Women at Work

For the last two years I've been working in a hospital. So for the very first time in my life I have been working mostly with women and it has been a bit of a learning curve for me as in the past I have always been working with men. All the same I have been getting on very,very well with them all with a few hiccups along the way. After one such hiccup lately I have been spending more time thinking about women , what they like and don't like and trying to do better to get along with them.
So, anyway I'll state a few of my conclusions and invite any women who happen to read this to comment and give me advise on where I am right, were I am wrong and any advise on where I could do better would be appreciated. :)

First of all I really think that what makes men tick are very different. When I started on the job I naturally related to women as I always did with men, But I think this doesn't really work so well and so have had to mend my ways.

One big no , no is to show any sign of overt aggression like loosing my cool or my temper. I think that this is the biggest no no of all. Women really hate this and regard it as bullying and totally unacceptable. This is not to say that women are not aggressive on occasions, they often are but they make their points very subtly and they also pick up very subtle criticisms very quickly too. I watched my boss give off to another lady by email during the week. There was a time I would not have understood what she was doing. But now I see that she was very clearly 'shouting at her'. So I think what I think of as a hint of criticism from me is like shouting in someones face to women.

They tend to be very caring with each other, for instance when I was quiet for a while last week two of them asked me if I was alright. If I was to wait for men to do this I would be found dead. :wink:

The way women approach work is very different from the way I did. I simply thought of getting the job down, but for women relationships. and how we get on with each other is primary. On the surface this looks like things are slowing down as they discuss what they are doing and how they will do it. However in the end the work gets done an awful lot faster and I have no idea at all how this happens, but it does.

I also notice, but perhaps I am wrong in this , that women seem to worry a lot more about succeeding at what they are doing than I do, that they are much more inclined to doubt and worry. Also they seem much, much more sensitive to criticism. Perhaps this is why they worry so much.

I think maybe when women make a judgement on someone it is pretty final and so it is a very,very bad idea to have a woman for an enemy. For instance there is one lady at work the other women do not like{and perhaps with very good reason}. They are very nice to her and at first I thought all was normal but after a while bu subtle signs I saw they all had their back totally against her and were implacable in this. She was as good as dead. :wink: Men fall out too, of course but I think not as implacably.

I think women tend to male allowances for men like myself and in a way pity me for not seeing things at all which they seem very clearly.

Its all very interesting , I THINK I have learnt a few things but if any woman reads this I would love a few hints. I think I have learnt to appreciate and respect women a lot more, I've enjoyed this , though I've discovered a few prejudices on my own part. Its mice, I enjoy it, its changing me too, making me, I hope a little more sensitive myself....well I hope so anyway. :wink: