Men and Women in the WorkplaceCOMMUNICATION

ANJA EINSELN ASCLD 2015

WASHINGTON DC

Hello• 8+ years as ASCLD/LAB Training Manager

• 10 years at FBI Laboratory

• 5 years private industry

• 12+ years married

• Older sister

• Control freak (reformed)

• United miles = 610,637 (since I started counting)

Overview • What you might think this presentation is about

• What I aim to offer in this presentation

• Different communication styles • How to communication with one another

• Another perspective to consider

• And one more thing to think about

• Remember our origins

What you might think

What I aim to offer • Perspectives to consider

• Strategies to think about

• Actions to take

• Things to watch for

• Ideas to remember

Different communication styles

Controller Promoter

Analyzer Supporter

Controller • Nothing but the facts

• Can be perceived as bossy and assertive

• Goal oriented

• May not have a plan but want to get moving

• Broad brush rather than detail

Promoter • Life of the party

• Lots of fun

• Like people and like talking

• Naturally sociable

• Enthusiastic and curious

Supporter • Low key personality

• Patient, well balanced

• Happily reconciled with life

• Largest portion of the population

• Want to avoid offending

• Low tolerance for conflict

• Good listeners

Analyzer • Facts and figures

• Gather information and organize

• Thoughtful and serious

• Need for detail

• Hesitate making decisions

• List, charts, graphs

• Can be perceived as pessimistic

When talking to a Controller • Be efficient and businesslike

• Get to the point

• Set and clarify goals and objectives

• Give them conclusions – only provide details when asked

• Solve problems

• Talk about results not methods

• Executive Summary

When talking with a Promoter • Leave plenty of time for talking

and social niceties

• Ask about family, children – and be prepared to talk about yours

• Talk in terms of people and stories

• Use lots of examples

• Connect

When talking with a Supporter • Don’t come on too strong

• Earn their trust in steps

• Don’t ask for big decisions right away

• Provide reassurance

• Talk in terms of security

• Empathy (vs. sympathy)

When talking with an Analyzer • Be organized

• Have facts and figures ready

• Be prepared for skepticism

• Answer their questions

• Go slow and give them time to think and analyze

• Data

Different communication styles

Controller Promoter

Analyzer Supporter

After we have that sorted out • Consider another perspective when communicating

Generation Gap • Traditionalist

• Baby Boomer

• Gen X

• Millennials

Traditionalist • Survivors of world wars

• Work ethic and personal value

• Require a little prodding and need to be asked their opinion

• Prefer things in writing

• Enjoy learning but chit-chat is not needed

• Prefer face to face

Cool Baby-Boomer • Accept change

• Lived thru rise and fall of many things

• May have needed to change jobs

• Prefer a phone call to email

• Reads body language

• The memo generation

• First generation of work-aholics

Generation X • Not afraid of technology

• Communication can be short and to the point

• Email works for them

• Needs feedback

• Feel offended if not informed

• Work/life balance

• Time is money – short bursts of energy and flexible time

LOL Millennials • Jump in and see/feel/touch every bit of technology

• Short quick emails and texting • Shocked when others don’t

• Expect work to be fun and seek flexible work atmospheres

• Group work should have diversity

• Speed up the process

• Keep is simple and let them come up with creative solutions

Not so fast

Processing information • Auditory • Lectures, podcast, audiobooks, phone calls, discussions

• Visual • Reading, observing, reports, emails, memos, reports

• Physical • Writing, handling, sorting, practicing

Spaghetti vs. waffles

But consider the evolutionary necessity

How to proceed • What is your goal during

the conversation

• Who will be your audience

• When does something need to be completed or a decision made

• How will this information be presented

• Remember the four communication styles • Controller, Promoter,

Analyzer, Supporter

• Consider the generation

• How does someone process information

• Think about gender • But don’t dwell

Thank you

• Anja Einseln

• Training Manager, ASCLD/LAB

• anja@ascld-lab.org