Ruby Room

Some years ago, we were hit with the revelation that "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus".

But now a new book has updated the battle of the sexes and examines the gender gap in everything from emails to workplace banter.

Claire Damken Brown and Audrey Nelson, co-authors of "Code Switching: How to Talk So Men Will Listen," insist that, though men and women may be born with polar attitudes, the workplace is only emphasising the gap.

Women, for instance, will tend to write longer emails which are supportive and emotive, while men waste no time in getting their point across.

Similarly, the ladies in the office may stand aside while a workmate takes credit for their own ideas and often allow herself to be interrupted.

And guess who's doing the interrupting? You guessed it, the menfolk in the workplace are all about banter and being the centre of attention.

Nothing new, we'll grant you. But the book is all about how to get along better with the technique called "code switching".

Miss Nelson explained to the Telegraph: "It's a travel guide, in a way, to another country with another culture.

"There are a number of women out there that are still happy to accommodate men, that do not want to rock the boat, that have no assertive skills and don't want them.

"But the biggest complaint I have had for 30 years from all levels, all professions of women, is, 'How can I get men to take me seriously?'.

"This book is to build a bridge in that credibility gap."

How indeed. Suggestions on how to respond to interruptions with certain phrases and body language are the name of the game apparently.

As Miss Nelson says: "Part of our goal in this book is to make women more self-conscious. Step up to the plate. Do something about it. It was not intended to be a 'whining session'."

"Nor is it 'male bashing'," insists Miss Brown.

"It's really trying to say, 'Here's another way we can communicate and get a point across.'"

Power dressing and ruthlessness, here we come.