Australia’s Women in Print community came together last Thursday for another insightful discussion, this one focusing on the intricacies of communication from a gender and generation perspective.

The panel included Ovato’s Katie Ashford; NSW Women in Print Patron Debbie Burgess of Bright Print Group; ProPrint Emerging 50 2020 mentorship prize winner and Print DNA designer, Kelsey Wade and The Real Media Collective CEO Kellie Northwood. Ball & Doggett’s Zaidee Jackson facilitated the event and ensured the discussion went in the direction it needed to go.

To listen to the recording of the discussion, please visit here.

The key takeouts from the hour-long webinar were that assertive communication is the best way to go and mastering this way of communicating with power and empathy is the trick. The lively discussion also highlighted the importance of honouring diversity and inclusivity, valuing one another and staying open and curious.

Northwood said a large part of her career had been spent working with men and she said this had in some ways changed her communication style, even though the research shows men are more direct and women more collaborative in their styles.

“Lacking an assertive style can leave you ‘rudderless’ but there are pros and cons with both styles but it is about applying the right one at the right time,” she said.

Burgess said to be an effective leader it is important to be able to communicate in a number of different ways depending on the situation and whom you are speaking with.

“Every situation is different and our workplaces are diverse, so we need to embrace and appreciate differences and we need to recognise the strengths in combining ideas from all employees,” Burgess said.

“It is important to be aware of people’s differences as this is the best way to get the best out of everyone.”

The discussion also rounded in on how digital communications have changed the way we speak to each other in a work sense with the arrival of Whatsapp and other online communication tools now becoming more common place.

Ashford said even though these communication apps make it quick and easy to communicate, she maintained that is is important “to keep things proper” and it doesn’t to much to say Hi Katie, rather than just Katie.

Generational communication

This is where Wade chimed in on the issue as she, and those of her generation, have grown up communicating in a world with different social mores.

“I think it is fascinating that communication styles are evolving so much. Social media means we are saturated by propaganda , emojis are used to convey points rather than words,” Wade said.

Wade went on to explain how there can, at times, be friction in the workplace between younger and older generations when it comes to communication style.

“We feel obligated to maintain a neutral tone for fear of offending and considering we all have our own thoughts and are individuals, the process of pleasing everyone is becoming harder to control,” Wade said.

Wade went on to say the best to deal with this divide is through understanding, being considerate to all and promoting conscious positivity.

Jackson said Wade’s input was a “bright shining light” into the discussion and questioned whether Wade’s input showed the communication gap may be more generational than split on gender lines. So perhaps this is another topic for another day?

For more information about joining the thriving Women in Print community, please visit here.

Comment below to have your say on this story.

If you have a news story or tip-off, get in touch at editorial@sprinter.com.au.  

Sign up to the Sprinter newsletter