Men Use Passive Language, Too We Just Judge Women More

Men Use Passive Language, Too We Just Judge Women More The debate about the difference in communication styles between men and women is one for the ages, as discussed in books ranging from Men Are From Mars to Lean In. There is one unifying thread between these disparate texts that the use of passive language like I think or sorry, especially by women, can hold you back from progressing in your career. This idea has gained so much steam that theres even a Gmail plugin, Just Not Sorry, that underlines passive words in emails that may undermine their authors message.These books, articles, and tools have fueled the assumption that women need to consciously limit the use of passive language (and even their use of emojis) if they want to be taken seriously and get ahead in the office. However, a new report by Knowing that we communicate the same is an amazing sanity check for women, but it doesnt change the fact that women still suffer from inequality in the workplace. There are gendere d gaps in pay and title, and data fromMcKinsey shows that both the number and the percentage of women tapers off dramatically in leadership roles.With language patterns so similar across genders, businesses need to start worrying mora about how womens words and contributions are perceived rather than how they are delivered.While changing these perceptions will take time, it can be difficult to know where to start. Here are three actionable steps women can take today while we wait for society to catch up1. Be authentic.Studies have shown that diversity of thought and experiences is crucial for achieving high-performing teams. If groupthink is so detrimental, why are we trying to group speak? The most important aspect of communication is authenticity. The best leaders are respected because they are genuine dont change who you are to fit a stereotypical mold. Rather than try and imitate others, find what strength looks like in your personal communication style.2. Speak out for other w omen.As the famous name switching experiment in emails showed us, people are often unaware of their gendered biases. Helping recognize and elevate other women around you and ensure their contributions are noticed can help combat these biases, and create a culture where more women become confident to showcase their accomplishments.3. Avoid negative gendered descriptors.From Debbie Downers and Negative Nancys to Drama Queens and Mean Girls, there is an abundance of negative associations that are attributed to women. Women can help combat these associations by eliminating these phrases from our vocabulary.