Understanding Communication Styles

Concept of Communication Style

Benefits of understanding communication styles

Major communication styles

Choosing a communication style

Improving human relations through understanding communication style

Flexible communication style

Communication Style The patterns of behaviors that others can observe can be called communication style. Each person has a unique communication style. Your awareness about your own communication style can help you communicate better and thereby improve human or interpersonal relations. Communication style is a dimension of personality. It is a way of relating with other people (at home, in public or work place). Understanding other people’s CSs help improve relations.

Basic Communication Styles Emotive Directing/Director Reflective Supportive

Basic Communication Styles Emotive: Tends to express high emotional opinions. Outspoken, use gestures and facial expressions. Directing/Director: Determined to come to the top. Tend not to accept mistakes. Cold and have no feelings. Use always, never, don’t. Reflective: Tends to avoid making a decision. Interested in detail. Formal and avoid displaying emotions. Supportive: Attempts to win approval by agreeing with everyone. Seeks reassurance, refuses to take stand and is apologetic. (situational demands are important and one could be flexible to change style).

Communication Style Paul Mok and Dudley Lynch “By knowing our own communication style, we get to know ourselves better. And we get along with others better as we develop the ability to recognize – and respond to–their styles.” Bill Cosby “Men and women belong to different species, and communication between them is a science still in its infancy.” Harry S. Truman “We shall never be able to remove suspicion and fear as potential causes of war until communication is permitted to flow, free and open, across international boundaries.”   

Fundamental Concepts Supporting Communication Styles 1. Individual differences and their importance (typecasting of individuals-aggressive, supportive, cooperative etc) 2. Individual style differences tend to be stable 3. There are a limited number of styles 4. People make judgments about others based on their communication styles (first few minutes are important for knowing the CS) Style flexing is a great capability

Learning to Cope with Communication Style Bias Almost everyone experiences communication style bias from time to time. (concept of being on the same wavelength) Self-awareness or learning about personal CS is very important. Through this ability you learn about others.

Modeling Communication Style Learning about communication style model describes your preferences, not your skills or abilities. On a continuum of dominance, people tend to be either low dominating or high dominating. Low dominance: tend to be cooperative and eager to assist others. They are less assertive. High dominance: Frequently initiate demands. They are assertive and tend to control others.

Assessing your communication style (Cooperative vs. Dominant) Cooperative --------------------------------------------------------- Competitive Submissive --------------------------------------------------------- Authoritative Accommodative -------------------------------------------------- Domineering Hesitant ------------------------------------------------------------------ Decisive Reserved --------------------------------------------------------------- Outgoing Compromising ---------------------------------------------------------- Insistent Cautious ------------------------------------------------------------- Risk taking Patient --------------------------------------------------------------------- Hurried Complacent ------------------------------------------------------------ Influential Quiet --------------------------------------------------------------------- Talkative Shy ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bold Supportive ----------------------------------------------------------- Demanding Relaxed ----------------------------------------------------------------------Tense Restrained -------------------------------------------------------------- Assertive

Where should you be on dominance continuum? Anywhere. People are successful being at any place on the continuum. Just need to know where you stand on the continuum and knowing the strategy to use your strengths.

Sociability Continuum Low sociability -------------------- High sociability Sociability: Tendency to seek and enjoy social relationships with others.

Assessing Sociability Disciplined -------------------------------------------------------------------- Easygoing Controlled --------------------------------------------------------------------- Expressive Serious ---------------------------------------------------------------------- lighthearted methodical ----------------------------------------------------------------- Unstructured Calculating ---------------------------------------------------------------- Spontaneous Guarded ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Open Introverted ------------------------------------------------------------------ Extroverted Aloof ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Friendly Formal ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Casual Reserved ------------------------------------------------------------ Attention seeking Cautious ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Care free Conforming ------------------------------------------------------------ Unconventional Reticent ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dramatic Restrained ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Impulsive Where should you be on a sociability continuum?

Versatility David W Merril and Roger H Reid (Authors of Personal Styles and Performance) When we speak of interpersonal relationships (an interaction involving at least two people), we contend that no one can do much about what another person says or does, but each of us can do something about what we say and do. And because dealing with others is such a major aspect of our lives, if we can control what we say and do to make others more comfortable, we can realistically expect our relationships to be more positive, or effective.

Examples of versatile people: Receptionists, hotel staff, airhostesses Persons as a package and narrow use of label for a person could be counterproductive