The Power of Talk: Who Gets Heard and Why (HBR OnPoint Enhanced Edition) by Deborah Tannen

Description

This is an enhanced edition of the HBR article 95510 originally published in September/October 1995. HBR OnPoints contain the full-text article, plus a synopsis and annotated bibliography. Most managerial work happens through talk–discussions, meetings, presentations, negotiations. And it is through talk that managers evaluate others and are themselves judged. Using research carried out in a variety of workplace settings, linguist Deborah Tannen demonstrates how conversational style often overrides what we say, affecting who gets heard, who gets credit, and what gets done. Tannen's linguistic perspective provides managers with insight into why there is so much poor communication. Gender plays an important role. Tannen traces the ways in which women's styles can undermine them in the workplace, making them seem less competent, confident, and self-assured than they are. She analyzes the underlying social dynamic created through talk in common workplace interactions. She argues that a better understanding of linguistic style will make managers better listeners and more effective communicators, allowing them to develop more flexible approaches to a full range of managerial activities.