This thread about women saying 'I think' will make you re-think your work communication
Women have a lot to contend with in the workplace.
If they're not getting mansplained, hepeated, or harassed, they're being told they need to think, talk, and act like men.
But, this Twitter thread by a software engineer has turned on its head the notion that men's workplace communication style is the example to follow. In fact, after reading this Twitter thread, men might consider communicating a bit more like women.
SEE ALSO: 'Hepeating' is the new 'mansplaining' and it's definitely happened to you
April Wensel—founder of software development company Compassionate Coding—wrote that women are "often told to avoid 'weak' language like 'I think,'" but that she found that, in reality, saying "I think" is "often more accurate."
"I find it more troubling when people state their opinion as if it's an undisputed fact," wrote Wensel. "We don't need to fix women; we need to appreciate what they're doing already."
Women are often told to avoid "weak" language like "I think," but the truth is it's often more accurate. I find it more troubling when people state their opinion as if it's an undisputed fact.
We don't need to fix women; we need to appreciate what they're already doing.— April Wensel (@aprilwensel) February 16, 2018
She wrote that she's heard countless male (and even female) engineers make declarative statements like "That won't work" or "That won't break," which were subsequently proved wrong.
"Honest, accurate communication is not weak; it's more effective!" she added.
I can't tell you how many times I've heard male engineers (and women who follow the aforementioned problematic advice) say, "That won't work" or "That won't break," and sure enough…
Honest, accurate communication is not weak; it's more effective!— April Wensel (@aprilwensel) February 16, 2018
She said she had "a running bit of banter" with a male engineer she worked with, who loved to say "I'm 100% sure."
"Let's just say his accuracy rate was not the same as his confidence level," she wrote.
I had a running bit of banter with one male engineer coworker because he loved saying, "I'm 100% sure," and let's just say his accuracy rate was not the same as his confidence level.
— April Wensel (@aprilwensel) February 16, 2018
Honesty is always the best policy.
