1. Understanding Communication Styles

2. Concept of Communication Style

3. Benefits of understanding communication styles

4. Major communication styles

5. Choosing a communication style

6. Improving human relations through understanding communication style

7. Flexible communication style

8. 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.

9. Basic Communication Styles
Emotive
Directing/Director
Reflective
Supportive

10. 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).

11. 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.”   

12. 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

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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

16. 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.

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

18. 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?

19. 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.

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