Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus

Nonverbal communication in general is more immediate and very easily noticed over verbal communication. Between men and women many things can be misinterpreted through body language, voice tone, touch and appearance. The biggest reason why men and women differ in their use of nonverbal communication is men communicate to transmit information and solve problems, while women use communication to express feelings and achieve emotional intimacy. Learning to understand some of the differences in the complex communication process is key to success. The better you can communicate with men and women, the more opportunities you can take advantage of!

When you’re face-to-face, men and women will constantly be giving signals about their personality, feelings and attitudes. Decoding them is the tricky part, but with practice and knowledge you will be on your way in no time. For example, let’s say if a women makes a negative remark but she is smiling while doing so, she’s meaning it very lightheartedly as a joke. If a man was to do the same he will have a greater chance in offending a women, especially if he is not very clear with his facial expressions.

But with age you will gain and develop the ability to accurately decode body language better. Both men and women have very strong messages that are conveyed such as leaning in and nodding which signals that they are listening and understanding. Generally women want intimacy in a conversation, to feel connected to others. Men want to give information while remaining independent of the other party. Neither focus is better than the other, they are just how we are wired. We must acknowledge that there are many differences that exist among us. We can now be more alert with some of these differences and work with them, non-judgmentally, rather than struggle against them.

Here are some interesting facts about differences of the sexes:

·         Tall men get hired more often, they are perceived to be more attractive and have higher self-esteem.

·         While driving men rely on mapping out the area, women rely on the assistance of landmarks.

·         More body motion while walking is associated with femininity.

·         Women remember the appearance of others better than men.

·         Women use more words than men to make a point and express feelings.

·         Men think through a problem privately before they express a solution or the bottom line.

·         Women often change the topic in the middle of a conversation and return to it later.

·         Men will tend to finish a topic before moving onto the next.

If you're interested in learning about more of these differences and how to respond to them, “Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus” is an amazing and insightful book to get your hands on!