Gender barriers have become less of an issue in recent years, but there is still the possibility for a man to misconstrue the words of a woman, or vice versa.

Even in a workplace where women and men share equal stature, knowledge and experience, differing communication styles may prevent them from working together effectively. Gender barriers can be inherent or may be related to gender stereotypes and the ways in which men and women are taught to behave as children.

Although not all men or all women communicate the same way as the rest of their gender, several traits that tend to be more common in one gender or the other have been identified. Understanding these tendencies is key in creating a work environment that fosters open communication among all employees.