Author: Mat Apodaca / Source: Lifehack
We all have our own unique way of communicating with each other. This is true in our personal lives as well as at work.
We all have run into people at both work and play that we just don’t seem to get. Not only do we not hit it off with them, we honestly have a hard time understanding the point they are making.
It can be very frustrating interacting with someone when it seems like we are miles apart in the understanding department.On the flip side, it’s awesome when we hit it off with people that just seem to “get us”. The conversation flows and there is an immediate sense of connection. There’s a reason for that.
In this article, we will look at 4 different communication styles. While we will focus on how to understand and work with different communication styles at the office, this can hold true in our personal lives as well. It will benefit you greatly at work to be cognizant of these different communication styles.
Once you are familiar with them, you will find it easier to navigate communicating with different communication styles at the office.
Let’s look at four primary communication styles at work.
4 Communication Styles
There are certainly more than 4 communication styles. We all have our own unique way of communicating.
Most people tend to have components of the communication that will place them more towards one of these 4 styles. It’s worth noting that very few of us fit exactly into one of these communication styles. We do have a stronger tendency and show attributes towards one or two.
Let’s take a look at the four primary communication styles. You will see characteristics in yourself that have similarities to one or more of these.
It also helps provide you with some insight into others communication style. This will allow you to be more aware of how we talk, interact, and communicate with each other and help you be a more effective communicator.
1. Functional
A functional communicator is someone who likes to get deep into the details. Someone who likes to understand how everything works.
They tend to be methodical, process driven and very detail oriented. He or she likes to work with timelines and milestones.
Think of a functional communicator like a detail oriented project manager. They like to see the whole picture as well as the details that make it all happen.
A functional communicator likes to ensure they have a full understanding of projects before they kick things off and get started.
Functional communicators rarely make big mistakes because they focus on the many details. People like working with functional communicators because they work on a granular level and uncover possible mistakes that can be made.
Jumping right into something and “winging it” makes a functional communicator very uncomfortable. They can tend to be long winded and over detailed so when presenting to others don’t be surprised to see numerous glassy eyes in the audience.
2. Analytical
Analytical communicators have similarities to functional communicators. They tend to be less emotional. They like hard numbers and are data driven.
An analytical communicator likes direct conversation and does not do well with ambiguity or shades of gray. They tend to be good at making fair, fact based decisions without the emotional baggage attached to it. They sometimes come off as cold and emotionless.
Analytical communicators have little patience for emotional words and feelings when communicating. When you tell them sales are down, they want to know how much, as in a specific percentage.
One of their really great assets is that they are able to look at issues logically and analytically. On the downside, other people sometimes think of them as detached and robotic.
3. Personal
People with a personal communication style value emotional language and connection. They find a lot of value in not just what someone is saying and what they are thinking but also how they are feeling.
Being good listeners and a tendency to being diplomatic are trademarks of the personal communicator. A personal communication style can help smooth over conflicts and are very interested in the health of relationships.
Personal communicators really value connection and use that as a way to discovering how someone is truly thinking and feeling.
A huge upside to a personal communicator is that their style of communication tends to build deep personal relationship with others. They can be the glue that keeps things together.
On the downside, personal communicators can be viewed as too “touch feely” or “warm and fuzzy” by analytical communicators. I have a…
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