He Said/She Said: Business Communication Edition (CD)

Lillian D. Bjorseth
Duoforce Enterprises, Inc. (2005)
Reviewed by Susan Pettrone for Reader Views (12/06)

Like its companion CD, “He Said/She Said: Business Communication Edition” begins with an introduction of and information about the author and presenter Lililan D. Bjorseth. This CD in the series also promises that it will help the listener become a better communicator both in his/her personal and business life.

We are introduced from the beginning of this CD to gender differences in communication in the workplace. Men grow up learning how to win and how to lose. Their sprit of competition is developed early and widens as they grow. They learn to be aggressive individuals and they discover early on in their lives how to effectively fight for and win what they want. Women are different than men, in that they play and grow in cliques and search for that best friend of whom they can have confidences and close relationships with. This hurts women in the workplace when they are faced with a battle that seems insurmountable. Women learn to walk away from fights that seem too much to deal with and men learn to go into battle head on with the objective of winning being foremost in their focus.

This applies as early as childhood in the sexes. One of the main differences we see between boys and girls is that girls focus more on communication skills in terms of language and boys use physical mannerisms to get what they want. It is as if words are the weapon of choice for girls and boys use roughhousing and physical activity to acquire the means to an end for them. Later on in the CD we learn that men have 3 subjects for “small talk…sports, politics and current events” and it is this small talk that supersedes all other subjects when they socialize with other men. Women on the other hand will talk about nearly anything when they meet and will discuss anything that comes within their thought process. This comes into play when it comes to small talk when men and women meet at a business event and one party begins “small talk” with the other sex. Oftentimes it is the first comments that come from one or the other party that sets the tone as to whether they will be accepted or rejected. Women especially have a problem joining a group of men because their initial small talk may be that which does not interest men or puts them off, thus setting the stage for that self same woman when she next considers speaking to a group of men.

During this CD the listener is introduced to techniques which will make them a better active listener. This is vital information for everyone despite their part in business as good listening skills oftentimes are the key to open a door in a business relationship. Or on the other hand, if used incorrectly, can be the key to lock the door to communication tight. Women especially need to be aware of their “listening noises” and lose them when communicating with someone they want to be on equal footing with. These noises weaken the listener and set her up for rejection at worst or at best, the speaker will take her less seriously than he does his male counterparts. Men and women both solve conflicts in different ways. The advice given on this CD is split between the sexes and the information given here is straight forward and easy to understand yet can be one of the hardest lessons either sex can learn to overcome.

I would recommend this CD for those in business as it addresses, in easy to understand language, the differences in communication between the sexes. Learning about these differences and polishing one’s use of communication can be a great way to benefit ones business and in my opinion, this CD, “He Said/She Said: Business Communication Edition,” is a great way to start!

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