Research: Men Speak More Abstractly Than Women

Abstract language tends to be associated with leadership, meaning that how women are socialized to communicate can make them less likely to be seen as leaders.

by

Cheryl Wakslak

and

Priyanka Joshi

by

Cheryl Wakslak

and

Priyanka Joshi

December 02, 2022

Caspar Benson/Getty Images

Summary.

When someone gives a speech, leads a meeting, or sends us an email, we don’t generally think much about how abstract or concrete their language is. But the authors’ research suggests that this subtle difference in communication style can substantially impact how people are perceived, as more-abstract speech tends to be associated with power and leadership. Moreover, the authors found that on average, women tend to use more concrete language while men use more abstract language, meaning that the way women are socialized to communicate can sometimes make them less likely to be seen as leaders. As such, they argue that to encourage everyone to reach their leadership potential, we must acknowledge that this bias exists — and take proactive steps to ensure that how someone speaks doesn’t drown out what they’re saying.

“Character is on the ballot this time around. The American character is on the ballot. Not what Donald Trump is spewing out…that’s not who we are as a nation. Everyone in this country is entitled to be treated with respect and dignity. Every single, solitary person has to [be] in a position that, in fact, we treat them with decency. It’s about fundamental basic decency…We have to restore America’s soul…We lead the world when we lead by example, not by our power. We, in fact, have to regain the respect of the world in order to be able to change things.”

— Excerpt from now-President Joe Biden’s closing statement
Democratic Presidential Debate, January 14, 2020

“Donald Trump thinks this is all about him. I think it’s about you…It is about your schools. It is about your lives and your future. So, if you want to do something about racial justice and immigration reform and climate change and gun safety, we need a candidate who is actually going to bring people with her. I have won every race, every place, every time. I have gotten the highest voter turnout in the country when I’ve led the ticket. I have passed more bills as the lead Democrat than anyone who’s in Congress that’s running for president.”

— Excerpt from Senator Amy Klobuchar’s closing statement
Democratic Presidential Debate, January 14, 2020

In January 2020, three weeks before the pivotal Iowa caucuses, six Democratic presidential candidates met on the debate stage in Des Moines. Given one minute to leave voters with a final closing statement, most strove to draw a sharp contrast between themselves and their would-be opponent in the general election, now-former President Donald Trump. But how they did this varied considerably. Now-President Joe Biden used broad, abstract language that emphasized his view of the big-picture stakes, speaking of “restoring America’s soul” and “leading by example, not by power.” In contrast, Senator Amy Klobuchar used concrete language that focused on specific issues such as health care and schools, emphasizing her pragmatic record of winning elections and passing bills.

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CW

Cheryl Wakslak is an Associate Professor of Management and Organization and the McAlister Associate Professor in Business Administration at USC Marshall School of Business. Her research focuses on how people interact and communicate with one another and the role of gender, psychological distance, diversity, and perceptions of leadership in these dynamics.
PJ

Priyanka Joshi is an Assistant Professor in the Lam Family College of Business at San Francisco State University and received her Ph.D. in Business Administration from USC Marshall School of Business. Her research focuses on communication in virtual teams and how people strive to transcend distance in order to effectively communicate with others.

New!

HBR Learning

Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Course

Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.

How to build a better, more just workplace.

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Research: Men Speak More Abstractly Than Women

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