The term “communication” covers a wide range of topics. It includes topics like goal clarity, strategy clarity, transparency, engaging and influencing others, persuading others, bargaining, articulating ideas, and so on. In a nutshell, it’s all about sending and receiving data in the most efficient manner feasible. One of the most difficult tasks for leaders is to convey a message in such a way that it is received in an intended manner. 

What Is a Communication Style? 

The first thing you should learn is the definition of a communication or conversation style. The most widely used tool for identifying and understanding individual communication styles is DiSC. When you understand your personal communication style, you can teach those around you how to relate to you in a way that opens rather than closes doors. You’ll also learn how to recognize other people’s communication styles and how to alter your own to effectively relate to other people’s styles. When it comes to relating to others, being aware of your communication style can help you develop good relationships and get what you want in life without causing unneeded tension. “A communication style (also known as a conversational style) is the way we communicate with others through language. Although we all want to assume we’re saying exactly what we mean, this isn’t always the case, especially when speaking with someone who communicates in a totally different manner than we do.” 

There Are a Variety of Communication Styles

Genetic inheritance, life experiences, personality, and cultural/social make-up are thought to play a role in communication styles. 

Various Designs 

Dominance, influence, steadiness, and conscientiousness are examples of different styles. These go by a variety of names, some of which are more focused on style than personality. 

There are four basic styles, with pace, priority, and tendencies serving as the primary distinguishing aspects. 

• The first is Dominance, which is characterized by high aggressiveness and a quick pace. These individuals have a tendency to communicate in a decisive tone and place a significant emphasis on the bottom line of any scenario. They are motivated, focused, question the status quo, make decisions and solve problems quickly. They want to work in an environment where they have power and authority, prestige and challenge, and are free of controls and supervision. This personality type is often associated with the controller. “The pushy controlling communicator demands the facts,” says the narrator. So, by getting straight to the point, have a smooth-flowing business meeting with the controller. She can appear insensitive to those around her since she is very task-oriented. The controller’s top priority is to complete tasks. Don’t waste time chit-chatting. She’s only interested in the big picture, not the details.” 

• There’s also the influence style to consider. This individual is both outspoken and fast-paced. They are energetic and can persuade others to adopt their viewpoint. They have a tendency to inspire enthusiasm and create a motivating environment. They love being in groups and have a positive attitude toward people and situations. They want a setting that allows them to express themselves and be recognized, as well as group activities outside of work and opportunities to speak up. This personality matches the promoter, who enjoys extended chats and wants to get quite personal by inquiring about family members, personal lives, and so on. 

• Then there’s the manner of steadiness. These are less forceful and move at a slower speed. They are excellent listeners who, when they do speak, do so in a helpful manner. They seek consistency and predictability in their work, enjoy assisting others, are loyal, patient, and prefer stability. They prefer a work atmosphere that maintains the status quo contains predictable routines, genuine gratitude for their contributions and group affiliation, and avoids conflict. This is thought to be the case for the vast majority of people. This personality type is similar to the supporter personality type in that it is cool, peaceful, and focused on balance and happiness. 

• Last but not least, there’s the Conscientiousness style. These people are less forceful and move at a slower pace. They are obsessed with facts and details, which govern their lives. They are analytical thinkers who assess all the advantages and disadvantages, apply logic and a systematic approach to circumstances, are diplomatic with others, have high standards, and double-check their work. They like a work environment with clear performance objectives, a focus on quality and accuracy, a reserved business-like culture, and opportunities to demonstrate their skills. They want to be able to manage the things that influence their success as well as be recognized for specific abilities and accomplishments. This personality type corresponds to the analyst, who is obsessed with data and figures. They believe that something becomes fact as soon as it is founded on scientific or statistical data, independent of human feelings. 

What Can Leaders Do to Improve Their Ability to Communicate? 

The first step is to recognize our own unique communication style. This does not imply that it is our default style. It could be a modified communication style, one that has developed over time as a result of a variety of experiences. What I mean by “knowing one’s personal communication style” is “understanding the communication style that you use without even thinking about it,” such as at work. And the reason I say ‘at work’ is that your communication style in your personal life may be different. 

What Good Is It to Know Your Communication Style If You Don’t Use It? 

