Have you ever been talking to someone and thought, “This person just doesn’t get what I’m saying?” It could be that, while you are discussing the same topic, they have a different viewpoint altogether. In the world of work, we call that communication style. Keep reading and find out about the four types of communication styles and why it is essential for your business success to know what they are.
How Different we are
Getting your point across is essential as a company manager. As a team leader, you spearhead the ship. Your “crew” is comprised of your teammates who work together, with you, to achieve desired project goals. This all sounds great in theory, but in practice, many managers could have a mutiny on their hands. What’s the cause? The lack of awareness that there are other ways to communicate hinders the cohesiveness of your team.
In plain English, we are all different. Our lives are shaped by experiences, both within and outside of our control. It is these experiences that characterize how we exchange our ideas with others. The personal aspects of our lives determine how we receive information from others on a variety of subjects. Our dominant communication style is hardwired into our brains just like our genetic makeup.
Understanding the differences in the way each of us receives information is crucial to breaking down the barriers that hinder communication. This is true not only in our personal lives, but also in our professional ones. If you are having trouble getting through to your team, it could be that they are not “picking up” the message you are transmitting. It’s time to change the frequency.
4 Communication Styles everyone needs to know
Here are the main avenues for communication. From the descriptions below, decide where you fit in.
- Achiever – As the name suggests, this person focuses on the objective rather than the subjective. They deal in facts, the present tense and details. Their personality is characterized by being both practical and logical.
- Anchor – This person is a constant who is both practical and personal. While they thrive on details, the present tense, executing plans and staying objective, they also consider the human element to every issue. They value people, feelings and are understanding as well.
- Adventurer – This person is a free spirit of sorts. They value the personal as well as the creative. When discussing plans, they desire to hear the human concerns and feelings. Because they are creative, they look for the “big picture” vision with ideas for the future.
- Analyzer – A creator and a person of logic, an analyzer concentrates on the future, ideas and the big picture, but uses logic, reason, analysis and objective evaluation to do it.
Which one of these styles rings true with you? We all have elements of logic, practicality, creativity and personal about us, but one style fits us like a glove more so than the others. It’s important to know how you communicate so you may recognize when speaking to someone who doesn’t speak your “language”. Now the real work begins.