Do gender differences in communication patterns translate to power at the workplace?
Yes. Problem solving, influencing superiors, delegating responsibility and other take-charge types of skills are key components of interpersonal power. Research suggests that women robbed of this interpersonal power in a company must rely more on their positional power and their place in the hierarchy of their organization. As women rely on the formal authority of their positions for their influence base, they comprise only approximately 16 percent of Fortune 500 corporate offices. Therefore, their positional power is limited. How can gender stereotypes affect an organization? Companies may suffer by not developing and retaining some of the best talent, which is key in remaining competitive in the global business world. The perceptions by senior executives of women and men are often more informed by gender-based stereotypes than facts. This leads to misrepresentation of the true talents of women and contributes to the startling gap in business leadership. The effects of gender-based st