Before you can intentionally adjust your communication style to meet the listener’s style and demands, you must first understand yourself and be self-aware. When communicating a message, you must deliver it in a way that the receiver will understand and appreciate; therefore, you must be able to adjust to the receiver in order for your message to be received. Our predisposition to communicate directly or indirectly defines our communication styles. In the office, you’re likely to meet four different communication styles. You’ll be better able to work with any type of a person if you can precisely identify each style. In this post, we’ll go over four common workplace communication styles, how to recognize them, and how to connect with coworkers that use them. It’s simple for conflict or misunderstandings to arise when people have different communication styles. Understanding the features and trends of different communication styles can help us deal with people who have diverse styles more effectively. 

What Are the Benefits to You? 

Being heard and listened to has a tremendous advantage in terms of making an impression. 

To offer an extreme example, consider the following: Imagine explaining to a toddler in a highly technical manner why the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Is it likely that your communication will be received? Imagine expressing next year’s goals to your team in the same way you’d describe them to a child. They’d have a good time, but they could be curious if you had anything special to eat or drink. It’s not difficult, but it’s not easy. To be heard and understood, all you have to do is modify your communication style to meet people’s interests and working methods. 

What Factors Influence the Development of a Personal Communication Style? 

• What we consider normal is how we learned to communicate in our early years, in our families, and in our culture. We are more likely to find it usual to speak loudly as an adult if talking loudly was the norm as a child. Perhaps there was insufficient or excessive space for emotional emotions. Successes were either praised or taken for granted. Perhaps the communication was implicit, and you had to read between the lines to figure it out. There is -too much- room for conflict in some communication (family) cultures, or it is avoided at all costs. Our style is also influenced by our education, the school we attended, the friends we played with… 

• When we first start working, we are influenced by our first employer’s communication culture, or if we are self-employed, the culture of the business we work in. 

• In short, external influences heavily impact our communication style, which then becomes internalized as our particular communication style. 

What we think is evident in communication isn’t always what others think is usual. That is precisely why communication is so difficult. We all have distinct communication styles, and it is vital to change our styles to each other when we converse. At the Leadership Trust, leadership is defined as “winning the hearts and minds of people in order to achieve a common purpose.” In this process, communication is crucial. To do so, we must first gain a deeper understanding of ourselves in order to be more adaptable in our communication styles. 

Higher Productivity And Better Communication

With 42% of employees citing communication style as a leading cause of bad workplace communication, it’s evident that businesses must act immediately to address this problem. Despite the fact that many businesses choose not to address these “soft” skills, it is apparent that communication has an impact on productivity and performance. To put it another way, how individuals interact has a direct impact on your bottom line. The most important component of any framework or personality test you conduct with your team is addressing communication difficulties early on and developing a strategy that handles the variance in communication styles. 

It’s critical to have at least a basic awareness of your own personality if you want to improve your personal and professional connections. You may find yourself in situations where someone’s communication style is incompatible with yours, resulting in workplace conflict. Alternatively, you may have a communication style that is difficult for others to grasp, making it tough for you to get your message across. “Good communication opens doors, whereas bad communication shuts them.” Communication is the most critical factor in achieving success in the job. You may be passed over for promotions, have a tough time interacting with coworkers and colleagues, and face the weight of misunderstandings and mistakes if you can’t speak with confidence and credibility.” 

When you gather a bunch of adults together with different personalities, communication issues are going to develop. Different communication styles, according to a recent survey by The Economist, are the most commonly mentioned reason for communication difficulties. And the consequences can be detrimental to both your morale and your bottom line. According to the survey, communication hurdles are causing delays or failures to finish projects (44%), low morale (31%), missed performance objectives (25%) and even lost sales (18%), some of which are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. 

Furthermore, if you’re part of an agile development team, you’re probably used to things being in continual flux – always moving, always shifting. While this increases productivity, you’ll only be successful if you have a strong communication foundation. Furthermore, when you’re working under pressure from tight deadlines, increased consumer expectations, and quarterly goals to accomplish, communication becomes much more challenging. To solve problems quickly and keep progressing, your team has to know how to communicate with one another. There are a variety of personalities, experiences, cultures, and motivators to consider within a business. There is a slew of reasons why two people can’t comprehend each other, and diagnosing them can feel insurmountable. We’ve all been in meetings where everyone is talking over each other, repeating what has already been said, and expressing concepts that appear simple to one person but are complex to another. 

Conclusion 

In a Nutshell, Communication Is Difficult 

However, if you want your team to create a successful product, company, and future, you must find a means to connect with one another. 

One method is to gain a better understanding of a person’s communication style, which is the leading cause of bad communication. It doesn’t mean you’ll immediately understand each other, but it will give you perspective and a framework for figuring out the most effective communication tactics.