Conversational style is one of the most significant non-physical differences between men and women. And, according to several studies, how women talk makes a difference in their careers.

How women sound almost always conjures up images of the stereotypical woman. Women have higher-pitched voices and often speak with more inflection. (These are often taken as indicators of emotion: therefore, women are more emotional.) Usually, they also speak faster and less loudly than men (softspoken and weak). Women also tend to use more questions, tentative language, and qualifiers in their conversations (unsure of themselves, timid), while men use active and unqualified statements.

"Without a doubt, traditional female speech patterns can keep a working woman from exercising full power," notes Kathryn Stechert in her book Sweet Success. Though women need not imitate men in their conversational style nor change their own (unless, as Stechert points out, it is overly cautious and tentative), it would be a big step in the right direction if ambitious career women pay close attention to their speech and language use.

Although it is true that action speaks louder than words, many female executives-to-be find that their climb up the corporate ladder depends, first and foremost, on their ability to sound businesslike and credible. So try to develop a confident speaking manner.

Speak in a steady voice and have a firm attitude about what you're saying. If your voice is pitched higher than most women, speak slowly (but not so slow that you'll bore people!) and try to modulate. Second, avoid the use of tag questions (like "isn't it?", "doesn't it?") and qualifiers and hedges such as "sort of" or "I guess." Don't turn statements into questions ("The clients are coming?") and never answer a question with another question.

Some of the frequently used phrases you should banish from your office vocabulary are:

• "I kind of think, maybe…"
• "I guess…"
• "I wonder if…"
• "Don't you think…"
• "I don't know why I'm bringing this up, but…"
• "This isn't really important, but…"
• "I can't believe my work turned out so well."

Breaking the Glass Ceiling
If there is one thing that holds true for career women all over the world, it is the so-called glass ceiling. Women are no longer on the outside looking in. They are on the inside looking up.

Women who have broken into the halls of management find that in their climb up the ladder, they have hit the glass ceiling - able to see beyond it, but can't pass through it.

The glass ceiling syndrome is the product of three things: corporate tradition, men's bias and women's complacency. Often, most companies hesitate to put women in top management positions because they tend to be easily distracted from their careers by family considerations.

A Wall Street Journal report on corporate women several years ago said, "The biggest obstacle women face is also the most intangible: Men at the top feel uncomfortable with women beside them." And since promotions and hiring for top-level positions are in the hands of the top brass (meaning men), is it any wonder that there are few women in the great glass centers of power?

Women, too, are to blame. Many women with great potential for top management positions are contented within the confines of their "velvet ghettos" - the well-paying jobs that don't lead to the top.

The glass ceiling is not unbreakable, of course. As drastic changes in demographics and economics continue to sweep the world, corporations are left with no choice but to seriously look upon women as invaluable assets not only in the lower rungs of the hierarchy but in the top ones as well.

Crying in the Workplace
Crying, as someone once said, is like applying lipstick - it should be done in private. While some people view women's tears as the ultimate sign of weakness, others see them as a manipulative ploy. So, if you don't want to give either impression and you absolutely don't want to cry, take note of the following:

• Remember that you can't put your energy to both controlling the tears and dealing with the very cause of those tears at the same time. If you do, you'll find that you are likely to fail at both.
• Try to recall specific incidents when you buckled and cried, and analyze why. This way you can predict in what situations you're likely to cry again, recognize the warning signals, and fix the leak before it causes a flood.
• When you feel the tears are coming, shift your focus of attention from your tears and emotions to something else. Try free association. Bring to mind a pleasant memory. Try pain-inducing techniques such as biting your lips or digging your nails into your palms.
• When on the verge of crying, excuse yourself, if it's possible, and step out of the room. Go for a short walk. Go to the ladies' room or any quiet place where you can either compose yourself or give in to the tears. If you can find a place where you can scream your head off, fine. But whatever you do or wherever you go, be brief about it.
• According to most surveys, women who cry in the workplace do so out of frustration. Nine chances out of 10, the tears shed could have been avoided had the feelings been expressed before they became too intense and complicated. You can reduce the possibility of crying on the job through proper communication. Don't bottle up your emotions. If you do, the dam is likely to burst.

When You Need to Relocate
In the age of cyberspace, it isn't just technology that changes frequently. Mobility has also become a job requirement for many. And when a company decides a few visits a year to a farflung location isn't adequate, an employee may be asked to relocate - sometimes to a foreign city.

Whether it's for a month, one year or more, relocating can be stressful, particularly if you are unprepared. It takes a certain degree of independence and ingenuity to cope with being away from family and friends, although with better modes of communication now available, it's not as daunting it was 10 years ago.

Among the first things you need to do before relocating is to scout around for a new home. Be sure to have a good look around at what's available. Consult other women who have also relocated to the city you're moving into. It's too easy to settle for the first apartment you see, just because you're eager to get out of the hotel.

Consider serviced apartments. They are furnished, comfortable and, above all, convenient. Many serviced apartments now offer broadband Internet connections to their residents, a must for any globetrotting executive.

Register, too, with your local embassy or high commission. Consulates are best placed to inform you of the visa requirements and culture and customs of a particular country. Many of these embassies run courses to help you ease into life in a new town.

Even if you're not a national, the US embassy or the American Club run such courses especially designed for women. Long time residents hold forums on everything from buying a washing machine to finding a doctor or school.

Once you've relocated and settled into your new environment, it can be all too easy to restrict yourself to the home and office. But building a network of female contacts found either online, in the office or at the local embassy, would be worth your while.