So, did you hear? It seems that old adage about women using more words per day ain't necessarily so.
A new study shows that men talk just as much as women. Apparently, men use just under 16,000 words per day, women just over 16,000. (Who was the poor schmuck that had to count?)
I don't think it's so much the number of words each gender uses, as how they use them. It would be interesting to do a study on the keywords each gender uses in a day. For example, listen to men negotiate a deal compared to how women negotiate. Then count the number of words each used in that specific task. While women tend to be more about "interconnectedness," I'd be willing to bet they actually use fewer words in making the deal happen.
A couple of thoughts:
1) I don't buy into generalizations regarding gender, sex, age, region, religion, politics. I can't find any evidence that any group has the exclusive on anything, good or bad. Having said that, I know the sales exec that has the best listening skills, is most able to deliver what I want, is the sales exec that gets our business.
2) I think you hit it on the head with your comment that both men and women speak with the same number of words. But a huge portion don't necessarily resonate with the other. If there's a communication problem between our genders it's: A. Women use 10,000 words that men don't 'get'; B. Men fail to use 10,000 words that women 'get'.
Half-full, half-empty.
It all comes down to listening and the willingness to do so. We listen for what's important to us.
And then it cycles back to...what's in it for me, why should I care, why should I believe. The great ones, the ones we hold as leaders and sources of inspiration are the ones that realize that what's in it for YOU is what's in it for Me.
Ok. I'm down from my soapbox.
Posted by: Zane Safrit | July 13, 2007 at 10:02 AM