Scenario 1: Power Plays
Her way: Women tend to ask lots of questions before beginning work.
His way: Men simply roll up their sleeves.
The result: Men assume women aren't up to the job. If they were competent, reason men, then women wouldn't be asking so many questions. But in fact, women typically verify and validate data before starting tasks, sometimes to improve their performance. "Women gather information by asking questions, but men view question-asking as a sign of weakness," says Sandra Beckwith, author of "Why Can't a Man Be More Like a Woman?" The reverse scenario is that men hate to ask for information or guidance (big news, right?). But women assume that if men don't ask questions, they must know enough to complete a job. That's often not the case.
Advice: For women bosses, it's a good idea to verify that men have enough knowledge to complete a task. Oversee the work in the early phases or offer help without being asked.