friendly Companies: What Works, What Doesn’t, Why
HOW MEN AND WOMEN MISUNDERSTAND EACH OTHER AT WORK,
AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT
By Barbara Annis
The World's Leading Gender Specialist
We’re equal but different in so many ways. For instance, women validate, men debate. Where women are collaborative, men are competitive. While men tend to direct, women more often suggest. And, just as men are specific, women are more contextual.
In Same Words, Different Language, Barbara Annis uses the wealth of knowledge she has acquired over the last 20 years listening to over 50,000 men and women across the planet talk about the challenges they experience working with the other sex.
While other books such as John Gray’s Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus and Deborah Tannen’s You Just Don’t Understand discuss the differences in the ways that men and women communicate, Annis’ goal is to take you one step further. She provides the ‘eyes to see’ gender difference so you will learn how to overcome the misunderstandings and challenges differences create. This book is for everyone who wants to understand the other sex and enjoy working with them, whether you are preparing an annual report, or raising a family.
Same Words, Different Language provides the tools for creating a happy and harmonious environment. Some of the tools Annis uses to teach us how to better understand the other sex include: recognizing how our words and actions impact on others; fine-tuning our listening so we really hear what the other sex is saying; making convincing arguments to the other sex, in terms they can understand. By using tools like these we can get better results when working in teams, earn trust and respect from co-workers and enjoy our jobs more.
More and more often, CEOs are realizing that the traditional business model has become almost invisible because it is so common and universal. Another problem with the traditional plan is that women have a hard time working with it. Similarly, women work well with a ‘bottom-up’ style of business plan that many businesses today are working with and men have a hard time adjusting to this type of plan. Companies, organizations and associations of all types need to learn how to make use of both men’s and women’s strengths. In order to do this, Annis suggests developing congruence between the old model and the new model, recognizing the special strengths men and women both offer, and knowing how and when to put those strengths to use.
Following Annis’ advice will encourage open communication, create pride in organizations, build trust, liberate rather than control, promote individual’s strengths and so much more.
In order to learn how best to work with the other sex, we have to put aside our opinions and open our minds. Barbara Annis will teach us how in Same Words, Different Language.
Barbara Annis is the CEO of Barbara Annis & Associates Inc. Her firm is the recognized leading expert in gender, diversity and cultural inclusiveness in North America and Europe. Over the last 15 years, Annis has worked with companies, organizations and associations of all types to help them learn how to make use of both men’s and women’s strengths. She is also an experienced resource for television, radio and print media.
Same Words, Different Language
Barbara Annis
0-14-301594-X / 213 pages / $25.00
Publication Date: September 20, 2003
A Penguin Canada original trade paperback from Penguin Group (Canada)