Resolving a gender and language problem in women’s leadership: Consultancy research in workplace discourse

Abstract

This paper considers the contribution that consultancy research might make to resolving communication problems that women have identified in their leadership practices. Within the intersecting fields of gender and language and workplace discourse, consultancy researchthat is, practitioner-commissioned research to resolve work-related, communication problemsis still uncommon. This paper presents a study of Monika, a senior leader in an engineering company, who commissioned me to find out why she was experiencing communication problems with her teams. By using Interactional Sociolinguistic Analysis (ISA), I was able to show Monika how her authority was being resisted on gendered, linguistic grounds. In making the case for more consultancy research, I discuss how we might use insights from discourse analysis to offer guidance to practitioners seeking our help.

Critical Language and Discourse Awareness in Management Education

“…Second, discourse analytical knowledge can make visible, and thus actionable, issues in management that are complex and hard to account for, such as problems related to the multicultural workplace (Angouri, 2018) or female leadership (Baxter, 2017). To achieve this, I again call for increased interdisciplinary efforts between business and management educators and those who have made language and discourse their profession and object of research.…”

“…First, discourse analytical knowledge empowers people to notice and make explicit previously unnoticed phenomena: Llewellyn and Harrison (2006), for example, surveyed employees about their impressions of public relations and corporate documents and found that their interviewees spoke “more explicitly and confidently about aspects of language where they had a grasp of relevant terminology” (p. 580). Second, discourse analytical knowledge can make visible, and thus actionable, issues in management that are complex and hard to account for, such as problems related to the multicultural workplace (Angouri, 2018) or female leadership (Baxter, 2017). To achieve this, I again call for increased interdisciplinary efforts between business and management educators and those who have made language and discourse their profession and object of research.…”

Gender, Language and Politics: the Representation of Theresa May on Twitter

“…Women are also subdued in a social position, positioned to be inferior to men (Wardaugh & Fuller, 2015). Meanwhile, in terms of leadership, a woman leader is considered less competent than a male leader and is labeled as "the other" (Baxter, 2017).…”

“…The results show that there are differences between men and women in terms of language use and the way media shape perception of society toward female politicians. Baxter (2010) and Baxter (2017) also did research about female leadership language. The first research found out that apologetic language pattern styles is often used by women leaders in corporation.…”