Steve Harvey: Tough Talk for Women About Men

Nov. 5, 2009— -- "Good Morning America" special contributor Steve Harvey tackled a tough topic today: what women really want to know about men.

The comedian, actor and host of "The Steve Harvey Morning Show" also wrote the book "Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man," which was an instant hit with women across the country and has been on The New York Times Best Seller List for 39 weeks.

Harvey sat down today with "GMA" to address women's questions, concerns and confessions about the men in their lives.

Lisa, who is married, wanted to know why men feel as if their wives or girlfriends are nagging them.

"What women see as perhaps a reminder, or asking them," the 42-year-old woman said. "So, I would like to know how we could change men to see it not as nagging but as a simple request."

The No. 1 rule, Harvey said, is that the difference between nagging and requesting is all about tone of voice.

"Nagging and a friendly reminder has something to do with the tone," he said. "It's the tone in which you say it.

"A lot of times the tone is taken from what you do all day," he said. "If you're at home with the kids all day ... you're in that 'talking to the kids' mode. And you sometimes lay that same tone on [your husband]. You can't talk to your husband that way."

And if you are in a supervisory or leadership role at work, he said, "you can't come home and talk to your husband like he works for you.

"You need to take the mommy cap off and the supervisor cap off."

Harvey also suggested complimenting the man in your life when he does something you like.

"You've got to find something that he does that you really like, and just compliment him on it," he said. "If you can't think of anything, just make something up."