Good communication skills require a high level of self-awareness. Understanding your communication style can help you communicate effectively and reach the target of your communication.
Several factors shape your communication style, from the environment you grow up in such as your family, or neighborhood to education, social life, and career.
Our communication style defines the way we communicate with other people, whether as a communicator or communicant (receiver). By becoming more aware of how others perceive you, you can adapt more readily to their styles of communicating.
To find out your communication style, click the link below
What does your communication style mean?
1. Analytical
Quick to think and slow to speak, the Analytical person values accuracy in the details and likes to be right. This is a person who plans thoroughly before deciding to act, is persistent, highly organized, cautious and logical. The Analytical prefers to work alone and tends to be introverted. The Analytical person is focused on processes, tasks and doing things the right way.
They prefer a rational approach, logical thinking, solid documentation and careful planning. The downside is that they can be critical, picky, perfectionistic and stubborn, as well as indecisive. Their tendency under stress is to avoid others.
2. Amiable
Amiable is the relationship style. Amiables focus on the feelings of other people and effective collaboration. People with this style are intuitive and care about how situations “feel”. They like a consensus, avoid confrontation and tend to be timid about voicing contrary opinions. Amiable people are good listeners, friendly and sensitive and build networks of friends to help them.
They are likely to be slow with big decisions and need a lot of input. They thrive on involvement, participation and inclusion.
On the downside, the Amiable person can be hesitant, unsure of himself and dependent on others. Under stress, they acquiesce or yield to the decisions of others.
3. Direct Driver
Hard-working and ambitious, direct drivers tend to be the group leaders who value getting the job done with excellent results. Direct drivers are apt to be decisive, competitive, hard-driving and good at delegating to others. They like to be where the action is and are likely to enjoy taking risks. Their focus is on winning, being successful and making things happen. They need options and prefer it when others are direct.
On the downside, they can be pushy, demanding, dominating, tough and exclude others from decision-making. Under stress, they become autocratic and order others around.
4. Expressive
The Expressive person loves to have and enjoys helping others. This person is full of ideas and can’t wait to share them with others. Talkative and open, Expressives ask others for their opinions and love to brainstorm. This is very much someone flexible and easily bored with routine. The Expressive is optimistic, intuitive, creative and spontaneous and tends to be flamboyant.
Expressives are focused on the big picture. They love ideas and concepts and thrive on bringing visions into reality. They need innovation and look to others to handle the details. On the downside, they can be overly dramatic, impulsive, a tad flaky and undisciplined.
So why is it important to be aware of different styles of business communication?
In a business environment, one of the main reasons we communicate is to influence others. If you are a business leader, you will certainly need to speak and write to notify, influence, and motivate. If you are a salesperson, you will present to persuade people to buy from you.
As we know, people with different communication styles have specific characteristics. They see the world differently and that means knowing how to modify our communication style when approaching different people. If you are attempting to convince a Direct Driver to implement your idea and you use tons of complex, technical data or fail to get to the point, you risk losing their attention fast. If you speak too directly to an Amiable, you risk demotivating or offending them.
To find out more about communication skills, influencing skills, and how soft skills training could benefit you and your team, visit our website: Communication Skills
