I don't think the advice entails lower quality discourse. The prescription here, read literally, is to say the same thing, phrased in a way that invites relevant discussion.
Language emphasising subjectivity can do several things - a) you signal uncertainty so that the group has a better idea of what's really known, b) you explicitly distinguish opinion from fact, c) you invite people to share their understanding so you can get on the same page.
The emphasis seems to be less the informational (a) and (b) and more the cultural (c). It's tricky - in some sense if you're certain, you undermine the force of your opinion this way. Comparing the two communication styles there's a tradeoff between reducing friction (unnecessary? examination) and encouraging communication in general, with possible benefits for cohesion, shared understanding and expertise but also the possible detriment of communal navel gazing. If you trust the studies this refers to, encouraging equal turn-taking overall has long-term benefits for productivity.
I think both approaches have failure cases where communication becomes ineffective. Individuals will adapt to each style to different degrees, and there's no total substitute for savvy folks who are alert to social forces at play, and guide discussions when team members over- or under-play their hands.
To share the generalisation used by this piece, the suggested conversational style is more hospitable to women. Where this article talks about psychological safety, equal participation etc., I think a lot of male engineers feel safe in much more confrontational and argumentative situations than women - they can even find a kind of fun in conflict, or regard it as totally impersonal, where many women would find it deeply unpleasant and to be avoided at all costs.
Language emphasising subjectivity can do several things - a) you signal uncertainty so that the group has a better idea of what's really known, b) you explicitly distinguish opinion from fact, c) you invite people to share their understanding so you can get on the same page.
The emphasis seems to be less the informational (a) and (b) and more the cultural (c). It's tricky - in some sense if you're certain, you undermine the force of your opinion this way. Comparing the two communication styles there's a tradeoff between reducing friction (unnecessary? examination) and encouraging communication in general, with possible benefits for cohesion, shared understanding and expertise but also the possible detriment of communal navel gazing. If you trust the studies this refers to, encouraging equal turn-taking overall has long-term benefits for productivity.
I think both approaches have failure cases where communication becomes ineffective. Individuals will adapt to each style to different degrees, and there's no total substitute for savvy folks who are alert to social forces at play, and guide discussions when team members over- or under-play their hands.
To share the generalisation used by this piece, the suggested conversational style is more hospitable to women. Where this article talks about psychological safety, equal participation etc., I think a lot of male engineers feel safe in much more confrontational and argumentative situations than women - they can even find a kind of fun in conflict, or regard it as totally impersonal, where many women would find it deeply unpleasant and to be avoided at all costs.