Basically, in my mind, most female communication is positive, and most male communication is negative. I realize I'm biased because I'm still not quite out of my "masculinity as a whole is evil" phase, but I think there's some truth to it. A lot of women's communication habits are about politeness or showing concern for others. I think because of the way they live their childhood, more women tend to acquire this will of being polite and nice, whilst men are more inclined to wish appear strong or admirable, thus sometimes caring less about people's feelings.
And just to tell you, these aren't really a female/male type of thing. More like a traditionally male or female education. My mother, raised on a farm and working on it from a very young age, has a very masculine pattern, most of the time. My sister, raised by that mother and unraised (xD) when she did the army's training camp, too, to an extent. I have inherited it as well, even though I dislike it and try to change it. But it doesn't make any of them bad people. They're just more direct and less emotional. And they're not any less of women.
There are things you can "easily" (note the quotes - it's never that easy) change, such as listening more and not trying to put yourself higher in a conversation, for example. But there are things that were deeply embedded and are much harder and longer to change.
I have a few examples from my own situation.
Giving compliments. I have trouble doing that, because I feel I'm invading onto someone. I feel uneasy when I receive compliments (getting better though), and I was raised in an environment where everything good was assumed as long as nothing was said, and only the bad was said. Those two things affect me tremendously, making me very shy at starting conversations. The only situations where I often compliment people is when I feel I have a sort of responsibility over that person (encouraging someone who's having trouble at school, tutoring, helping with homework, etc.)
Making eye contact. This is an exceedingly hard one. Looking into someone's eyes, to me, is like saying "I want a very direct interaction with you". It's bold. I'm too shy for that. Generally I vaguely look at people's faces but not quite into the eyes, I think. Also, eye contact being polite or not depends on the point of view and culture. In the US, I think it's valued, whilst in Japan, it's literally rude. I'm quite sure there are a lot of in-between situations.
Now, should you change your behaviour? Only if you want to change it. Only if you'll feel better about yourself that way. Because there's no need to otherwise, I think. I think people don't readily associate those behaviours with gender at all, normally. Rather, they associate them with politeness/shyness or boldness/extraversion. People have a vague knowledge that men are on average more this or that, etc., yes. But I really don't think anyone would go "this person is bold... oh--gotta be a guy!" Even, in today's society, man-like boldness in women seems to be encouraged by feminists.
Really, I wouldn't say this is even a minor clocking factor. Change if you want to. Don't if you don't want to.
Assoluta: I assure you, that makes me feel very awkward as well. xD
